All Out of Ideas? Tips for Finding Something to Write About...

You're out of ideas and can think of nothing new. You sit and stare at that computer screen or blank paper, and it laughs at you. Your mother keeps telling you all of your ideas are wonderful when you know FOR A FACT they are hot garbage.

Any writers who say they have never had trouble coming up with a new project or have never been stuck on where to take characters are liars.

Coming up with a new idea is hard, especially after you've just finished a project. Many times, you've poured out all of your brilliant brain juice into your previous project, and now you simply have nothing left.

Fear not! Grab some tea, sit down, and listen.

One of the most helpful things to do when you can't write is read.

I have heard so many authors tell new writers, "You must read. It's your best tool."

As a matter of fact, my eighth-grade yearbook quote was about this. Right next to my crimped hair, braces, and overdone eyeliner, it said, "If you don't have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write." –Stephen King.

If only my graduate self would listen to my eighth-grade self. I can go back and look at journals and poem books where I was pumping out some writing every five seconds! It was horrible, absolute garbage, BUT it's better than the blank page I've been staring at for the past few days.

So, my solution? Take everyone's advice and read. I spent the entire weekend in the bookstore drinking overpriced coffee and what I refer to as "rich girl water," which is shaped like a square and fits in no cup holder. Book after book, I explored the store. Some books I saw and thought, "What in the Hello Kitty is this? I never would that thought of this, it's brilliant!" Others I thought, "This, ladies and gentlemen, is why the youth of today are the way they are." Either way, I came back with several ideas. 

Whether it's a character, a setting, a plot from a story you think would be cool to continue or one you want to write a prequel to, you'll find something to write about.

Courtney's Bookstore Tips:

1.     Go alone. You can't possibly form amazing, wonderful, literature-changing thoughts with someone yapping in your ear about how they want to check out the sale at J. Crew. Although the sale is important, your writing is "importanter."

2.     Get an overpriced coffee or water. It just makes you feel better.

3.     Don't bring a heavy purse that you have to carry on your arm. This was my mistake, I couldn't juggle my book stack and rich girl water AND my purse. I abandoned the purse in the car later that morning. Put your stuff in your pockets or if you’re one of those people who must have a purse (me), use a crossbody.

4.     Have a notebook and something to write with. You will see and read through so many things in less than thirty minutes, there is no way you'll remember all of the ideas you have. WRITE THEM DOWN. Forgot paper? Use your phone.

5.     Don't be afraid to look at books you wouldn't normally read. Science fiction? Romance? Horror? You never know what you might discover. Maybe you'll want to create the story of that pathetic blonde girl screaming at the top of her lungs on every classic horror cover. Why is that girl freaking out and not running? Answer that question, and you're well on your way to a thrilling story of your own.

If All Else Fails...

Never fret about not having an idea. Take a step away from your computer or paper, and get involved in life. You'll find something to write about. Also, write anything down, even IF it's hot garbage. Maybe you can clean it up and create a story that will make someone other than your mother proud.

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Courtney Warren is a writer for her local newspaper, as well as a graduate student at Hollins University where she is pursuing a degree in Children’s Literature. She has a bachelor’s degree from Delta State University, the home of the Fighting Okra (which she is incredibly proud of). She loves to read just about anything placed on the shelves but has a special place in her heart for the Harry Potter series.

When she is not writing about herself in third person, she loves to write stories about middle schoolers with spunky attitudes who intend to save the world, as well as drinking Earl Grey tea from a very prissy teacup.

Check out her blog, Tea, the Spirit, & a Pen.

Blurred Lines

The other day, I was at Barnes and Noble when I noticed the “What Teens are Reading” display prominently placed so that anybody, like me, waiting for their Starbucks fix would have to see it. Being a teenager—at most—at heart, I started perusing the titles. Here are some of the titles that stuck out to me: The Hunger Games, Divergent, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Maze Runner. Having just finished the last one, James Dashner’s first book in his Maze Runner series, I began to wonder just how exactly it is considered to be a young adult novel.

            I won’t spoil the books for you, so don’t be afraid to keep reading. It is sufficient to say that Dashner is not stingy with his vivid descriptions of gruesome violence and post-apocalyptic desolation. That being said, I am already voraciously attacking the second book in the series, The Scorch Trials.

            I am not an advocate for censorship by any means—quite the opposite, actually. You would be hard-pressed to find a stronger advocate for the freedom of information. Rather, I am interested in definitions—specifically, I want to know what the “young adult” part of Young Adult (YA) Literature means.

            Naively, I used to believe that the author gets to choose. It sort of makes sense, right? Let’s say I write a novel—a spanking good one, I hope—and decide its target audience is teens between the ages of 14 and 17. Shouldn’t that be enough to get it shelved in the Young Adult section somewhere between Stephen King (yes, some of his books are actually YA) and Lois Lowry? The short answer is no—and so is the long one. There’s a large group of literary critics out there who believe books have their own meaning completely independent from any sort of authorial intent.

            So, who decides?

            Technically, it could be argued that the people who put the books on the shelves decide. But, how do they decide? What criteria do they use to determine if a book is Middle Grade or Young Adult or even Adult? Here are some basic characteristics used to classify a book:

            The Protagonist: Generally, he/she/it is a young adult

            What’s the Story Really About?: These days, it’s probably about star-crossed lovers or some sort of misunderstood mythological beast whose worried about his SATs, but what’s the story really about? It’s about growing up and becoming something or someone different than you were before you started.

            Content: This is a bit of a gray area. Obviously, if the book is overflowing with blood and gore or certain adult aspects of romance, it should not be middle grade. However, at what point does the blood and gore and sex become enough to bump it up to the Adult classification? Sometimes the lines are a little blurry.

            Money: Sadly, this one plays a pretty big role in where a book’s going to get shelved. Where will the most people buy this book?

            However, I think there may be another answer to the question of who gets to decide. What if it’s you? If a book does not get its meaning from the author, then where does the meaning come from? The reader—you. Not too many people would consider War and Peace to be Young Adult, nor does it meet most of the criteria requirements, but when I read it when I was 14, it changed me— it helped me to grow up a little. I’m sure if I read the book again today, almost 14 years, a wife, three kids, and a dog later, it would have a completely different meaning for me. But, at the time, it was young adult because I was a young adult and it contained some of the answers I needed then.

            Besides, whoever said that a young adult has to be a teenager? The day I outgrow Harry Potter or A Wrinkle in Time or Where the Wild Things Are for that matter, is the day reading stops being worthwhile.

ABOUT THE BLOGGER

Joel Kotanko likes to write books at his kitchen table in the dark after his three little children have gone to bed. He is a graduate student at Hollins University where he is pursuing a degree in Children’s Literature and also a student at National University where he is pursuing a degree in Creative Writing. He has his undergraduate degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan (a place almost no one has even heard of but that he loves dearly). He was inspired to become a writer by J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen and Ernest Hemingway and about a million other brilliant authors.

When Joel is not writing in the dark, he is a captain in the United States Army where he works with radios and computers and spends most of his time wishing he were home with his lovely wife, Ali, and his three perfect (though perhaps a bit unruly) little babies.

Living the Dream: New Indie Bookstore

For our first installment of Leap Book authors reaching their dreams, we're featuring Kitty Keswick, writer of the Freaksville series. Kitty is not only a storyteller, she's also a booklover. In addition to her large personal book collection, she considered it a privilege to work in a bookstore. Now she's on the verge of realizing a lifelong dream: opening an Indie bookstore.

Leap is thrilled that she's taken this step during times when so many bookstores are shutting their doors. Instead, Kitty is infusing new life into downtown Logansport, Indiana, with her Some Kind of Wonderful bookstore. The store, which will also have a coffee shop, is slated to open on Main Street in the Greensfelder Building. This historic edifice has been renovated on the exterior; now work will be done on the interior to turn it into a haven for booklovers.

Greensfelder Building on Main St.

Kitty is the author of Freaksville and the forthcoming Furry and Freaked. For Indiana residents who would like to meet her in person, Kitty will be appearing at the library on October 1, 2011.

Save Bookstores!

Today's the day!! Head to your local bookstore and buy a book. Agent Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Brown Literary has created a buzz for the event on Facebook.

Go and add your name to the attending list, and hie thee to an Indie store this morning, June 25.  Details are below.

Time	Saturday, June 25 · 10:00am - 1:00pm
Location	Your local brick and mortar bookstore!
Created By	Kelly Sonnack
More Info	Who: You What: Buy a book (or 4) Where: Your local bookstore (or Powell's ships) When: June 25th (the first Saturday of Summer!) Why: Because we need to support our storefronts. No more obituary section in publishing news, please!