Comments for To tell a compelling story...

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Sydnee Thompson

Sydnee Thompson — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:00:06 +0000

Usually I get ideas for stories from television… I watch a lot of trash TV (Jerry Springer, Maury, Operation Repo, 16 & Pregnant) and the immense dysfunctionality always serves to amuse me and inspire me for writing offbeat characters. Most of my novels include some kind of thriller/adventure concepts so watching shoot-em-ups really help too.

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Patty Blount

Patty Blount — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:31:49 +0000

It’s one of my favorites, too.

New site is up!

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Kelly B

Kelly B — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:24:32 +0000

I agree with Abby and I too love to amuse myself with different scenario’s as I pass the time waiting in line, driving my car or just walking on the treadmill. Sometimes I am inspired by real life events and other times I am will see someone and ask myself what if? In fact the what if game is my favorite.

PS Can’t wait to see the new website.

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Patty

Patty — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:46:43 +0000

Wow! Thanks for commenting. Your book sounds interesting… a whole novel from a single conversation? Impressive!

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by lexcade

lexcade — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:36:10 +0000

um, a conversation with my mom actually spawned an entire novel in my brain. and the conversation will be in the book. maybe not verbatim, but close.

also, you would have had a field day with the tattoo convention that just came through town. tattooed people EVERYWHERE!

thanks for the post. this is really interesting, and also very typical of writers if we’re honest.

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Patty

Patty — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:30:41 +0000

Abby, you’re the first person who’s ever said that. Usually, I get things like. “You’re so weird.”

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by abby mumford

abby mumford — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:24:16 +0000

i love hearing the way your mind works. how you take one inciting incident and flip it on its head until the character comes spinning out. the throat tattoo girl is really intriguing!

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Patty

Patty — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:36:43 +0000

HA! I’m often afraid to go to sleep because characters tend to haunt my dreams. One of these days, one of them is going to go all Freddie Kruger on me.

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Patty

Patty — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:36:02 +0000

I think the key is to follow Linda’s suggestion; mix it up. Devise a character who is a doctor, perhaps, and use some of your emergency room situations as his cases.

Comment on You can’t make this stuff up by Patty

Patty — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:34:47 +0000

Yes, I never use the real life situation as it happened. I usually use it as catalyst.