Rob Parnell's Writing Academy Blog

I borrowed a book from the library, written by Ray Bradbury, called "Zen in the Art of Writing". It's so packed with great writing advice I'm almost loathe to finish it - because then I'll have to take it back! Writers often wonder about inspiration - and how to get good ideas for stories. And often, when writers start out, they wonder what kind of writer they're going to be - and what kind of stories they will write, and in which genre. Mr Bradbury has some advice on both of these issues. In the pages of his book, he explains what helped him. He says he's been writing at least a thousand words every day of his life since he was twelve. Great. We like to hear that all the best writers have this simple habit ingrained. He'd been reading a lot of science fiction since he was a kid he said and naturally thought he was destined to be an SF writer. Trouble was, in his early twenties, he wasn't having much success with his SF stories. Editors complained ...

This must be the single most fascinating issue amongst new writers - and non writers. Throughout their careers, authors are consistently asked the same question: Where do you get your ideas from? As though there is some secret locked store-room full of them, hidden away, and that only the best writers are mysteriously given the key. If you're one of those people that has apparent trouble coming up with ideas, let me reassure you right away. You already hold the key to the 'idea store'. Just like any other writer or creative person, the ideas are inside your head - and all you need is an easy way to tap into them. Something I'm just about to give you. You may not be conscious of it now but your subconscious is a swirling mass of ideas just waiting for your attention. The problem for most long term writers is not 'Where do I get ideas?' but 'Which one of the thousands I have am I going to work on next?' The dilemma then becomes 'When am I ever going to...