Thursday, June 2, 2011

Unintentional Beginnings

So yesterday I had a fabulous lunch with a good writer friend. We talked about writing, our kids, our lives. In some ways it felt incredibly decadent. Maybe because she made me an awesome gourmet salad and served me iced cappuccino.

On the way home, I passed a truck driven by a very old friend. Someone I haven't talked to in ages. Someone I miss a lot. I briefly thought about turning around to follow, but thought better of it. I came home and wrote these words on Twitter:

I saw a ghost today. Driving a white pickup truck. It made me cry.

I wasn't expecting the following comment by @KevinTCraig in reply: "Great beginning for a novel!!! Just sayin' :-)" (Thanks, Kevin!)

I wasn't thinking about writing the beginning of a novel. I was just emoting. And now I'm thinking.

How do you get new ideas? And more importantly, what do you do once you get one?

7 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

That's sometimes how the best ideas come! :)

Unknown said...

Would make a great first line and the story line possibilities are endless. Funny how our inspiration comes from the strangest places.

Heather Kelly said...

Oh my goodness! I had a dream which is translating to a cool and spooky book idea, and it has to do with ghosts. :) And, I do think your beginning is awesome!

Katy Upperman said...

I saw your tweet yesterday and was so curious... thanks for elaborating on it. And as someone who writes about ghosts of the literal sense, I think you might have something here! :)

Kristine Asselin said...

Thanks all! Funny I wasn't thinking about it as a first line, just missing my friend. But I'll have to let it marinate for a bit and see what happens!

Ansha Kotyk said...

Quantum Mechanics is my muse today. I guess it takes all kinds, huh? ;)
A great story can always arise from things that stir something within us. Quantum Physics woo hoo!

Misha Gerrick said...

I also get hit by story ideas in the weirdest of places. Can be annoying though, because I have more ideas than I have time to write. :-P

I hope you find time to get together with your very old friend.

:-)