This information is from a panel I listened to a year or so ago. I took notes while attending a wonderful SF/F symposium called Life the Universe and Everything. The panels are very educational. The panelists were: John Brown and Larry Correia

–         Creativity: turn on your zing sensors to things that tingle your interest that might include things that don’t usually happen. For example a child with Down Syndrome goes into neighbors homes to eat.

–        Research something that doesn’t interest you and come up w9ith ideas that are unique from learning on the topic you’re researched.

–        Ask questions: character, problems, setting plot. I.e.: character maybe a ghost or demon setting: modern day Wyoming. C. is the character hiding something?

–        A possible zing might be Red Neck Elves or trailer park elves.

–        Make things different, examples: a. what can go wrong with technology b. ask what if.

–        Want to know motives of character.

–        Record all plot ideas into a file, note book for future possible use.

–        if a story does not make sense, don’t pursue it.

–        Follow your zing. If it stops working for you, fix it.

On a personal note: while listening to this panel, I came up with a story idea where there is a ghost town. That’s completely occupied by ghosts. Someday I’ll write it.

Another plot, I came up with years ago story I almost got fired at for. I came up with the idea while working at the sewing factory. I would come up with the concept of the story and quickly write it down and my magic at me and him was fired me. Thankfully he did not, and I learned that I can’t plot and scheme and take short notes while working in a sewing factory.

The story is called take out the trash. It is about the wizard who has the chore to empty the trash which is full of bad magical spells. This includes giants that have been properly deflated and magic potions that leak at the bottom of the bag. This seems to be one of the most well receive stories I’ve written. The idea was inspired by all my years of working as a custodian. So this is an example of how life’s experiences contribute to the creation of the story.

If you have some ideas of how you come up with interesting story plots, please feel free to share. Thank you.