Writers And Readers Websites Wednesday - Amazing Fact Generator

Need ideas for a story? Just like to learn weird stuff? Like to read fascinating facts?  This is your place - the Amazing Fact generator. Our site for the week.  Go ahead, you know you want to - go over and see what facts you can dig up.

Writers And Readers Websites Wednesday - Public Integrity

Are you a writer, a researcher, a student, or just someone who's curious? Then check out The Center For Public Integrity   

 Their claim:

"Founded in 1989, this organization aims to reveal abuses of power, corruption, and betrayals of trust by politicians and private entities. Their website is a great place to keep up with some of the best investigative journalism."

Could be a source of information, inspiration, or story ideas. Let's

hope they do their best to be unbiased.

Don't Say It! - A Writer's Guide to, well, Writing

Have you ever noticed how many things we aren’t supposed to say, to talk about, to be ‘politically incorrect’ about these days in this society? Things that if you say them out loud not only will be real conversations starters but will probably have several people at your throat the minute the words come out? 

 

 

Here’s the thing. You may not want to be a trouble maker at a party or a family reunion or at the office, but what better place to be one than in a novel, a short story, movie script or other attention-grabbing written material?

Think about it. What if you said you ~

•   Don’t like babies – dogs – cats

•   Don’t like Christmas

•   Don’t like football or the Olympics

•   Don’t like gay people and are against gay marriage and adoption

•   Don’t like Republicans (or Democrats or Libertarians)

•   Aren’t in favor of marriage for anybody

•   Don’t’ like Dr. Who or Dancing With The Stars, or Survivor

•  Firmly believe in the stereotype of one race or another, one culture or another

Any of that can get you in deep water in a hurry. Opinions that aren’t dared to be expressed aloud, ever. These are prickly subjects (and they’re just the tip of the iceberg – there are obviously many more). Most people keep their opinions to themselves. 

But what’s to keep the writer from straying off the common ground, from veering away from acceptable thought? In fact, the writer darn well better stray into being pointed, obnoxious, irritating and intriguing or it isn’t likely that writer will crack the best seller market.  Every day, run of the mill, acceptable ideas won’t get you there.

Those above may actually be your opinions, but even presuming they’re not, they’re great subjects to be turned into attention-getting, to-be-twittered-about stories. If a subject sparks debate it can (and no doubt will) spark a great story. Stray off the generally accepted track and veer into controversial territory. 

 Think about it this way. 

1. You can’t stand Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, whatever. How about a murder mystery when only people of that persuasion are killed by a serial murderer? What gives the perpetrator away?  Is he captured or killed? How does it all affect the people in that group; the ones being disturbingly murdered?

2.  Babies aren’t your thing. What grist for a novel or a script with a society much like our own that goes even further, locking people in to a life of an Orwellian family structure of parents and children. And the rebels who choose a different way of life ~ and a violent way of ripping through that society to their own freedom. 

3. You hate Christmas. Always room for another Santa serial killer or elves who go berserk or reindeer who longs for a different life. 

4. You’ve heard the pros and cons of gay couples adopting. How about a gay couple who adopts several children – for nefarious purposes -  What is the purpose? Grounded? Other worldly? How does it turn out? How does the fact that the couple is gay affect the outcome?

5. Someone hates a TV Show – what if the people involved with the show start having bizarre accidents? What if they’re not just boring or annoying but come from another dimension? What if an inter-dimensional war ensues?

Craft a story that takes a stand on a controversial topic  (no matter what side of the topic you’re on) and you create suspense, action, and buzz. You’ll catch attention and create characters that are three-dimensional and ready to take on the world. Give them something controversial and difficult and they’ll grow. Examine a group or an issue or an accepted societal taboo and no doubt you’ll find you grow as well. 

Go out there and write something no one dares to say.

Writers And Readers Websites Wednesday - story generators

Yep, a day for story generating sites. There are a lot of them out there, and many are fun to play with when you're fishing about for a new idea.  Go on, let the crazy kid in you explore new ideas. Check out the sites 

Story Wonk

Seventh Sanctum 

Writing Roulette

 

Plot Generators 

Enjoy, play and squeeze those creative juices.

Writers & Readers Websites Wednesday - Gotta love those Generators

Here's one site - Serendipity  they offer several generators. Site had some problems with hackers but they're coming back strong.

Offering a variety of random text generators. 

There are a lot of generators out there – this one is a good addition to those you may have already bookmarked. I find generators come in handy for kickstarting ideas for lots of story angles.

This one currently has:

Fantasy Titles

Character names

Places

- and will be adding more as they recover from the attack of the idiots.

Seven Places For Wtiters To Find Their Inpiration

Being a writer means spending a lot of time behind a computer screen even while we realize that finding inspiration, fresh new ideas, means getting away from the computer. Still, many of us don't don't do it, risking losing motivation, inspiration and even writer's block. Whether you write stories, scripts, articles or anything that requires new viewpoints, new ideas, new subjects, getting out and about is the way to spark that creativity.

When you think about it, most of our best ideas comes to us when we're away from the computer, when we're simply outside in the fresh air or taking a shower, or listening to a favorite song. Sometimes when you're least expecting it an epiphany fires off like lightning, but that doesn't mean we can't go looking for it. 

 

And don't think it's just for writers. Using your brain, seeing new things, hearing new ideas is good for anyone. Readers, writers, expanding human being – get yourself out there.

So, today I started ruminating on places where it's likely to catch up with an idea, something new, something not waiting for a writer behind that computer screen and here's the short list I came up with. No doubt you can add greatly to it if you give it a little thought.

1. A Train Station. It's a good place to expose yourself to people running hither and yon, busy, lots of conversations. People going to work. People setting off to meet loved ones. Others out for a day of fun or on errands. Even more fun to get on one and take a ride, especially in you're in an area with a commuter train. We have one here. Can take my laptop along, make notes as I cock an ear and listen. Even the atmosphere is conducive to sparking new ideas. Writer's immersion and people watcher's delight.
   
   
2. An Airport does much the same. Not so easy to get on a plane though, unless you're really headed off for some destination. Still, just visiting a local airport, hanging out, getting a coffee can be great fun and a good kick to your writer's muse.
    
3. Got a beach near you? Kick off your shoes and wander the sand for a bit. Not only do you get to see some interesting characters (waaaay interesting sometimes) and pick up fascinating snatches of conversation, but the warm sand under your feet, the rolling of the waves is relaxing all by itself and relaxation invites the muse in. It's also a great place for readers to kick back and enjoy the latest book while reclining in the sand.
   
   
4. Have you visited a playground lately? There's lots going on there if it's a popular one. Kids, large and small, parents, irritating teens. The bucolic and the possibly threatening. Sit on a bench. Open your eyes and ears. Read a book or write a bit on your tablet or laptop, then focus again and see what you pick up. Oh, and try not to look like you're stalking the children.
    
5. Got a local college? Then head on over. They have their own bookstores, coffee gathering places and you might even consider taking a class or auditing one or just attending a public lecture. Lots going on here to give you ideas. Lots of writer fodder and plenty for readers and everyone else who enjoys learning.
    
6. The Gym may sound like a weird place to get ideas for writing or just some serious people watching but if you're exercising (and I'm guessing that's why you're at a gym in the first place) you're burning off anger, frustration and emotion. You're also out there with other people who're probably doing the same. Writers can definitely pick up on new ideas here as they work out their own frustrations.
    
7. The Big City. If you live in one you know what it's like every day in the sea of humanity. If you don't, it's great place for writers to visit to get into the bustle of it all. And, if that city has some high places – head upward, give yourself a new perspective, look down on it all for a while. Get thee to a rooftop. New York? The Empire State Building is still a fantastic place to go look out at it all. Not to mention the tourists you'll be packed in with while riding the elevators to the top.

I've offered a few places to get yourself away from the computer and spark some new ideas. There are lots more like visiting a foreign country, going to the mall, or just taking a walk in the countryside. Even walking around inside your own house and being determined to see with new eyes.

So, tell me, what kinds of things do you do, where do you go to inspire yourself, to spark new ideas? I'd love to hear about them. Post them in the comments below.

Writers Websites Wednesday - Fortean Times

Okay, I not only admit I'm a fan of the weird and wonderful in our world and other folks' imaginations, I state it proudly!  

You too?  

Want unusual, maybe spooky and/or totally weird?  Bring along your sense of adventure, curiosity, natural skepticism and a good sense of humor. Check out the Fortean Times site, wander it's cubbyholes and discover all sorts of story-inspiring weirdness.  Great fun - I could wander that site for a very long time.  Let me know what you think of it.

Writers Websites Wednesday - Story Starters

A bit hard to come up with an idea at times? Need a little kickstart?  The Story Starter is a fun site that kicks out random story starters. Over 2 billion of them!  Surely there's an idea in there somewhere that'll get the creative juices flowing.  Wander over and check  it out.