Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the July 5 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando,Kim Lajevardi,Gwen Gardner,Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!
Thank you so much for co-hosting, everyone.
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.
Remember, the question is optional!
July 5 question – 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
I only dream about the story once I’ve started the project and am fully invested in the characters. Sometimes the initial idea comes from what I pick up while following the news or reading other books, while other ideas sneak in some backdoor in my brain that I’ve yet to locate.
This is an interesting question and I’m sure there will be some equally interesting answers.
Something’s gone wrong on my WordPress site (nothing new there!) You may not be able to comment. I’m working on fixing it, but if the problem isn’t fixed by the time this posts and you want to tell me something, shoot me an email! Many thanks, Lee.
The Smashwords’ July Sale Is On
Alligators Overhead, Book 1 in The Adventures of Pete and Weasel series
FREE
July 1 to July 31.
If you like the Alligators you’ll like The Great Time Lock Disaster, Book 2, and Some Very Messy Medieval Magic, Book 3.
My young adult books published by Evernight Teen are on sale!
Quote of the Month:
“Contrary to what you’ve heard, selling is the oldest profession, because ‘In the beginning’ the serpent sold the apple to Eve. You might say she bought wholesale and then sold the apple retail to Adam. And as we now know, that was one expensive transaction.” Jim Blasingame, President Small Business Network
Carol Kilgore says
Love the quote! My brain has an elusive backdoor too. I’ve no idea where it is or who uses it. I’m so happy you were finally able to access my blog. Sometimes I really dislike computer systems.
Denise Covey says
Hey Lee!
More and more people are having trouble commenting, grr.
I’m like you, once I have my story underway, I dream my way through situations, especially when I’m stuck. And I don’t necessarily do it only at night, LOL.
Yvonne V says
I sometimes dream about characters when I’m revising. Not so much the initial ideas, though.
Jen says
I’ve only dreamed two stories into existence and it was a very strange experience. I think I prefer just having my ideas come to me while I’m awake! Even that can be a bit disconcerting at times, but it’s always fun to feel that initial, “OOOH! Here it comes! Another story idea!”
Sandra Cox says
‘Sneaking in the backdoor of your brain.’ I love it! And can so relate. I also enjoyed the ‘selling is the oldest profession.’
Wishing you a creative month.
H. R. Sinclair says
I’m like you. I only dream about it once I have started it. My ideas usually come from innocuous things–like watching a butterfly flutter around a flower on an overcast day.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think it’s when our minds let go of the trivia we deal with all the time, that we’re freed up to create. My bandwidth is quite narrow, so I need as much freed-up time as possible.
Pat Garcia says
Hi, Lee,
I left a comment, but I see it disappeared.
I too start dreaming about my characters after I have started writing my story.
All the best.
Shalom shalom
C. Lee McKenzie says
Well, this one stuck. I’m ready to bail on WP and return to Blogger. I never had this much trouble there.
Beth Camp says
That’s an amazing quote of the month! Made me laugh . . . at the twist. I still think dreaming is a way to tap into deep background . . . and sometimes inspiration. Thank you for posting that freebie and the Smashwords promo. Have a great month!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It does put sales into perspective, doesn’t it? Glad you stopped by, Beth.
Beth Camp says
I appreciate your energy that keeps you writing AND supporting other writers. Thank you!
Sonia Dogra says
Writing down my dreams is very rare for me. Thanks Lee for visiting every time. I enjoyed that quote.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Always enjoy my visits, Sonia.
Liz A. says
It’s interesting how we all process the stuff around us and turn it into stories.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The mind is a mysterious and lovely thing.
diedre says
Hi Lee,
Like you, I sometimes dream about work in progress.
I was having issues with WP as well. I ended up moving two blogs back to Blogger.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m heading the same direction, Diedre. I’m so tired of dealing with WP.
Elephants Child says
I suspect if you find that back door to your brain it will sneakily move it. I am glad of that, I think the quiet corners of our brain have a lot to teach us.
I only dream in conversations – with the exception of one recurring dream in which a wolf waits in the hall of the house I grew up in.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Wow! Now that’s a dream to base a story on!
Olga Godim says
I love your quote of the month. I’m lousy with sales, but I admire the authors who can sell their works.
A small question: why does this post has ‘June’ in the title? It is July now.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Short answer…I screwed up. However, that would be consistent with this entire year. I so need a break.
Patricia J.L. says
My inspiration comes from all over. Real life. Dreams. Out of nothing. I never know what will spark.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Louise (Fundy Blue) says
Your trilogy looks like a lot of fun, Lee! However you get your ideas, you’ve been getting some great ones. Take care!
Gwen says
LoL, I love that they sneak through the back door.
L. Diane Wolfe says
All of mine come from dreams and I have so many written down, I could write forever.
Sherry Ellis says
My stories are inspired by real-life experiences. It’s so interesting to read about what inspires other authors.
Jacqui says
It is really interesting to see where writers get ideas. In your books, it seems that you identify a problem teens have and build a story around it to spotlight solutions. I may be completely wrong! But I love that about your stories.
Debs Carey says
I can dream about my characters if I’m in a period of intensive writing and hit a problem which I need to resolve. But I also need to get the results of the dream down quickly before I forget. Generally, I don’t tend to recall my dreams (it’s some form of vitamin B shortfall) which is frustrating, but something I’ve learned to live with.
@DebsDespatches posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
C. Lee McKenzie says
I guess you have to write those dreams down as fast as possible. I know I would.
Jeff says
As a historian, most of my ideas come from study and research!
Funny you mention problems with posts. I have been having problems posting on my blogger blogs 🙁
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh no! I was just thinking about returning to Blogger.
Pat Garcia says
Hi,
I think it is so much easier to dream about characters after you have begun your story. I find my characters start coming alive when I write their character profiles.
All the best.
Shalom shalom
Sarah Foster says
I would love to dream about my characters or stories more. It’s happened a few times, but it doesn’t usually make sense. If only I could get my subconscious to figure out the stories for me…
C. Lee McKenzie says
It’s probably at work, and you’re not noticing. That happens to me a lot.
Anna says
Love your quote. Mostly, because–these days–I love a good laugh. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
C. Lee McKenzie says
You and me both!
Loni A Townsend says
You had me pausing at the beginning because I read “June” and I wondered if I’d forgotten to visit. I found I forgot to visit quite a few people last month, at least two that I’ve counted this morning.
I like the thought of secret brain backdoors. I’m sure I have a whole slew of underground tunnels leading to my brain!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Obviously, that title was wrong due to pilot error. I’ve fixed it, but you can probably tell that I’m in a tailspin. I wish that had something to do with writing books and not marketing them.
Natalie Aguirre says
That’s so interesting that you have dreams about your stories and characters after you start writing. Not me. I can’t remember my dreams.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I sometimes wonder if I’m actually sleeping or in some kind of semi-conscious state.
Jemi Fraser says
I love when ideas just sneak in and my subconscious does a lot of the work for me!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m always surprised when I review my notes after writing a book. Where did all of this come from?
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Hopefully this comment goes through!
I’ve never dreamed about my characters or stories.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We all get our stories from different places.