Weekly Writer’s Quote: Seeing ideas

Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don't see any. - Orson Scott Card

The problem when looking for a subject to write about is not lack of ideas but seeing them. Anyone who wants to be a writer has to open their eyes and get a little exercise. In this case, I am not talking about the type of exercise you get when you walk, run, or go to the gym, all thought that will reveal ideas for writing as well.

Instead of sitting at the computer get up, take note pad and a pinnacle with you and go to the front door or the kitchen window. Is one of the neighbors’ cats walking through your backyard or sitting behind a rock looking at the birds in the oleanders. Do not get upset because the cat is there; use the cat as a start for a story or poem. Write a short description of what you see and then write a story about it.

When you go to the supermarket, laundromat, bank, or wherever you are going attempt to get at least one story or character idea. I know that when I go anywhere in Las Vegas, I see all sorts of things and people that would make good ideas for a story, poem, or character.