Why Do People Ask, "Where Do You Get Your Ideas?"

Dear Stephen King

I think, "Where do you get your ideas?" is probably the most asked question people ask authors. I am not sure why. It is one of those questions that can't be answered easily. The answer, in my own mind, has to be: "It Depends."

Every writer has a different way of developing ideas for stories. Some get their ideas while in the shower, a time in their day when they have complete alone time and their mind can spend time thinking about stories. Some people keep a dream journal next to their bed where they write their ideas down when they awake with strange and ingenious dreams.

Most writers jot down ideas that are inspired by the experience of their days. If something happens to them or to someone around them, they will sometimes think, "What would happen if a different person were in this same situation, or if these people made a different choice, what would the consequences be? This is why most prolific writers carry a pocket journal with them. You never know when inspiration is going to strike.

I have started a universe bible for a series of more than 300 novels. I think that will keep me busy for most of my life. I have an overarching idea that connects all the stories, but as I have other ideas throughout my experience, the timeline is loose enough that I can insert new storylines. Because I have this set of rules for my universe, I can sit down and write more ideas as they come to me. I don't ever have a time when I don't have something to write about.

For those people who feel they need to ask the question, "Where do you get your ideas?" I think they should ponder why they are asking that question. Writers are writers because they always have a story to tell. Their idea stream never drys up. In fact there should be more ideas than they have time to write. I know I am going to be busy for the next 100 years, and that is only if I can churn out three novels per year, otherwise I might have to live to be several centuries old.

If you have a hard time coming up with a story idea, then maybe you are not a writer. Don't let that stop you from writing when you have the occasional idea though. If your having to search hard for the ideas, then just step back and look at other hobbies that you are more suited to do. It is not a bad thing. You just write when you have something to write about.

Here is to all those stories we have outlined in our pocket journals. May they all find a way to be written.
Robert T Gasperson

Trying to Understand the 7 Point Story Structure

I have heard about the "7 Point Story Structure" on several different podcasts now about writing. I thought I would take a few minutes and see if I could break into the idea and apply it to some of my future writing.

Where did it come from? I think the idea has become popular right now because of a series of YouTube Videos where Dan Wells, Author of "I am Not a Cereal Killer" teaches a class about Story Structure. Here is the fist of those videos. You can watch the rest when you have time:

According to him there are 7 Points you should visit when you are creating structure for a story. It could be for a short story, a novel, a roll playing game or anything else you might be able to come up with. Those points are: A Hook, Plot Turn 1, a Pinch, a Midpoint, another Pinch, Plot Turn 2 and a Resolution.

He says your story should start with some sort of Hook. You need to catch the imagination of the reader. You also have to be somewhere other than where your Resolution should be. What does that mean? You should know what your resolution should be before you start writing. Preferably you will want your hook to be the opposite of where your resolution will be. This will give your story something to strive for.

Dan also states that you should know what happens at the Midpoint of your story. This is where your characters learn something about the Resolution, and makes the decision to go towards the resolution. You have to know where the characters make that turn so you can figure out how they can get to the Resolution.

Next we have to get from the hook to the midpoint. To do this we need some kind of Call to Action. That will be the first plot point. There has to be something that gets the characters out of the hook.

Next you need a plot point that gets the characters from the midpoint to the Resolution. This is usually something that happens that gives the characters what they need to make the Resolution happen. They need that something otherwise they will loose or the point of the story will be lost.

Finally you need a pinch before and after the midpoint. The pinch is something that happens that puts pressure on the characters. Usually you want the pinch in front of the midpoint to show the characters just how bad things truly are. Then there needs to be a much bigger pinch after the midpoint. This is where the characters lose something or someone extremely important. They are beaten almost to death or they find they are completely surrounded with no way out. This is when the plot turn 2 comes in handy.

So I thought I would take the liberty to rename the points for my own benefit. Then I think I will use this system to help me plan out my next short story. Here they are:

1. Hook the Reader
2. Call to Action
3. Something Goes Wrong
4. Reveal the Answer
5. Everything Goes to Crap
6. Last Piece of the Puzzle 
7. Resolution