Years ago when the kids were little I’d sit in the school parking lot waiting for the final bell. Across the street sat an old house. I remember it was nothing special. An old VW Bug sat out front. The house a faded yellow with a sort of 1950’s vibe to it.
One day I saw a person walk inside. Seconds later I saw the same person walk out wearing something completely different. Immediately an idea struck: Did the house have something to do with that? If so, what else can it do?
Looking back it was probably a different person that I saw, or maybe the house was a little weird. Regardless of which a story was born.
A Second Glance
It’s easy for stories to come alive when observing normal things. Sometimes all it takes is being in the right place at the right time, a curious mind and an interesting setting.
On the other hand, I’ve discovered it helps to be in a certain mood. That’s when things can really change.
Whatever it is, the key is to recognize when it’s happening and pounce on it the moment it does. I use to make the fatal mistake of promising myself I would write about it later. Never again. The writing part of all this has to be now while the story is fresh and real.
A familiar feeling
Every now and then while I’m stumbling around carrying on with my day it will happen. I’ve been at this long enough where I can trust my instincts and recognize those feelings.
As for you, if a certain emotion causes you to stare at something a little longer then you should, put on the breaks and investigate. Something might have happened that may never happen again. If so, grab a notebook, a receipt or the back of your hand and write it down.
You may be on the verge of something amazing and if it is, the last thing you want is to lose it.
A Crack in the Pavement 
It is marvelous how ideas present themselves, isn’t it? I really like the house idea, Bryan.
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Sometimes I’ll drive by that house and wonder if there’s more than meets the eye?
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That’s one of my favourite parts about being a writer: the fact story ideas can come to you out of nowhere. Thanks for the great reminder, Bryan.
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It is, isn’t it. Just when you think you’ve topped out on ideas another one knocks on your door. There’s that house thing again. What is going on???
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I discovered the hard way, to never say I will write that down later… even if you try, the magic won’t be there…
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That is true. Even if you do write it out at a later time the energy and excitement is gone and it will be felt in the words.
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So true…
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LOL this one time I thought up a little children’s story because I was waiting for the bus and across the street was a fire hydrant with this beautiful flowery archway built around it. It was part of a restaurant’s patio but they couldn’t block access to the hydrant. So it was a sad hydrant because it was never used and just sat surrounded by pretty flowers and conversations.
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You need to write this. I can already see it.
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Lol I’ve tried. It never works
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Ideas can really strike at any time. I need to remember to carry my notebook with me more often. So many times I’ve thought of a whole story in my head only to forget it later. Nice read!
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I once had this great idea when I was mowing the lawn. All was lost once I finished.
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Great post. It’s fascinating how the imagination works. You never know what will spark an idea.
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We are a fascinating bunch. So many people wonder how we do it.
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Good advice about capturing those moments.
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Hi, Dan. Kind of like fishing for that big bite.
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Great idea, I’m always thinking up ideas when I drive. Trouble is I tend to forget them as soon as the journeys over and I don’t think writing and driving mix. 😂
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Been there, Lorraine. 🙂
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Great post. This reminds me of how Terry pratchett saw someone pulling a piece of luggage with a wobbly
Squeaky wheel (I think) and it helped him develop the idea of the walking luggage from Discworld. 😁
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Hi Air!
That is great. So amazing how our minds work.
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I contemplated an entire blog topic off a cartoon I was watching on YouTube this weekend… now if I could only execute it…
You make me think, dude. Thanks!
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If anybody can pull that off you can. 🙂
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I try to talk to text into my phone. ASAP. Dreams, brilliant ideas, titles, blog subjects and whatever. All in the notes section of my iPhone. Don’t know what I’d do without it. I also have stashes of things I jotted down before I started talking. So frustrating when I do t save a thought and then it’s gone in a flash.
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A good friend of mine is helping me with ideas to my next novel. Her ideas are brilliant and they’re all by text. I’d be lost without it. This is where technology is such a wonderful thing.
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Did you ever develop that story around that yellow house? If not, then maybe it belongs to that little red headed girl you mentioned in another post?
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I never did but that doesn’t mean it won’t come back. These things are weird. When they come on there’s no stopping.
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