In my last post, I discussed how you can use the news to generate story ideas. Transitions can also be a good source of story ideas. Yesterday we had the inauguration of the new president. Because he represents the party that was out of power, there will be a shift in policies. That will lead to a struggle over them. Struggles make good storylines.
There are all sorts of transitions we go through in life, and they can be explored for story ideas. For example, a wedding will lead to changes for both the bride and groom and their lives. Those changes are a great source of ideas. However, instead of starting the story with the wedding, start the story with the husband or wife looking back after many years of marriage. You could make it even more interesting by making the narrator unreliable. Don’t let your readers know that right away, but give them subtle hints. It’s not fair to your readers if you don’t. It’s also a great puzzle to figure out a way to let your know. Make it fun for yourself. Have your main character tell a little story and then have another character repeat the story from the opposite perspective. You want to confuse your reader temporarily as to who is telling the correct story.
Before I end today, if you want to keep writing, make it fun. Tease your readers, but never mislead them. Think of real-life and how you may have one impression of a person or situation only later to find out that your impression was wrong. Keep writing.
