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
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.
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.
I sometimes dream about characters when I’m revising. Not so much the initial ideas, though.
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!”
‘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.
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.
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.
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
Well, this one stuck. I’m ready to bail on WP and return to Blogger. I never had this much trouble there.
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!
It does put sales into perspective, doesn’t it? Glad you stopped by, Beth.
I appreciate your energy that keeps you writing AND supporting other writers. Thank you!
Writing down my dreams is very rare for me. Thanks Lee for visiting every time. I enjoyed that quote.
Always enjoy my visits, Sonia.
It’s interesting how we all process the stuff around us and turn it into stories.
The mind is a mysterious and lovely thing.
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.
I’m heading the same direction, Diedre. I’m so tired of dealing with WP.
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.
Wow! Now that’s a dream to base a story on!
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.
Short answer…I screwed up. However, that would be consistent with this entire year. I so need a break.
My inspiration comes from all over. Real life. Dreams. Out of nothing. I never know what will spark.
Your trilogy looks like a lot of fun, Lee! However you get your ideas, you’ve been getting some great ones. Take care!
LoL, I love that they sneak through the back door.
All of mine come from dreams and I have so many written down, I could write forever.
My stories are inspired by real-life experiences. It’s so interesting to read about what inspires other authors.
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.
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
I guess you have to write those dreams down as fast as possible. I know I would.
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 🙁
Oh no! I was just thinking about returning to Blogger.
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
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…
It’s probably at work, and you’re not noticing. That happens to me a lot.
Love your quote. Mostly, because–these days–I love a good laugh. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
You and me both!
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!
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.
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.
I sometimes wonder if I’m actually sleeping or in some kind of semi-conscious state.
I love when ideas just sneak in and my subconscious does a lot of the work for me!
I’m always surprised when I review my notes after writing a book. Where did all of this come from?
Hopefully this comment goes through!
I’ve never dreamed about my characters or stories.
We all get our stories from different places.