by Jeanne Takenaka, @JeanneTakenaka

Where do your story ideas come from?

Before I ever became brave enough to type the first words of a book, one of my biggest fears was developing story ideas. 

My hubs and I attended a marriage retreat some years ago, and a story idea implanted itself in my mind. My heart nearly leapt with both joy and terror at the thought of writing a novel.

I’ve since written four books, and I’m editing my fourth now. But, my question (and my fear) has remained:

Where do good story ideas come from?

The importance of creating original, not overdone, stories is discussed frequently. Agents and editors are always looking for a unique take on an idea. 

I asked writing friends where their story ideas come from. This list is a compilation of my and others’ tips:

Newspaper titles and stories—Sometimes a news title spurs a unique take on a topic. Look for nuances within the article that can spin into a story. We can also take a title, flip it, and view the story from a completely different angle.

Photographs that portray emotion or capture a vignette. Look at a picture (current or historical) that seems to capture the middle of a story and create the details that led to that moment. 

Real life events can begin the weaving of a story. How can we change or fill in the details? What real-life story do we wish had a different ending? Think about how to make that happen.

Think about a book we’ve read and spin a story that goes in a different direction. We can take a different perspective on the events of the book and craft a new story with our unique creativity.

Movies and songs can spur our imaginations as we consider the plot, the messages, and the dialogue. Sometimes we need to allow our imaginations to simply mull on something that catches us and makes us think.

Questions or life themes we’re grappling with can be story fodder. If we’re struggling to understand the why of a situation, we can create a story with a character who wrestles with a similar issue. 

Brainstorming with friends can be a fun way to come up with a story concept. Throwing out all kinds of ideas can be fun, freeing, and a fire-starter for a new story.

Family history can be a great resource for conceiving a story. 

Prayer. When we’re in need of an idea, God wants us to ask Him for His vision for our next book. When we seek Him in humility, He may just reveal a gem.

Ideas will surprise us if we slow down to evaluate what engages our attention or gets us thinking. Stories are often born when we consider elements from our lives.

The next time you’re looking for a story spark, be aware of what’s going on around you or what you find yourself reflecting on. Consider how you can turn that into a story, and get busy writing! 

Award-winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real-life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days. You can connect with her on her blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.