Okay, so I kind of need some help. From you, my much-loved blog readers.
With WHERE SHE LINGERS sitting in a couple agents' inboxes waiting to be read, I'm kind of trying very hard to work on something new and exciting to take my mind off Echo and echoes altogether. (Yeah, okay, so I'm not doing very well, but I'm trying, all right?)
At the moment, however, all I have are old unfinished projects and old ideas, none of which have given me that excited spark - that moment where I think yes, I must, must, must write this right now! So how about a game involving completely random/creative thought and helping me?
I promise it'll be short and sweet. All I ask is that in the comments, you give me
a setting
an unusual profession/hobby/character type
and a completely random word
The setting can be anything from 'Venice' to 'an old vicarage' to 'tower' to 'bedroom'. Places, names, rooms, types of buildings, anything. The second one's more fun - suggestions can be pretty much anything, from 'clock-making' to 'crocodile hunter'. And the random word is just that. Any word. So, for example:
Venice
Clock-making
Boot
or
An old vicarage
Falcon wrangler
Espionage
Ya know?
The point is that I hope something in the comments, or some combination of words, will trigger off an idea for me. Even if it's just a spark that turns into a story.
So I would love, love, love for you guys to help me out here!
I hope that it'll be fun for you to play along, but as a teeny extra incentive, anyone who joins in gets two extra entries in my giveaway. Click on the link for more details if you have no idea what my giveaway's about!
So that's my plea for the day.
In other news, Keris Stainton's having an amazing giveaway on her blog! She's giving away fifteen books, so if that sounds like your kinda thing (oh, go on, you know it does), then this is where you need to click.
Tokyo 2020 after the disappearance of 80% of people over 80 years old.
ReplyDeleteRetired journalist.
Adventure!
---
Crossing my fingers for your queries. : j
An English bluebell wood after an April shower
ReplyDeleteSaddler
Bobbydazzler
Good luck, Sangu and hope it helps! xxx
Oh this sounds much fun! Even if it doesn't spark off a full story, I'd love for you to develop and share some sort of character sketches using these ideas.
ReplyDeleteSitting on the branch of a large tree
Medium
Hobnob
Oooh, yay, some great ones so far, thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a detailed setting, Alesa, but an incredibly intriguing one! Do I sense an idea creeping in? (I hope! :-))
Vix, I think bobbydazzler's got to be the most amazing word ever. I'm going to find a way to use it in a story, one way or another!
Alex, that's a great idea! I think I will come up with some character and place sketches even if I don't get a whole story out of all this! Though I wouldn't count the story out yet... :-)
Great idea - I don't know if it'll help you, but it can't hurt, right? :) It should be interesting to see what everyone says. How about...
ReplyDeleteA playground at night
A female mechanic who's a princess at heart
A Key
:)
I actually left a lot out. There's been a running story in the news in japan lately and I had fun imagining a handful of story seeds from it.
ReplyDelete@Vintage Vixen: I had never heard of a bluebell wood! Sounds awesomely picturesque. : j
Koh Samui, Thailand
ReplyDeleteGrease monkey by day, drag queen by night
International scandal
The inside of a vacuum bag (alternate world/microcosm of this one)...
ReplyDeleteThumbelina-type superhero...
The motivationally challenged inhabitants need encouragement to break out.
A baby about to be born
ReplyDeleteAgoraphobic
synæsthesia
Okay...
ReplyDelete- A stinky old skip behind the local comprehensive.
- A pipe maker
- Smear ('coz I hate that word so much!)
Hiding under the table in a fancy restaurant
ReplyDeleteA bubblologist (Someone who studies bubbles, it's a real job!)
Antidisestablishmentarianism (The longest word in the English language.)
Louisiana Bayou
ReplyDeleteEarthworm Farmer
Apropos
Setting : Present day London in a world where the Roman Empire never fell.
ReplyDeleteOccupation : Tutor to the sadistic daughter of the senile Ceasar (say that 3 times fast.)
Random word : Revolution.
New York City when it was still New Amsterdam circa 1600s.
ReplyDeleteThe seamstress who makes ladies shifts and corsets.
Pirate
Setting: a glass-bottom boat
ReplyDeleteCharacter: a chicken sexer
Word: menu
I can't get any more random. I'll be entering in your giveaway tonight. Thanks for the bonus points! :)
a golf course
ReplyDeletea ventriloquist
radio
What fun! Good luck, that rebel, Olivia
a disco club
ReplyDeleteshoe repair apprentice
whiskers
Good luck finding your inspiration!