How do you develop your fanfic ideas?

[Legacy|iB]

Seeing how the majority of us here can write fanfiction and that most of us tend to be pretty good at it, myself still pending, I'm curious - how do you develop your ideas? How do you get inspiration to write something new, be it a new chapter or a whole new fic? How do you get your ideas? Where do you get them from? A lot of us here, from what I've seen so far, seem to have some really weird yet strangely fascinating ideas in our fics and I'm curious as to how people would get them. Perhaps even a swapping of techniques can make us even better than the level of perfection most of us are already at.

I just realized what my technique is - when nobody else is at home, I walk around my house talking to myself. If there are people at home, I go into the washroom. I recite to myself the possible lines my characters would say in certain cases. If my fic has anything military related, I may put myself 'in-character' and actually do things. Hell, if somebody was to install cameras in my house, there would probably be a good ten hours worth of me jumping over my couch or rolling off of my bed screaming 'suppressive fire!' and pretending to be firing a fully automatic weapon at the imaginary machine gun nest set up across from me.

Or, at least I think it's imaginary...

Most of my ideas, particularly those Love Hina related and likely to never see the light of day, often are based off of other fics. I occasionally read one that has some rather memorable parts and characteristics and I work off of them. Actually, after reading Hawk's post about some idiot copying his fic, I'm now even more sure those ideas I have in my mind will indeed never even see the grace of a new document...plagiarism is not funny and I certainly do not want to be on the receiving end of the author and his buddies.

I also wanted to ask, because a few nights ago I suddenly developed the framework and general idea for a sappy, drama/romance Love Hina fic. While playing Tetris. Seriously, WTF?! Does anybody else have strange...moments...like that? Just curious...if so, great, since I'm not the only one that has those.

So...discuss, share, whatever. I'm always a bit curious to see what goes through all of our minds when we're in the area of writing. I figure I could learn a thing or two about writing from everybody else here.

 

[SMWhat]

I just do normal stuff, and suddenly it clicks.

It's sort of like--and this is simplified a bunch--mathmatics. You know? Like those problems where you're giving a couple of facts, like these lines are parallel, and this line is thirty-six degrees, and they ask you to prove such-and such. Except, imagine they don't tell you what you have to prove.

Do you understand--I mean--there are all those facts, bubbling around out there, and if I grab the right ones and alter them just so, I could get something beautiful.

Except I don't mean to at all. It just happens. I'm just walking the dog, or washing my hands, or drawing a picture and suddenly without trying to I've grabbed this and this and what is this? What is this?

 

[Alzrius]

[quote="Legacy|]I just realized what my technique is - when nobody else is at home, I walk around my house talking to myself.[/quote]
Creepily enough, I do this too, though lately I've been less verbal about it and just pace in circles, thinking.

Of course, that's what I do most often, but it isn't necessarily where most of my ideas come from. For example, "Favors," just popped into my head when I sat up in bed this morning; completely out of nowhere, I had damn near the entire idea for the first chapter (Motoko eavesdropping came later).

In short, while there are things that I do to help me think (usually walking, or otherwise just staring into space), there's no predicting what combinations of thoughts and/or ideas lead me to develop a fic idea.

I'll say this though...the hardest part, sometimes, isn't coming up with ideas, but making them work. I've got this one idea now that I'm absolutely in love with, but I'm having a damn hard time squeezing it into an anime fanfic, and it's driving me nuts.

 

[Dark Knight Gafgar]

Typically I either dream shit up, or I'll have random ideas pop into my head while pacing about my bedroom. If an idea sticks with me over a day or two, I write it down, and occasionally I expand on it.

 

[Terdwilicker]

Some of my ideas come from dreams. Many parts of my original novels from 14 years ago were from dreams. Love Hina is easy to write for, imo, because the characters are well developed but there are big holes you can extrapolate in and they don't violate canon. I depend on my sense of humor for many of my ideas. There's also anger at conversations which should have happened, thus responsible for much of the angst in my last work. I'm planning to make Fallout funnier, btw. The angst high point is near the start. I don't think this one will be very long though, just a few chapters, not over a dozen like the last one.

Anyway, you gotta make the most of weird ideas and ask strange questions. Then you can find out if your idea has been done already. I recently challenged the board to a KeixMotoko fic where they're engaged. Turns out someone wrote one where they're married right at the start, which is a bit different but still an interesting read. And previously we'd challenged each other to a KeixKitsune fic since they're rare and when they happen are very brief rather than fully realized. I opted to make Kei choose one of the Hina girls and he picks Kitsune at the end, which surprised most people. Of all the girls, she's the one who needed him most and offered the most character of all the girls without being outright violent like Naru. That's important. Anyway, take the situation, think about where things might be different and pick the point in the story where this change would happen. Go from there.

 

[SimmyC]

For me, ideas come from anywhere. Usually it might be due to say, something I don't like about the original story, or a different direction for a story. For example, didn't like Keitaro ending up with Naru... Brother's Keeper. Different direction... Conflicted Hearts in a way in that, while I knew that it would be heading towards Bell/K1, it was a what if something else happened?

Other than that, usually it is a random thought that manifest into a story. For example, while watching Fullmetal Alchemist, I thought, "what if I crossed it over with Evangelion?" Boom! Story idea!

In the case of Fallen Blade, it stemmed from the idea of "why is everyone killing off the husband? What if... he was alive?" And in both cases, it progressed from there!

 

[Fatuous One]

I just realized what my technique is - when nobody else is at home, I walk around my house talking to myself.

Creepily enough, I do this too, though lately I've been less verbal about it and just pace in circles, thinking.

I'll have random ideas pop into my head while pacing about my bedroom. If an idea sticks with me over a day or two, I write it down, and occasionally I expand on it.

Should I be amused, or disturbed that I occasionally do this as well?

My 'thinking process' is usually at work time. It's rather tedious and mindless work; so my brain usually flies all over the place, just to relieve some boredom. I run a large amount of scenarios in my head during this time, thinking "So, if this happened... what then?" and I can usually go through my own 'little story' in the hours of work time I have. At points, I may feel the story wouldn't work out like that and just toss out off of it (not like it's on paper/computer anyway) and restart, similar to how I do actually write, actually.

And of course, there's the pacing bit, which I am doing less of nowadays, now that I think of it. I do have a few other idea process', like just sitting down and writing whatever comes to mind, but mostly it's the work/pacing think-tanks.

Well, off to work. ^^;;

 

[Dark Knight Gafgar]

My 'thinking process' is usually at work time. It's rather tedious and mindless work; so my brain usually flies all over the place, just to relieve some boredom. I run a large amount of scenarios in my head during this time, thinking "So, if this happened... what then?" and I can usually go through my own 'little story' in the hours of work time I have. At points, I may feel the story wouldn't work out like that and just toss out off of it (not like it's on paper/computer anyway) and restart, similar to how I do actually write, actually.

On occassion ideas that pop into my head will expand into daydreams like those. It used to happen a lot when I first started writing fanfiction, but it only happens rarely these days.

 

[Hawk]

Most of my ideas come to me when I'm supposed to do something else then being creative. Working, is great for coming up with ideas. It's hell for actually doing something with those ideas, but the ideas do come on a fairly regular basis while I'm at work.

Going out and lighting up a cigarette also seems to work a treat, I must admit. During my vaccation, a very large amount of the ideas I've had comes to me while I'm smoking.

Other then those two instances, they mostly just come to me. I can be cooking, I can be talking, I can be watching TV, be on the telephone, hang out at the local pub, I can be sailing, driving a car or cleaning my motorbike. On occation, they just come to me.

The rarest time for me to get ideas, is actually when I'm sitting at my computer intending to write. That almost never happens. No, I need to have an idea or notion about what to write first, then I can sit down and cough up a new section or sometimes even a whole new chapter.

 

[Dark Knight Gafgar]

If when you're directly trying to focus on being artistic that any talents you have to that effect typically make like bananas and split.

 

[GenocideHeart]

I tend to talk to myself a lot, as well. But most of my ideas came completely at random. They just... happen.

I don't know how else to describe it... -_-

 

[Moshulel]

I don't know how else to describe it... -_-

PEPSI!

Pepsi and Coke! That's the best way to get ideas... just pour and pour and pour!

Coke as in Coca Cola, just to clear misunderstandings.

 

[nuclear death frog]

A lot of the time, I get a scene in my head, and I jam the rest of the story around that.

Unfortunately I don't plan ahead very well. And I'm lazy.

 

[Lord Raa]

I'm not entirely sure what happens before the ideas in my head decide that they want to come out

Some times ideas strike me when I'm at work, some times I am at rest.

I do know that some times music helps. What artists? Queen, Aphex Twin and L'arc~en~Ciel are usually good for helping the words out...

 

[Israfel]

I seem to generally have ideas spring into my head while I'm reading, it must be late at night, and there must be good music on, when I start writing the song that is currently playing will continue to play for however long I continuer to write as changing would through my entire equilibrium straight out the window. My entire sense of self and emotional state generally revolves around music and what I currently have on, thus I need a wide selection form which to choose from, which is why I have enough to run a small radio station. But, I digress, when I get an idea while IÆm reading it's not even usually anything to do with what I'm reading, it's just the act of reading that seems to get me in the right mindset. Also, as I've stated before, everything I write has a particular emotion or concept driving it and these are usually from whenever I'm feeling that particular emotion deeply, thus is m gift and my curse, as I'm not a very emotional person, thus for me to get into one of these 'moods' is rare.

 

[Perfect Psionic Soldier]

I would say its a magical event that involves chance, luck and attention. I could be watching a movie where the entire theme is love and I would be suddenly entranced into working the idea into a fic.

Once the Idea has been acknowledged, I then more or less obsess over it until I get a string of useable event that would one day become a chapter / story / waste of freaking time. =D

That stated, I find it much easier to work on new ideas as opposed to previous works <_<

 

[Alzrius]

That stated, I find it much easier to work on new ideas as opposed to previous works <_<

Same here. I don't know why that's true, but it is. I've developed a lot more sympathy for Hawk since I started writing and posting fics here.

 

[SimmyC]

Wow. Have to agree to that. It's alot easier coming up and developing new stories (like Cousin!Hina idea. ), but, developing old ones, not so much (all my Teen Titan fics that are ongoing).

 

[Legacy|iB]

Wow. Have to agree to that. It's alot easier coming up and developing new stories (like Cousin!Hina idea. tongue.gif), but, developing old ones, not so much (all my Teen Titan fics that are ongoing).

That stated, I find it much easier to work on new ideas as opposed to previous works dry.gif

Heh, that sort of thought actually goes through my head just as well. I had no problem planning my Love Hina fic when my Halo one was still in progress and I quickly set out to write it. I had no problem coming up with thoughts for my other two new fic ideas, but when I have those and when I'm actually thinking of writing them, I find it harder to keep writing my current work.

Is this ever a problem? A case of too many ideas, too little time to write, too much to write?

 

[GenocideHeart]

Usually, it's more a case of either 1) the muse dying because of suckiness in the fandom's inspiration *coughs, glares at Naruto* OR 2) a case of Real Life crashing in and screwing everything up.

 

[Perfect Psionic Soldier]

I prefer 3) Procrastination and Laziness taking hold and effortlessly using your imagination to work against you and create excuses to not write -_-

 

[SimmyC]

I prefer 3) Procrastination and Laziness taking hold and effortlessly using your imagination to work against you and create excuses to not write? -_-

Wow. Sounds like me! :lol:

Another issue for me is that, I simply grow out of the fandom that I was writing in. Teen Titans? Loved it for a 'starter' series for getting me into Fanfiction. But now? With series like Evangelion, Love Hina, and AMG? I'm finding it hard to pick up those Teen Titan fics and go with them. -_- Not to mention the fact that the series is now in reruns due to being canceled after the fifth season. Though I knew the series can't go on forever, the fact that I nolonger have an incentive to say, stay up on Saturday night watching the series, getting new inspiration, etc. when I had already seen every episode availble.

But how did I lose interest in a series that ended, when I still have stories planned on another series that ended a long time ago (Evangelion and Love Hina)? Well, you have the qaulity/longevity of the latter series in its favor. Sure it ended, and even has less episodes than Teen Titans, but... well, Teen Titans is a series, light story, meant for kids/teens (the animated series. Not the comics), while Evangelion? Lot more complicated, and a lot more fun to screw around. :sisi: Love Hina just has so many possiblities that, sure it ended. Doesn't mean it has to stop there, or the AUs can be fun to write. Teen Titans? Meh. I love the series personally (hence, why I wrote for it) but I knew it wasn't up to level as the other series I mentioned.

 

[Alzrius]

I just now posted a fic preview (Soul of Sand, in the Love Hina forum) that I came up with at work. My stream of consciousness that led to this was as follows (pretty much):

I'm so bored...bored, bored, bored...

What's a good anime song I can sing to myself? Ah, "Sayonara Solitaire," I love that one.

[Five minutes later]

That was good.

Chrono Crusade is a good anime.

I like anime.

I'm glad I got to watch anime at Gen Con.

That reminds of when I cosplayed as an anime character, Gaara, at last year's Gen Con.

Hm, didn't I just see an image of Gaara somewhere?

Oh yeah, Israfel's avatar.

I like Israfel's avatars. I made a fic out of the last one, combined with Love Hina.

Hm, I wonder if I could do that with his current avatar...?

And the rest, as they say, is history.

 

[Moshulel]

I prefer 3) Procrastination and Laziness taking hold and effortlessly using your imagination to work against you and create excuses to not write -_-

Why, you took that excuse right out of my mouth!

Though I knew the series can't go on forever, the fact that I nolonger have an incentive to say, stay up on Saturday night watching the series, getting new inspiration, etc. when I had already seen every episode availble.

And there are ongoing series that make you lose all your apetite for fanfic, or perhaps the other way around, the series is so bad that you just can't help but write something better...

*coughs, glares at Naruto*

 

[Israfel]

Hm, didn't I just see an image of Gaara somewhere?

Oh yeah, Israfel's avatar.

I like Israfel's avatars. I made a fic out of the last one, combined with Love Hina.

Hm, I wonder if I could do that with his current avatar...?

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Heh, and so I continue to inspire fanfic ideas unknowingly and unwittingly, meh, whatever works, maybe I should rename myself 'Alzrius' Muse'. ^_^