Guest Post: author Bea Cannon discusses ways of sparking ideas for writers

In today’s guest post, I have the immense pleasure of welcoming author Bea Cannon to Marcia’s Book Talk. Bea, author of the BOUCHER’S WORLD series of science fiction books, the CADY AND SAM paranormal series, and SPACESHIPS AND MAGIC fantasy series, discusses six ways which provided inspiration in writing her books, and how these can be helpful for writers to explore. Now, over to Bea for more about this compelling topic…

Bea Cannon, author photograph

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Six Ways of Sparking Ideas by Bea Cannon

I write science fiction and fantasy – sometimes a combination of both in the form of scifantasy – and the occasional short horror story. The first time I was asked from where I got ideas, I’d never really thought about it. I would just get one and off I’d go writing.

I guess I kind of figured I was pulling them out of thin air. Until I stopped to think about it. Then I had an epiphany: ideas didn’t just hit me up side my head from out of nowhere. Nope. They all had a source, something that sparked it. A beginning.

After a little reflection, I’ve come up with some of the bases for my story ideas (these are, by no means, all sources, but these have played a role in getting me started on a quite a few).

DREAMS:

And it can be just a snippet. The first book I wrote, “Boucher’s World: Emergent”, (science fiction dealing with the interactions between a group of humans, cats, dogs, and a race of giant aliens, all with psychic abilities and trapped together for two thousand years) came about because of a dream.

BOUCHER’S WORLD: Emergent by Bea Cannon

What was the dream? Well, it was about a girl, or young woman, who worked for a pest company, and her partner was a cat. They lived in a city covered by a dome. That was it (don’t ask me why I’d dream something like that! I’ve had even stranger ones!). The rest of the story sort of worked its way from there.

It was actually supposed to be one book but by the time I got through I had a whole series, which consists of a trilogy, a novel, two novellas, two novelettes, and a short story (not to mention I’m currently writing two more stories in the series, sequels to the trilogy) and it’s a series because as I wrote, I realized it was becoming way too long for one book.

CURRENT EVENTS:

Everyday life, especially recent or current events, is always good fodder for a nice yarn. I’ve written a number of drabbles (a story written in exactly one hundred words), and some are based on an actual event, such as “Once Upon a Spider”, taken from an encounter with an orb weaver by one of my daughters. Or the time I opened my washing machine and found I’d forgotten to check my jean pockets, resulting in another drabble, “Tatters”.

VISUAL PROMPTS:

For a while, I entered in a short story writing contest where the five-hundred-word-or-less story has to be written around a given image. It was quite an enjoyable exercise (only won once, a second place win, “A Moment in Time” but it was fun doing them). And, you don’t have to enter a contest to use visual prompts, any image will do. Believe it or not, I actually got the idea for my “Cady and Sam” werewolf series from seeing a picture of my house juxtaposed with one of a large dog.

AUDIBLE PROMPTS:

The drabble, “Noise”, is based on the fact that I have tinnitus, though I suppose it could also be considered a life event.

ODORS:

The drabble, “Martin’s Café”, came about from the delicious smell of bacon wafting up to my room one morning when my daughter was cooking breakfast (‘nuff said!).

MEMORY:

(Which could also be considered a life event but I kind of separate the two when the event was a very long time ago.) In the case of the series on which I’m currently working, “Spaceships and Magic”, the idea came from a memory. No, I don’t remember having been a dragon (wouldn’t it be really cool if I did?), but I’ve found that sometimes a little of myself gets into my stories.

TURNER: Bitter Change by Bea Cannon

When I was around three years old, I had a bad case of eczema and spent some time looking as though I was covered in scales. There was also a time when I felt alienated from everyone, and I ran away from home when I was twelve (hmm…someday I might get around to writing my autobiography…nah, writing fiction is much more fun!). Anyway, from those memories came the idea of “Turner: Bitter Change”, the story of Juri Turner, the human-born dragon. At the moment I’m working on book three (with notes for a fourth).

 

The thing is, story ideas can come from anywhere and these are six examples of where some of mine came from. Always try to keep a pencil and paper handy (but don’t do it on a napkin and put it in your pocket and then forget to check before you throw your pants in the wash!). That way, when an idea hauls off and slaps you in the face, you’ll be ready. Believe me, there’s nothing sadder – or more frustrating – than knowing you had a brilliant idea for a story but now you can’t remember it and you didn’t jot it down.

They don’t always pan out (okay, so sometimes it’s a really bad idea) but all the same, it doesn’t hurt to write it down.

Just in case.

*Links to Bea

Smashwords

Goodreads

Twitter

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Naming Characters: One Take On This Process

The process of choosing names for characters is one that can be undertaken with much happiness, or, at times, fraught with immense difficulties. It can sometimes be a stumbling block in writing, as, for example, the character in question is a central character through whom the action flows, and the inability to name the character may temporarily handicap the story  as a whole. There should not be reason for despair, though, if you are caught in character-naming limbo.

I have found that if I repeatedly think about what to name a character, the ideas do not flow easily. It is best to leave this process alone for a spell, and maybe continue writing or planning the story. You could also employ a ‘temporary’ name for a character if you have been using this for a while, but still do not know whether to stick with this, or have another name. The less pressure that exists on what to name the character, the better for the mind. This is something which is organic, and grows along with the story, and our perceptions of it, and the characters.

It is also advisable to remain open to stimuli, and not shut oneself off from the world during the process. For me, the names of characters have appeared at the most unexpected of moments. You may be traveling by car or bus somewhere, and notice the name of a town or suburb that could be useful for a character, and this opens up a whole host of opportunities you never believed possible. You may be in a mall or even in the supermarket, and a name can crop up that provides inspiration. It is just one of these spontaneous things that can happen.

If you are seeking something more concrete, it is also good to check out the many websites on the internet which deal with names, and their meanings. Here are links to some useful websites in this vein:

http://www.behindthename.com/

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/

I have found on many instances that character names can be very evocative, and throw light on a character in a most definitive manner. For example, a character may be sweetness and light, and their name the opposite of their temperament, while, vice versa, a brazen character could have a name indicating purity and innocence. The fun that can be experienced doing this can be very enjoyable!

It is a good idea to also keep a list somewhere, such as a file on the computer, or in a notepad, of names which you find interesting. While they may not be suitable for a particular story, they may enrich another story which may be coming your way. Any which way you see it, naming characters is a process that provides much satisfaction, and challenges for writers, which should make the stories themselves more interesting, and potent to readers.

Are Your Characters Reacting To Each Other, and Plot Events, For Maximum Impact In Your Stories?

There are many times when we are writing our stories that we have a big scene where a major event takes place between the characters. Does the scene shine in its execution, or fall flat? I myself find when I am rewriting a draft this can occur, and that a scene which should be prominent, adding to the action, and opening up other story possibilities, does not deliver this, but, this can be remedied very easily. The reactions of characters to an event in the story, or to each other, can add depth, and reveal more about the characters than we originally envisioned.

This is something, though, that should be picked up in subsequent edits after the first draft, when we are perusing the story cafefully for any inconsistencies or deficiencies. I believe the main key is that we put ourselves in the position of our characters, and think what they would do in these situations. Sometimes having a character not react to a situation immediately, or having this delayed for plot purposes, is also useful, but, in any which way, if it is true to the character and story, then all the better. What are your thoughts on this?