Writing ideas have been hard-won these last few years. I’ve had several projects I’ve wanted to finish, namely Star Legend, Star Mage Saga, and Space Colony One. As you can imagine, switching between series can be challenging. Different worlds, different characters, and different stories can be hard to keep straight in your head, let alone to think up ideas for.
One of the most productive ways I’ve found of coming up with writing ideas is to not think too hard about the books but to do something else. Getting away from home and the daily routine is especially helpful. A new environment, new food, and new people seem to do something for the subconscious mind, and ideas begin to spill out.
Which is why I recently went to Dubrovnik, our first real post-pandemic holiday. What an amazing city. Dating back to medieval times, it’s steeped in fascinating history and is a UNESCO World Monument.
It’s also the perfect of example of a place that can spark writing ideas, not only because it’s so interesting, but also because of its associations.
For example, Dubrovnik was the filming location for Kings Landing in Game of Thrones. Here (left) is the street where the Shame, Shame scene was recorded.
And here am I standing on the city walls channeling Tyron Lannister.
Mount Srd
Walking in a natural environment is also a great source of writing ideas. Along with taking a long shower and sleeping, walking clears the mind and allows the subconscious to percolate through to the conscious mind.
We took the cable car up to the top of the mountain that overlooks Dubrovnik: Mount Srd. The air was clean, fresh, and scented with wild herbs, and the place was almost silent except for other tourists. We walked away from the main area and discovered the rocky landscape alive with wildflowers. The views were breathtaking too.
Others’ stories
Other people’s stories are a great source of inspiration too. Not in terms of plagiarising, of course, but because they give an insight into human nature and spark ideas for characters.
The owner of the apartment we rented had been living there as a child when the city was shelled during the break up of Yugoslavia. She showed us the alcove in the stairwell where she and her sister sheltered during the bombardment, and the ancient well also next to the stairs from which they drew water to flush the toilets.
Just relaxing
Naturally, simply taking your mind off things alleviates that great blocker of good writing ideas: stress.
One or two drinks, a nice meal, and a chat with a good friend are sometimes all it takes to get the creative juices flowing.
I discovered a new favourite beer while in Dubrovnik. (I have many.)
We had a wonderful time, and I came back bursting with ideas and enthusiasm for the final book in my long trek to complete three series, Never War.
If you’re interested in seeing more pics, pop over to the shipmates’ Facebook page and search for Dubrovnik.
Have you had any great holidays lately? What do you do for inspiration in your life? Let me know in the comments.