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

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Goodreads

Twitter

Amazon

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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?

Feeling That You Are A Little Stuck For Writing Inspiration? Do Some…Cleaning!

Are you feeling that you are low on inspiration, and just cannot get any writing done? Have you been writing, but have come to a part that you just cannot continue with, and it is getting you down? Well fear not, there is a solution in sight, and it is not as difficult as it might seem. If you are feeling that you are a little stuck for inspiration, do some…cleaning!

I believe that many times our home environment can have an effect on our writing, be it positive, or, even negative. The energy can sometimes build up without us even noticing, until we wish to do something such as writing, and we feel that there is an ‘obstacle’ in our way to achieving this. By cleaning I mean the cleaning which we sometimes may let go of for a little, sometimes due to the weather, as in winter it can be difficult to clean, as we keep the doors and windows closed to keep out the cold, and other such instances.

I have found from previous experience that when I do some cleaning, be it washing windows from the inside of the house, cleaning walls, bathrooms, cleaning floors, it helps to ‘cleanse’ the home of negative energy, and I am able to continue with what has been hampering me. It gives me a buzz which I cannot explain, and brings a spring in my step. To have done some cleaning not only makes the home fresh and hygienic, it also brings about a feeling of renewal in the home, and also, our actions.

This can also extend to spring cleaning, and other forms of de-cluttering, cleaning and purging. Once one starts to do these, they can be very addictive, and wholly satisfying. Seeing the fruits of one’s labor is a joy in itself, and then the time arrives to reap the rewards of this hard work!

The Benefits Of Leaving A Writing Project Temporarily On The Backburner

Sometimes when we are writing we may experience a feeling that we cannot proceed any further with a project, and this could be attributed to various factors. Maybe we have been working on the story for so long we begin to find fault with it, thinking that we may possibly have writer’s block, or, that it’s just not worth pursuing. Maybe the speed of life itself makes us think that we will never find the time to complete the project, and, in a sense, we may effectively ‘give up’ on the story. Whatever the reason, I believe that, in the majority of cases, there is a remedy for this, and, it is more simple than we realise.

The best thing I have found from my experience is that when I leave a work by putting it temporarily to the side, this gives me more perspective on the project, and, having some distance from it can make me more objective in the long run. Having something else to work on in between is also another great way to take one’s mind off the project, and onto something else. For example, at the present moment, I am drafting a project whilst doing the final editing for another. I find that this works as I can alternate from one to the other, and it keeps things fresh for me. In addition to this, new ideas for the stories may emerge which may not have been possible if there was a tight focus on just one story.

It’s basically one of those things where what works for one writer may not work for another; everyone has different ways of carrying out their writing projects. It could also be boiled down to the fact that maybe we need a little break from writing, which could do the trick, in order to return to it refreshed and creatively revitalised. Whatever it is, and whatever works for us, we should pursue this totally, and never feel guilty if we require some time out from writing. We know ourselves, and how we feel, and should listen to our inner voice in this respect. We will know when the time arrives for us to return to writing; our sixth sense will tell us, for sure. Now it is over to you, for your thoughts on the benefits of leaving a writing project temporarily on the back-burner.

The Importance For Authors of Keeping a List

The habit of maintaining a list of items to be addressed is something which I feel has helped me tremendously in keeping, and staying, organized in my writing. As there are always many things to do in our writing endeavors, such as ideas for new stories, posts for blogs, interviews with authors, to name but a few examples, it is good to be able to keep a record of future ideas, and tasks, someplace which we can refer back to at any time.

In my case, I have a little notepad near my computer on which I have a numbered list of things which I wish to do over time, and which I consequently mark off once I have completed. Once the majority of the items have been addressed, I dispose of this page, and complete a fresh page of tasks. Each writer works differently, and other people may, for example, employ the use of an Excel spreadsheet, or some other such method – whatever works for each writer in their individual way.

I have found that without this, I am a little, as the saying goes, ‘out at sea’, as I may miss out on doing things which might be important in the overall scheme of things at some stage. And now, as I have provided my thoughts on this subject, the discussion is over to you, for your opinion, on the importance of keeping a list for authors.