Go to virtually any author's FAQ page, if indeed they have a website. Inevitably you will come across the question, "Where do you get your ideas?"
And writers reply in several ways: in some cases, they will give as truthful an explanation as they can, explaining carefully that they get their ideas from ________. Some will give a very short answer, or a nonsense word, to get people off their case. And then there are always a few who admit to HATING THAT QUESTION.
If you write, you probably know how utterly randomly ideas can come to you. I've gotten ideas from books, movies, or songs--a sentence, or a shot, or a single lyric will really catch my attention, and off I'll go. Other times I'll brainstorm with other writers, if I really need an idea for a story. But my ideas come from anywhere and everywhere! From things that make me happy or sad or things I think are simply outrageous--"That should be rewritten!" I say to myself, and then I do.
But let's face it. I don't think anyone answers it better than Neil Gaiman: http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Essays_By_Neil/Where_do_you_get_your_ideas%3F
So. Are you writer? Where do you get YOUR ideas?
Inky
lol, loved Neil Gaiman's answer to the question. Naturally, I'm a writer, and I get a LOT of my ideas from entertainment, especially books, and HISTORY books. They always give me zillions of ideas! Especially since I like writing historical novels.
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