The Ben Esch Website

 
  • Home
  • Stuff about the book
  • Who wrote this?
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Buy

Writing tip #8 or so: hijacking inspiration

3/5/2010

14 Comments

 
Hey readers,

Two questions I deal with quite a bit when I do author appearances: 

1.  Do you know Stephanie Meyer? 

And...

2.  Where do you get your ideas? 

Let's focus on question #2 for right now. 

Where do ideas come from? 

To be honest, I really don't know for sure where my ideas come from.  I like to think that a big part of it is just me being really smart and creative (author's note: and humble) but that can't be all of it.

Now, like I said, I don't know for sure where my ideas come from, but the longer I do this, the more I'm leaning toward a theory...

My theory:  the crazy crap we do, see, and hear about throughout our lives sticks to us, and if you can filter it right, this turns into creativity somehow.  And for some reason, the crazy crap that we're surrounded by during our childhood seems to stick a lot harder. 

Yeah, I need to work on that a bit before I can spin it into a self-help book, but I still think that the theory is sound.  Whenever I'm stuck for ideas or characters or locations, my mind always goes back to my hometown.  And lucky for me, my hometown is pretty entertainingly insane. 

How entertainingly insane you ask?  Allow me to demonstrate. 

The following are ACTUAL police calls from my hometown during the last few weeks.  Check out the News of Record in the Union Democrat if you want to see some more. 

6:54 p.m., Big Oak Flat — A woman reported her “tie-dye-jerky” signs vandalized in Big Oak Flat.

5:50 p.m., duck call — A person called to report a duck in the middle of the road. The caller said the duck could not fly and had attempted to shoo the bird off the road. Police responded, only to find the duck could, in fact fly. Officers were unable to capture the duck.

7:47 p.m., East Sonora — A caller said an intoxicated employee was inside a business and refusing to leave. While a deputy was there, the manager arrived, also intoxicated, but in better condition. The first reportedly intoxicated employee was picked up by family members, and a cab was called for the manager.

10:28 a.m., self-starters — An apartment manager reported that tenants had removed a smelly carpet without consent on the 600 block of Copello Drive.

11:06 a.m., lazy dogs — A person reported that dogs repeatedly chased cars at Bret Harte Road and Booster Way. The offending dogs failed to chase the police car that investigated

4:09 p.m., suspicious circumstances — A man on a horse was lectured about panhandling on the 1000 block of Mono Way.

4:01 p.m., Sonora — A woman went to the Sheriff's Office asking that DNA testing be done on a single hair she found attached to duct tape on her car. She said she uses the tape to cover damage caused when she hit a deer, and someone keeps pulling the tape back. She was told no DNA testing would be done and left.

7:40 a.m., Phoenix Lake area — A person on the 21800 block of Montgomery Road reported that a neighbor's horse had fallen into the pool and couldn't get out. Fortunately, the horse was in the shallow end.

3:01 a.m., Twain Harte — A woman hired to dance at a bachelor party was thrown out of a residence by the bachelor’s girlfriend. Deputies assisted her in finding a hotel room for the night after picking her up at Marquis Drive and Twain Harte Drive.

My advice:  When you get stuck for inspiration, think back on your childhood and where you grew up.  Chances are there's some gems in there. 

My advice #2:  Don't panhandle while on horseback as law enforcement takes a dim view. 
14 Comments
Brittany
3/6/2010 08:08:13 am

I think I am really going to enjoy Sonora.

Reply
Doyle "The Brother" Esch
3/7/2010 06:58:51 am

If you get in the News of Record while you're there you win 50 bucks from Ben.

Reply
Danny
3/8/2010 03:09:16 am

Britt I can help you brain storm ideas of ways to get in the News of Record!

Ben: Did you ever read the police log in the daily californian? They are equally hi-lourouslsldkjd.

Reply
Beverley BevenFlorez link
3/12/2010 02:50:12 am

Great post! I added a link to this on my Writers' Well today. :)

Reply
D.M. Cunningham link
3/12/2010 03:04:20 am

Ha ha ha!! I love the DNA tape situation. I can picture this woman just waiting and watching for that pesky tape vandal. What if the hair was her own? Wouldn't she feel stupid...

Reply
Monica link
3/24/2010 09:25:49 am

so...just to get this straight.. you don't know Stephanie myers?

Reply
replica watches link
12/23/2010 03:43:11 pm

When I visit this good webiste,Just to say,I am glad to read so good article in the webstie.Well,OK.I have to say,what a wonderful blog it is.thank you for your sharing so good articles in the website.I like it very much.It is very interesting in it.Look forward to reading in your website.

Reply
replica watches link
12/23/2010 04:16:18 pm

When I visit this good webiste,Just to say,I am glad to read so good article in the webstie.Well,OK.I have to say,what a wonderful blog it is.thank you for your sharing so good articles in the website.I like it very much.It is very interesting in it.Look forward to reading in your website.

Reply
wedding dress link
2/25/2011 03:35:50 pm

Spring is near,every girl wants to be the bride in the special season.They are eager to put on beautiful Wedding Dresses or the Bridal gowns.Here "www.prettyweddingdress.com", with your desired dress!!

Reply
AK90 link
4/14/2011 01:23:44 pm


Wow this is a great resource. I'm enjoying it. Good article.

Reply
Hermes link
7/31/2011 04:20:44 pm

The negotiators appeared to be having a hard time defining what kind of cuts would occur at the end of the year 2012 if Congress failed to act on the committee’s recommendations.

Reply
louis vuitton online link
3/20/2012 07:15:25 pm

Hello! Welcome to my louis vuitton online store.

Reply
essay writing link
8/20/2013 07:14:44 pm

A woman went to the Sheriff's Office asking that DNA testing be done on a single hair she found attached to duct tape on her car. She said she uses the tape to cover damage caused when she hit a deer, and someone keeps pulling the tape back. She was told no DNA testing would be done and left.

Reply
klikk her
11/17/2013 10:32:18 am

This is the primary moment I even have glimpsed your content and do prefer to notify you – it's very pleasant to ascertain and that i realize your onerous labor. although if you likely did it in an exceedingly clear-cut means that may be very pleasant. although over all I exceedingly counseled you and positive can expect additional mails like this. Thanks most. <a href="http://norsk-casinos.com/">klikk her</a>

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    The Dixie Blog:

    Videos.  Lists.  Jackassery. 

    Archives

    March 2011
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.