Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
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I’m often asked about where my ideas for stories come from. Coming up with ideas has never been a problem. They are everywhere, and no one is safe. Keeping track of the ideas has been a challenge, so this is how I organized them.
I constantly jot down cool names, interesting words, weird anecdotes, and funny stories.
When I run across interesting news stories, I save the link or the clipping.
I write cozy mysteries with amateur sleuths, so I’m always looking for every-day items that can be used as weapons. Hardware stores, auto supply stores, and cookware stores are always good sources of deadly items.
People know that I write, and they are so kind to tell me about interesting true crime stories or things that happened to them.
Sometimes, ideas come from movies, TV shows, classes, workshops, documentaries, or overheard conversations.
My purse and briefcase are full of scraps of paper and Post-Its with all kinds of names, crimes, and murder weapons. Sometimes, they look like a deadly grocery list. I needed a way to keep my big idea list organized, and a file folder was too cluttered for me with all the bits of paper.
I created a spreadsheet. One column has the category (e.g. story idea, character name, contact information, story location, etc.), so I can sort my list. I put in my notes and brief description and where it came from in case I need to do an acknowledgement. I have one central location where I transcribe all those bits of paper. If I use one in a story, I make a note, so I don’t repeat it elsewhere. My spreadsheet has grown over the years, and this is a good way for me to keep bits of information for use later.
When I get ready to write something new, I browse my collection of ideas.
What do you do to keep your ideas organized?
