Comments on: Finding Work Through Prompts

By: Nikki

Nikki — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:31:51 +0000

I get a lot of ideas via Twitter. I sit and read what conversations people are having. It's a little stalkerish but I often find that a new point or issue I haven't thought much about before comes up that is worth exploring and even writing about.

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:58:56 +0000

Devon I might try that approach. I like the idea of tackling things I'm interested in. It keeps me motivated. When you sell it do you tell the perspective editor it's already written?

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:26:56 +0000

I am honored by the mention. Thank you. Left a comment and will post the link on my blog tomorrow.

Wade, a lot of my best sales have been made by working ass-backwards, doing what the pros tell you not to do. I batch write whatever I want to write, whatever interests me, and then sit down and make pertinent market lists, and off everything goes. I think that comes from doing so much work in fiction, where you need the finished project for the first x number of books before you can just sell on an outline or a proposal.

The downside is that sometimes I wind up with a backlog of projects to send out; but the upside is that it often brings in unexpected checks during lean times, because I sent something out and haven't yet followed up to see if it hit, and then there's the check.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:59:21 +0000

No need to worry, Wade. Minor stuff. I just have a very cautious doctor. :)

Thanks again for a great interview! I had fun talking with you. And the story turned out great!

Thanks, Cathy. I'll go visit in a sec.

Ashley, that's a super idea! Devil's advocate - turn the idea upside down. Cool!

Paula, another great perspective. And I hope the weather is nice. :) It's gorgeous here.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:08:09 +0000

Thanks a lot Wade…I'm planning on avoiding the computer today to take advantage of the only below-90 temps in weeks (and ahead of the mid-90s forecast for weekend and beyond) to try to tame my yard…and you just gave me another reason to stay at the computer. LOL.

Ideas really are everywhere. Listening is the key. Listen to media, sure, but really listen to what friends, neighbors, even strangers are telling you – but also listen for what's not being said.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:24:35 +0000

Finding a different way to look at something is always a great place for me to start. I love being inspired by the simple things, and asking questions that no one remembers to ask or no one wants to ask. Sometimes people get caught up in looking at things a certain way, but playing devil's advocate can bring on a slew of ideas.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:49:50 +0000

Great interview, Wade! Left a comment. 🙂

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:04:25 +0000

First, all of these medical tests are making me nervous. I hope everything is well Lori. Second, I tried to accept your google+ invite, but it didn't work. Sometimes technology and me don't get along.

I'm with Devon that ideas come from everywhere. I believe it is just natural curiosity. The problem I have is taking those ideas and selling them. It feels that all of my comments on many blogs return to marketing. Writers are creative people, but focusing that creativity into a paycheck is a major hurdle.

Warning! Warning! Shameless plug. 🙂
Check out the profile I wrote on Lori. It was a great interview. Thanks again Lori! She shares wonderful advice and Devon you're mentioned as well.
http://www.quality-writing.blogspot.com/

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:55:03 +0000

Some of my best ideas come on my training walks. I record them into my Blackberry to help my poor baby boomer brain. :-)

Typically, those ideas go more with my personal blog than my business writing blog. For those, I love trolling Answers and Groups in LinkedIn for ideas.

For some reason, I have never been much of a Forums person. I think I fear the time suck that I would give into.

I also like to take every day objects and create post topics from that. Like I did one on business blog topics from looking at objects on my desk. Makes it interesting. At least I like to think so. :-)

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:37:29 +0000

That's very true, Devon. Inspiration is everywhere. Connecting to it is entirely up to the writer, and sometimes, they're not doing it. They have to train themselves to look deeply into what's right in front of them, as you say.

I like studies. Studies and statistics are great for getting ideas rolling in the nonfiction realm. I like short news items too because many of them spawn larger pieces. As an editor, I had no end of ideas from these two sources. I guess until yesterday, I didn't consider them writing prompts, but they are.