Kelly Link on how to generate story ideas

[slithytove]

via nephele:

Kelly Link's thoughts about how to get ideas for stories. With stuff from Kate Wilhelm and Raymond Carver.Kate Wilhelm...suggests that every writer indirectly collaborates with her subconscious -- she calls this collaborator your Silent Partner -- who supplies you with ideas that you then turn into stories

Comments

[dsgood]

I have less than no trouble coming up with ideas. I have to weed them out.

Now, what I could use is advice on generating characters; I've found that I don't really have a story till at least one character comes alive. (Note that character sheets don't work for me on this; I need a character, rather than just a character role.)

[sinanju]

Praise. Praise is reinforcing. As for anything else--ask? As long as you're talking to your subconscious, ask it what sort of rewards it would enjoy. You might get an answer.

Thanks for pointing out the article. I like it a lot, and I think I'm going to try some of that.

[touch_of_ink]

When I get an idea from my SP, I share it with someone. Even more than praise from me, praise from someone else feels better. (Sad, but true.)

If I want total acceptance and fulsom praise, I run the idea past my son :)