Tag: generating ideas

Categories
History in the Making

An Unexpected Nugget

History in the making

When doing research for a historical novel, you may find an unexpected nugget that could add some extra excitement, conflict, or an extra character you may want to include in your story.

While researching the town my main character lives in, in my WIP (work in progress), I found that a notorious outlaw had lived in that town as well. Though I have chosen not to include him in my WIP, I may include him in a future novel, either part of my current series or a stand alone.

It’s always wise to make note of unexpected finds in you research because they could be a valuable addition to your current work, or may invoke an idea for a future book.

If you choose to use an unexpected character or setting, be sure to research that character or setting in depth because it is important to portray them accurately in your work. Even though you may write historical fiction, you need to be sure any real life person or place is portrayed properly or your history knowledgeable readers will be upset and will let you know either through a book review or a personal email. You always want to keep your readers happy.

You may want to deliberately search for that unexpected nugget. You can begin your search by simply plugging a question, such as “what notorious people lived in the 1860s?” into a search engine and see what comes up. I will issue a word of caution here: do not rely completely on information you find on the internet, especially a site like Wikipedia, which is not always reliable. Also try to find more information by contacting a museum or historical society, or going to the library and looking for books on the subject.

I did an online search on the question from the previous paragraph and the following were the top ten articles that came up:

  • American History Timeline from 1860-1870
  • 1860 Fast Facts—History—U.S. Census Bureau
  • Famous and Infamous Census Records – History – U.S. Census
  • 1860s – the Hanneman Archive
  • The Living City | New York City>>1860s
  • Ozarks Gunfights and Other Notorious Incidents
  • List of Famous People of the 19th Century
  • List of Slave Owners – Wikipedia
  • ‘Dirty Old London’: A History of the Victorians
  • Infamous Mobsters – List and Notable Names – Biography.

If you are a historical writer, you most likely love history, so the above list has probably piqued your interest and you might want to rush off to check out at least one of those topics. But wait!

One more thing – books. You may find them at the library, but you will also want to keep your eyes open at used book sales and used book stores, as well as new book stores if you don’t mind paying new book prices. I have found several great gems for researching historical people. I have purchased them, and they now reside on my book shelf waiting for me to crack them open for a future novel.

Kelly F. Barr lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is married and has three sons. She writes historical romance. She has also been a blogger for ten years, and every Friday, you can find her Flash Fiction stories posted for your reading pleasure. She loves her family, including the family dog, books, walks, and chai lattes.

You can find her online at:

Categories
History in the Making

Corn Flakes, The Journey of a Favorite Cereal

History in the making
  • A health guru…
  • Stale wheat…
  • A tight budget…

This hodgepodge of events would lead to the creation of a long-time favorite cereal!

Corn Flakes’ journey began in 1877 when John Henry Kellogg (“John”) sought to provide a vegetarian diet to his patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. John combined wheat, oats and cornmeal, baked them at a high temperature, then smashed the mix into little pieces. After pouring the hard morsels in a bowl and covering them with milk (to soften them), John served this nutritious breakfast to the patients.

But the concoction wasn’t corn flakes…yet.

In 1898 the cereal’s journey took an unexpected turn. A pan of the wheat mixture was accidentally left out for too long. Faced with stale wheat and budget constraints, John couldn’t bring himself to toss the tray of grains into the trash. Instead, he donned his “creative cook” hat and rolled that stale mixture into thin sheets which crumbled into flakes. He toasted them in the oven, and when they emerged, the flakes were crispy and tasted good.

But John didn’t stop there. Experimenting with corn, he discovered those flakes came out of the oven crispier and crunchier than wheat.

Voilà−Corn Flakes!

But the journey of Corn Flakes didn’t end when those crispy flakes were pulled from the oven. Notable events followed, curiosities that might whet the appetite of fiction writers. The mystery, intrigue, drama or humor surrounding Corn Flakes could be injected into a story.

Mystery: Just who was in the kitchen making something good out of those stale flakes? John Kellogg? His brother, Will? John’s wife?

Envision a character (a young reporter?) snooping around the sanitarium grounds or chatting up a group of gossipy patrons lounging in the hot tub.

Industrial Espionage: C.J. Post (Post Cereal Co.) is said to have been a patient at the sanitarium who worked in the kitchen to help pay his way. Upon his return to Texas, toasted corn flakes (“Toasties”) became part of his cereal line. Did he steal the recipe from John? Add a telling tidbit: Post beat the Kellogg brothers to the patent office to register the rolling machine.

A character could be an employee at Post Cereal during this intriguing season.

Family Drama. Add sugar to those healthy corn flakes? Anathema! Market them? Not on my watch! John’s and Will’s differing aspirations resulted in a rift between the brothers. Ultimately, Will bought the rights to Corn Flakes and by 1906 he had formed the “Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flakes Company.”

Over a bowl of Corn Flakes, a story’s characters might discuss the newspaper’s coverage of the feud or engage in a discussion about the healthiness (or not) of sugar.

“Wink at your grocer and see what you get.”

A free box of Corn Flakes!

What a playful marketing scheme by Will Kellogg!

What a playful scene to add to a story!

Imagine a 1907 male character winking at a female cashier! LOL!

Or perhaps the main character is the cashier; at first it’s fun, but being winked at all day long can get old fast.

The Rooster: In 1957 Cornelius “Corny” Rooster appeared on boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

Picture a breakfast scene with young children enamored by the rooster.

 In the 1990’s, Cornelius received a makeover. Fiction in that time period could include a debate over breakfast: which Cornelius do you like best?

And there you have it−Corn Flakes!

From the mind of a health guru to Cornelius the Rooster−who’d have guessed Corn Flakes would give us so much to crow about?

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

Categories
Writers Chat

Writers Chat Recap for January, Part 2

Writers Chat Recap

Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all things writing, by writers and for writers!

“Because talking about writing is more fun than actually doing it.”

How Music Inspires Writers with Victoria Duerstock

Many of us have heard the saying, “music soothes the savage beast.” But our question is, can it inspire a writer? In today’s episode Victoria shares her thoughts on this question. Co-hosts, Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh chime with their thoughts of how music inspires them. Some writers prefer peace and quiet to write throughout the writing process, others listen before they write, while others rock out. Victoria plays snippets from her writing play list, including a foreboding instrumental that instantly brought to mind the idea of something bad is about to happen. Perhaps you haven’t given this topic much thought before, but I challenge you to check out this week’s replay. I know you’ll be encouraged and inspired.

Watch the January 19th replay.

Victoria Duerstock, author, speaker, musician, life coach, and a multi-passionate creative who is fueled mostly by coffee. Her mission is to create beauty, cultivate community, leverage resources, impact others, and leave a legacy. Helping other creatives grow their platform, and reach their goals is at the heart of all she does. Victoria believes: Ordinary People CAN do Extraordinary Things for the Kingdom – this means YOU! Connect with Victoria on social media and at https://www.victoriaduerstock.com/.

Using Memory to Launch Story with Norma Poore

In this open mic episode, we take a trip down memory lane for inspiration. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, our memories fuel what we write. Norma asks us to think of our favorite memory from childhood and share not just the simple memory, but the sounds, smells, and feelings that went with the memory. One common theme that flowed through these memories was love, which turned our hearts and minds to the unconditional love of God. So, if you are feeling discouraged or stuck in you’re writing, check out this week’s episode. I believe you will be encourage and inspired.

Watch the January 26th replay.

JOIN US!

Writers Chat is hosted live each Tuesday for an hour starting at 10 AM CT / 11 AM ET on Zoom. Here’s the permanent Zoom room link. 

Participants mute their audio and video during the filming then we open up the room for anyone who wishes to participate with our guests. The “After Party” is fifteen-minutes of off-the-record sharing and conversation.

Additionally, you can grow your network and add to the conversation by joining our Writers Chat Facebook Group.

Categories
The Intentional Writer

Boost Creativity by Increasing Diversity

The intentional writer

Do you want to take your creativity and problem-solving abilities to a new level? Diversify your inputs. Increasing the diversity of the groups you interact with and the sources of your creative inspiration will lead to:

  • Greater creativity
  • More innovative ideas
  • Improved problem-solving
  • Better decisions

All of which lead to greater success and greater job satisfaction.

It makes sense when you think about it. The more alike your friends and writing associates are, the more likely they will think along the same lines and come up with similar answers to problems. On the other hand, a more diverse group of people will have a broader outlook, more varied ideas, and more novel approaches to solving problems.

If you want to tap into the power of diversity, consider where you can add more diverse inputs in your writing life. Here are some suggestions.

Critique partners

Do your critique partners all write in the same genre? Do they all prefer to read the same sorts of books? While a critique from someone who hates your genre is usually not helpful, it’s wise to find critique partners who aren’t all writing the same kind of story.

My main critique partners write in completely different genres. This has served us well. In addition, I have joined forces with a fellow mystery writer (through the Sisters in Crime organization). When we were first brought together we weren’t sure it would work because our styles and worldviews appeared to be very different, but it turns out those differences have helped us identify blind spots, faulty assumptions, and plot holes. (Not to mention an occasional discussion on midwest vs. northeast idioms and brand familiarity.)

If you are looking for ways to diversify your critique input, here is a sample of the factors to consider:

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Cultural background
  • Income level
  • Education level
  • Occupation(s)
  • Work experience
  • Religious beliefs
  • Where they’ve lived
  • Where they’ve traveled
  • Family background
  • Personality / temperament
  • Taste in books
  • Taste in music, and/or other arts
  • Main interests and hobbies
  • Favorite leisure activities
  • Writing experience level
  • Genres they write
  • Pantser or plotter?
  • Writing style and voice

Beta readers

The same goes for beta readers. Your readers will (hopefully) come from all walks of life, so finding a diverse group of beta readers will help ensure your story makes sense and appeals to different audience segments who might benefit from your book.

Brainstorming

Who do you bounce ideas off of? Do you count on your spouse and your critique partners to solve all your writing problems, or do you solicit ideas from a larger group of people? You might benefit from finding a handful of people with diverse backgrounds who are willing to gather now and then to brainstorm plot problems, plot ideas, marketing strategies, or anything else that could spark new life into your writing career. When choosing brainstorming partners, remember to choose a mixed group, and don’t limit yourself to writers.

Social contacts

How diverse are the backgrounds and life experiences of the people you interact with on a regular basis? Could you benefit from spending more time with people outside your usual group? I realize it’s difficult to socialize in a post-Covid world, but social media and internet forums provide an opportunity to interact with diverse viewpoints.

Book and media consumption

Just as with nutrition, the more varied our diet, the healthier we’ll be. If you find yourself reading book after book in the same tried-and-true genre, it may be time to branch out. Pick up a few books in genres you don’t normally read. If you really hate them, you don’t have to finish them, but don’t dismiss an entire genre just because you disliked one or two books. Ditto for movies, music, and other creative inputs.

Years ago I stated a book club with the primary purpose of forcing myself to read books I wouldn’t normally read. Because it’s an organized thing, it makes me remain intentional about choosing a variety of book genres, topics, and styles. Do you have a book club that pushes you out of your reading comfort zone? If not, perhaps its time to join one or start your own.

 I hope these ideas help you widen your creative horizons and find new inspiration.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

Categories
The Poet's Pen

Poetry, Poetry Everywhere – Poetry Topics

Sometimes poets are asked, “Where do you find things to write about?” Everything is a possible subject, although there are some topics you might want to refrain from tackling. Below is a list that offers some ideas for your next poem.

Possible poetry topics

  1. Describe something. Paint a picture with words – mountains, a stream, a new vehicle, etc.
  2. A response to something – a rebuttal about something directed at you or a cause you support.
  3. The scent of something – baking cookies, cinnamon, roses, hay, etc. It could also be a bad scent such as decay or death, the smell of medicine or a hospital. Along with scent don’t forget the other senses of touch and taste. Think of the creamery coldness of ice cream or the feel of silk.
  4. A special occasion such as Christmas, a birthday, an anniversary.
  5. An emotion – love. hate, fear, excitement, joy, etc. 6
  6. Someone you love. Children make good subjects.
  7. A pet or other animal. Describe its fur, eyes, teeth, or intelligence.
  8. A color, its scent, how it makes you feel. What would the color look like if it were a person?
  9. Religion or a lack of.
  10. Personify a disease. For example, describe arthritis as an old man.
  11. Ravages of time, an age. This could be a place or a person reflecting on his life.
  12. Write about your first something – kiss, job, child, pet, etc.
  13. Look to history – select a time or historical subject to write about.
  14. Books can offer inspiration. For example, the Bible is full of great ideas.

Have fun. Use the above suggestions to spark your own poem.

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes middle grade novels. She believes that there is a story in every dog. In her spare time she takes care of 1 husband (of 40 years), 29 dogs and trains with TALLAO, K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE. Visit her at From the dog pen.com

Categories
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)

Brainstormed

It has been nearly Twenty-two years since I became disabled with a traumatic brain injury. Even so, I am still learning how my brain injury affects my body.

The disappointment and frustration are as fresh today as they were during my rehabilitation where I had to relearn everything from smiling, talking, to buttoning and unbuttoning shirts and even tying my shoes.

Anything that requires fine-tuned motor skills had become a struggle for me. Fine motor skills involve smaller movements performed by the wrists, hands, fingers, feet and toes. They involve smaller actions such as picking up objects between the thumb and finger, writing carefully, and even blinking. These motor skills work together to provide coordination.

It took over a decade for me to learn how my brain injury affected my eyesight, that’s when I learned I was statutorily (legally) blind. You don’t have to be a doctor or biology major to know that the brain controls the functions of every part of the human body.

But, the most surprising thing about a T.B.I. is how it affects my memory. My long-term memory is intact, but my short-term memory is shot. I can remember things as far back to when I was three years old and my family lived in Italy like it was yesterday. But, read a list of things to me, give me directions or play-by-play instructions and I’ll forget most of the information before you finish.

Not only do I have a hard time remembering detailed lists, I can have a hard time focusing on the order. It’s as if I’m stuck out in the middle of the ocean on a boat during a hurricane, the ideas and concepts keep flying by with the storm.

Brainstorm!

Brainstorming is defined as solving a problem or creating new ideas by having a discussion with others, or problem solving by exploring various ideas. For most creatives it is the first step in the process of creating.

It can breathe life into our creation or be the final nail in its coffin. Perhaps you’re like me, over the years I’ve learned creative outbursts and inspiration often occur at the most inopportune times: while driving and listening to the radio, during a pleasant spring or fall walk while leaf watching, during a last-minute fast food run.

And I hope I’m not the only one who has almost broken their neck trying to get out of the shower to jot down droplets of tranquil inspiration only found in an evening shower. It’s why I have a dictation app on my phone, often stopping on the side of the road to record memos and thoughts during a long bike ride.

When I get home I sit down and brainstorm the thoughts I recorded. For me brainstorming helps me to focus my thoughts.

There are different approaches to brainstorming for different purposes.

  • Speedstorming: is great for small groups, each person has five minutes to produce three ideas and write them down on a piece of paper. Then pass the paper to the person on the right, he has five minutes to build on those ideas. The process continues for 30 minutes or until each person has contributed to each paper.
  • Brain writing: this approach is similar, except each member develops as many ideas as possible before passing to the next person.
  • Reverse brainstorming: this approach requires generating ideas that would hinder the goal achievement. Then reversing the ideas to identify and solve the problem.
  • Content brainstorming key: utilizes a visual to illustrate how one thinks. A spreadsheet is used to determine: topic, audience and content structure. Participants write down as many ideas as possible to give a clear direction of the content.
  • Team brainstorming: participants are broken into small groups where limited time to generate as many ideas possible and jot them down on paper or poster board. When time is up, each team presents their ideas to the larger group.
  • Focus brainstorming: a no-brainer way to generate ideas for specific demographics. It utilizes each demographic within a company by separating them into groups to develop ideas specific to that demographic.

Focus!

The heart of brainstorming is the generating ideas to focus our audience, readers or target market onto a specific theme or idea we are trying to convey. It works like a laser by taking many ideas and focusing them all one specific point of relevance.

A writer’s primary objective is to be informative or entertaining, not wordiness. Years ago I heard author Jerry Jenkins say it this way:

“Learn how to say more by writing less.”

We all have ideas, everyone has a story. But, not everyone has the power to harness the power of the written word.

  1. Learn the process.
  2. Be coachable.
  3. Be humble.
  4. don’t get brainstormed!

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Truamatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.