Working With The World Around Us

I sat down to write out this article and I found I was having a hard time thinking of something that would entertain and with luck, inform. Funny enough, I was sitting out by my pond racking my brain on what the article should be about when I began to notice things that were going on around me.

One of my very large bullfrogs had climbed onto a large rock and was waiting patiently for a bug to fly or crawl by. His eyes were the only things that moved as he surveyed his surroundings. After about ten minutes several dragonflies flew by and in the blink of an eye he had the bug in his mouth and dinner was served!

My turtle Bender decided about the same time that he wanted to go on a walk about in the yard. He would take a few steps and then pull in his head and feet...wait...then take a few more steps. It was as if he were expecting some evil bird to swoop down and carry him off.

Why am I telling you about the adventures my critters were having? Because the world around us can become a great source of story ideas. Let's say that I was wanting to write a children's story, I could use animals as the main characters...

Bender the turtle was afraid. His mother had sent him off into the wide, wide world saying, "Bender, you are a big turtle now. It's time for you to walk to school all by yourself."

"But mother, what if a big bird wants to eat me?" Bender asked. His voice was shaking with fear. He was just a little turtle after all.

"Just hide in your shell until the bird is gone." His mother smiled as she swam away leaving Bender all alone.

You could go on to talk about the animals that Bender would see on his way to school and how every time he saw anything he would hide. Finally, after much adventure he could arrive at school only to find that all of the animals he was afraid of were in his class.

You could also take the characteristics of the frog and turtle and apply them to people in your story. Let's say we use the frog for this one.

He sat silently on the cafe stool in his green leisure suit. His bulbous eyes rolled around on his large face, surveying the other patrons as they went about their business. He glanced at the clock above the counter. One o'clock? Where was his food? He was starving.

Yeah, I know, not a great write but it was written on the 'fly'. Use the people, places and things around you to help create characters and story ideas.

Exercise

Take a walk! Observe the insects, birds and animals that you might see. Use one of them to develop a character. Remember, they should have several characteristics of the bird, insect or animal that you've picked.

Take the character you developed and try out several different story genres. Try writing outside of your normal genres. Always be willing to take chances.

The natural world can be a great resource for story and character ideas. Just step outside your safety zone and let your imagination soar!