Where Do the Ideas Come From?

People are always asking me where my ideas for stories and articles come from. If you have ever read a really good book by one of your favourite authors, or watched a thought provoking film- then you will probably find yourself thinking- how did they come up with that?

The truth is, it is a difficult question to answer- ideas can come from anything and everything, to absolutely nothing. A friend once told me, years ago, that tiny atoms of creativity float around us constantly, and on the odd occasion they reach out and touch someone who is looking for an idea, and sometimes those atoms might bounce off and hit an inanimate object, such as a cupboard… and the idea disappears- of does the cupboard start thinking about how it can write down its next best seller?!

Ideas can come from people you know- a friend might be chatting to you about something totally mundane and you might suddenly get a burst of inspiration. You might even be inspired by people you pass on the street, or sit opposite on a train- it doesn’t have to be from any one that you know.

Then again, an idea could come from a book that you have read, or a short article or blog- if you have a creative mind and it is your destiny to write stories, or paint, or build- then inspiration will strike you wherever you go.

If you want to try your hand at writing or painting and you find that your mind is a blank, then I find that the best thing to do is to sit in front of a blank canvas- whether that is a computer screen or a piece of paper, look at the white and let your mind wander, and see what you come up with.

A good tip is to carry around a small notebook and pen with you at all times- you never know when an idea might strike you.

Good luck!