I came across a brilliant idea in The Daily Writer a few days ago.
There’s the old saying isn’t there, write what you know. Yeah, ok, that’s boring and I don’t know much anyway. Well, actually…I’ve discovered I do! What about the 45 years of experience I have? All those little events throughout my life that I can use in my stories and novels? All I need to do is embellish the truth a bit, use my imagination 😉
So lets do a little experiment….what do I know about?
(I do love a mind map lol)
But what about one off experiences? What about the evening I spent at London Zoo with a picnic? Or the day I spent in Hay On Wye going round the book shops?
In The Daily Writer they suggest that I keep a file/folder/notebook of “experiences” that I can then draw on for use in my writing. What a great idea! Fred White recommends that you list them chronologically, ie:
“Childhood Experiences”
“Adolescent Experiences”
“Adult Experiences”
And then divide those into sub sections such as:
“Experiences in Nature”
“Holiday Experiences”
“Religious Experiences”
I’d like to add a couple of my own to that list, but when I sit down to mull this over I’m sure I’ll be able to think of loads lol
Food Experiences
Places of Interest Experiences
We all think our lives are so boring, but they’re not. If you were brought up on a farm you will have a wealth of info to draw on. Me, I was brought up in an inner city, and just thinking about it now I can list a handful of experiences that might, at some stage come in handy 😉
Oh dear, so that’s another notebook to add to the collection of the 10+ that I’m already using *snigger* 😉
So tell me, what’s a recent experience you’ve had that you could use to inspire a story?
The View Outside 
What about blogging? It’s an experience unlike any other, as far writing goes.
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Very true honey! I have that in my mind map 😉
Xx
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Tomorrow night I’m going to a cult movie night. The movie? The Goonies. I have a confession to make. I am 23-years-old, and I have never seen The Goonies
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Wow, go you Sarah! that’s a great experience 🙂
I have a confession too….I’ve not seen it either lol
Hope you had fun! Xx
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Oh my, where would I begin…the trials and tribulations of working in entertainment marketing, designing Star Wars Video boxes over and over again, letting go of everything, finding and losing love, raising creative children, becoming a writer at 45, and I ain’t done yet 🙂
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Oh Cheryl, you must have HUNDREDS of little experiences 😉
I think you would need a HUGE notebook! Lol
Xx
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LOL or hundreds of journals 🙂
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He he he, and what’s wrong with that? 😉
Xx
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And mind maps can be so colorful, too!
Your sort and grouping of life experiences could fill loads of notebooks…lots of stories – you are right sometimes people search the distance for ideas without realizing the richness underfoot.
Nice reminder!
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Thanks honey 🙂
I’ve started my notebook (i keep it on my desk) and every time I remember something I write it down 🙂
It’s been great fun!
Xx
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Such a cool idea…I’m off to list mine!
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It is isn’t it Mandy!
I’ll post a pic of my notebook on Monday 🙂
Have fun!
Xx
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I think when we write novels more of our own lives creep into them than we would like to admit.
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Oh definitely Anneli 🙂
But when I’m looking for inspiration it will be great to be able to flick through a notebook full of my first hand experiences.
Xx
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You’ve actually prompted me to write a list of experiences I Want to have!
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He he he….well I already have my list of “50 before 50” 😉
Good luck honey!
Xx
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I’m sure your inner city childhood has given you far more material than my farm one Vikki. Of course everything we write, non-fiction or fiction, is coloured by our own life experience. Bit scary really!
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Ooooo, I’m not too sure about that Pauline. If I wanted to write about someone who lived on a farm I’d have to do so much research lol 😉
It is VERY scary lol….and then we wonder why people assume, when a writer publishes a novel, that the experience of the character in the book is first hand.
Xx
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Funnily enough, I think that practically everything I’ve written, with the exception of my first NaNoWriMo offering, draws pretty heavily on my own experiences. I think that’s the only way I can write without getting tangled up, as I don’t do much planning in advance.
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Good for you Barabara, but I’m intrigued now, as I know what your novels are about as to what part EXACTLY is from experience? Lol….will have to quiz you on that 😉
Xx
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illness – tonsillitis and the desire to chop off ones own head and stick it in the freezer
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Eeek! And that’s just this week Paula? 😉
Xx
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I find it hard to use actual experiences directly – I tend to remember feelings more and build a story up around an emotion or the emotions certain experiences inspire in me – even if it’s just awe and wonder at the amazing old wrecks of stately homes on Stately Home Rescue etc. My childhood memories are quite a blur, but I can remember how I felt back then much better!
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I can understand that Linda, and I guess all experiences bring up emotions. Like one of the things I’ve listed in my book is the night I was chased by prostitutes (lol…don’t ask) and yeah, it’s probably the fear I’m remembering rather than the actual episode 🙂
Xx
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Vikki, I think we can use the most mundane moments and turn total strangers into compelling characters just by absorbing what goes on around us all day. BTW … growing up in the inner city gives you such an advantage 🙂
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Oh definitely Florence! 🙂
Growing up in an inner city I dreamed of living in the countryside 😉
Xx
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Brilliant idea! Alas, the thought of cataloguing all of those…makes my heart turn over. It’s about akin to filing paperwork so I’m not entirely sure I’ll go down that route, although I do admire your mind map! I have a notebook where I write down random things in a random order. It’s kind of like…the bits’n’bops drawer of my mind. I refer to that when I seek inspiration. Oh, and music always brings back experiences, good, bad or special. As for experiences that have inspired my stories… well, Sophie’s Turn and Sophie’s Run abound with them (speaking strictly on a personal level here, not regarding anyone else’s experiences). I say… appendicitis!
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Ha ha ha, that’s fair enough Nicky….I’m really enjoying remembering things that happened, and flicking through old photos to spark the memories 🙂
Ahhhhh, yes, I always have a notebook on me filled with stuff that just comes to me, so I know what you mean.
Thanks honey xx
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Great post. I was mugged at gunpoint as a college student so I used that experience as the opening scene for my upcoming novella. And on a cheerier note, my first kiss took place in a tree house so I used that as the opening scene for something new I’m working on.
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OMG Ava! What an awful experience! Wow….good for you for using it 🙂
Awwww, that’s sweet 😉
Xx
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This is an excellent idea. Must put a new notebook on my shopping list …
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It is isn’t it 🙂
What? You mean you don’t have a stash HJ?
Xx
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I like making mind maps, too! Writing what you know also means emotions and feelings. We know a lot more than we realize! A mind map is such a great way to inspire new ideas.
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
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Oh definitely Laura! Everyone thinks (or rather most people) their lives are boring, but we’ve all been through so many things that we can draw on 🙂
Thanks honey xx
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Use life experience for poetry quite often, but this way of cataloging it all is brill. will pass on to fellow poets. Thank you Ann
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Ahhhhh, yes, I can imagine that, especially the emotions connected to certain experiences.
Thank you Ann and have fun with it!
Xx
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You’ve got to love a mind map 😀 and a girl can never have too many note books xxx
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Lol @ Sam
EXACTLY! 😉
Xx
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This is a great idea, Vikki! I’ve had so many (weird) experiences I wouldn’t know where to start, but I’m trying to get them all down on paper 😀
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Good for you Dianne 🙂
I’ve struggled when I’ve just sat here and tried to think of experiences, so I just let them come to me when I’m doing the laundry or the washing up, then grab the notebook lol
Have fun!
Xx
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After reading this post I shut down my internet and wrote about some experiences I’ve had recently. You certainly inspired me! 😀
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Oh excellent Dianne 🙂 I’m just listing mine at the moment 😉
Xx
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All of this caregiving experience and learning how to get help…both are areas with a wealth of writing topics. Wish I was having some other experience, but might as well go with the flow than go down kicking and screaming.
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Awwww, honey, yes, turn it into a positive thing 🙂
Xx
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I’m trying to get into the habit of blogging the experiences. They stay in my mind more for story inspiration – I’ve a flash fiction idea I’m working on, it might even appear later if I can get through my emails!
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Ooooo, that’s a great idea Jaye 🙂
Good luck!
Xx
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Reblogged this on Rochester Literature Festival and commented:
Vikki’s blog is a must for writers – go visit!
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