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Not sure if this is in the right place but here goes.

I'm just curious as to why other people write.

SO dakka, what actually inspires you to write?

Nom

Sometimes I'll read or watch something really good and then I immediately feel like I should write. The Sopranos really helps to inspire me.

Anything from movies, stories, music and art, to life experiences, conversations, self reflections, and even a few 40k games I've played. They are after all stories into themselves.

The excellent work on dakka fiction and the more obvious; Movies, TV, comic books and Current affairs/life experience.

I'll admit Alot of the time i will be inspired by an idea in another person's work but it is usually a very minor one and comes out almost unrecognisable.

Reading some of Clive Barker's stuff gave some very twisted inspiration for at least some story ideas and characters.
Heck, going to London twice during the summer gave me ideas for a short story I wish to finish soon.

The times I acctualy manage to get something decent down on paper/computer I am inspired by either books or music really.

Dr. Temujin wrote: going to London twice during the summer gave me ideas for a short story I wish to finish soon.

As someone who commutes there every day, I'd be interested to see what inspiration it gave you!

On topic, I tend to pick scenes, images or themes which appear cool (to me, anyway) and try to flesh them out to my own satisfaction.

All sort of stuff, most of all I tend to chat about my ideas with people, and exchange fluff with other people, then I might strike a vein. It also help with positive feedback.

Necroagogo wrote:

Dr. Temujin wrote: going to London twice during the summer gave me ideas for a short story I wish to finish soon.

As someone who commutes there every day, I'd be interested to see what inspiration it gave you!

On topic, I tend to pick scenes, images or themes which appear cool (to me, anyway) and try to flesh them out to my own satisfaction.

I think it was when we went to one of the churches that I decided to write something based on just that building. If I do finish it, I'll probably post it up here, and you can see for yourself!

Necroagogo wrote:On topic, I tend to pick scenes, images or themes which appear cool (to me, anyway) and try to flesh them out to my own satisfaction.

Basically this. If I see a really cool picture, I'll try my best to find a reason to use it in my work. Also, games, books, artwark (as already mentioned), all help me to come up with new ideas. Also on occasion, I may just think of something totally random, and see how far it goes as a written idea. Some are good, others are bad, but if it keeps me working on new ideas, I'm happy with that.

Well... I have 2 main avenues of thought.

1) I travel a lot for work. Whilst sat on trains, day dreaming , and plotting.

2) A curious mix of films, books and beer

1. Amon Amarth
2. Reading
3. The witcher 2

I think of an awesome idea. I go with it.

I think of an awesome idea. I go with it.

Asherian Command wrote:I think of an awesome idea. I go with it.

It's not that simple, for me, I must flesh it out. Refine it, to the point were it is readable English. If I just plunges, then I end up having to do a heavy job of editing afterwards.

Sci-fi serials and comic books are what do it for me. The show X-Files and comic books like Witchblade and others from Top Cow are enough to inspire me.

PnP RPG games I have played, or DM'ed. Either session or campaigns.

*Sigh of nostalgia*

I got to DM at some point again. After I destroy the Astral Plane first...