WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM? #002, in a series

Let's say you're working on a piece of creative writing and you want to shake things up for a particular character. Where can you go? To something that's in almost every newspaper out there...

HOROSCOPES!

Horoscopes can add twists to your plot. All you have to do is think of your character, and then read ALL of the horoscopes for the day, and choose one that presents interesting possibilities. OR what if the exact OPPOSITE happened? Here are a Baker's dozen (thirteen) horoscopes, pulled from a variety of newspapers, to get you brainstorming about what fate may hold in store for those voices in your head:

1. Impulsive actions will be your demise.
2. Make plans to socialize and put a little romance in your life.
3. Attending a reunion or simply contacting someone you used to know through a social network will open a door that you should probably have never let close.
4. Don't let someone entice you into an encounter that will leave you making an uncomfortable explanation.
5. An old friend will surprise you.
6. Refuse to let someone pull you into a dispute that can cause an emotional problem with a friend, relative, or neighbor.
7. Problems at home will develop if you overspend on things you cannot really afford.
8. Plan to have some fun and to experiment with activities that interest you.
9. You will gain respect, support and help if you initiate the first move.
10. Saying too much will lead to an embarrassing blunder.
11. You show your emotions and are a master at the art of persuasion.
12. You have a vivid imagination and are a visionary with the potential to turn ideas into reality. You have a deep desire to explore.

And here's a bonus: 

There will be hidden factors that you need to flush out before you make an irreversible decision.

Now, give it a try and soon, you'll have your characters heading in directions even YOU didn't know they'd be going. Happy exploring!

WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM? #001, in a series

I'm often asked where my ideas come from. It's not unusual for me to be working on multiple projects (while working hard to finish off one that's almost complete), and I never seem to run out of ideas. While it's easy to say, "Read widely," or "Read in areas you don't normally read," or something like that, I decided it's easier to show what I mean...

WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM #001: THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC????

Don't knock it until you've tried it. The National Geographic is filled with exploration, precarious situations, dangerous creatures that are all too real. Overall, though, it is about people from different pockets of our planet. Here are a Baker's dozen (thirteen) lines ripped from various issues, to get your creative juices flowing:

1. It was white-knuckle time.
2. We ask about that story and are met with a stony silence.
3. The vehicles reminded me of a wolf pack, sniffing the wind for prey.
4. It all came too quickly, many say.
5. "We owe them something."
6. "This is my chance not to feel helpless," he says.
7. "No one knows why," I say. It's the only answer I can give them right now.
8. "I've been doing these things since I was 14."
9. "People love to watch this," she says. "But not many want to do it."
10. It disappeared into the thick brush on the right.
11. They come in the night.
12. "Brace yourself."

And an extra:  "The day I drove away, I peered through the dusty window of my Jeep and saw them waving."

NOW: Take action! Choose your favorite prompt from above and do some freewriting with it. See where it takes you...don't wait--do it NOW!