#storystarters

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Welcome back,

There's no denying that fantasy has been at the core of some of the most enchanting, daring, and downright unforgettable tales (for one reason or another) that have shaped the literary landscape. Who doesn't love the thrill of journeying to some new adventurous place with otherworldly creatures and epic battles between the forces of dark and light? Personally, I'm all about the dark side. Even for the most seasoned writers sparking the imagination can be difficult. Things like inspiration seem elusive as a dragon hiding in a mist-covered mountain. Today, I will cover a few ideas to find your muse. My muse sometimes hides in a dumpster...so let's find better ways to do this, shall we?

People Watching, with a Twist: Observing people in everyday situations can be a great source of inspiration. Now, add a layer of 'What If?'. What if the barista at your local coffee shop could control elements? What if the older woman feeding pigeons in the park was a retired warrior queen? This exercise allows you to create complex characters with intriguing backstories, ripe for the world of fantasy.

Travel Through Time: History is brimming with periods that, with a little twist, can become fantastic settings for your story. Victorian England's social hierarchies, the Renaissance's scientific innovations, and the fierce battles of Feudal Japan offer fertile ground for fantastical tales. Weave in elements of magic or mythical creatures, and you have an intoxicating cocktail of historical fact and enticing fantasy.

Bioinspiration – Fantasize with Flora and Fauna: The natural world is a veritable treasure trove of inspiration. Let's call this approach 'bioinspiration.' Start by exploring Earth's biodiversity's peculiar traits, behaviors, and survival mechanisms. Why not envision a species that communicates like whales but hunts like a pack of wolves? Or perhaps a plant that blooms under the moonlight and has the power to manipulate time? The possibilities are endless when you fuse the wonder of our world with a dash of fantasy.

Take a Hike (Literally!): When was the last time you truly engaged with the wilderness, the mountains, or the sea? Natural landscapes are rife with potential for fantasy storytelling. As you walk through a dense forest, consider the creatures that might inhabit such a place in a fantasy realm. That murmuring stream could be a water nymph's dwelling, and the wind howling through the canyon might be a dragon's call. Try to visualize your surroundings through the lens of fantasy — you may be surprised at what your imagination conjures up!

Harness the Power of Music: Like music, few things can stir the soul and spark the imagination. A piece of music can evoke many emotions and images depending on its rhythm, melody, and harmony. Try listening to music without lyrics (like classical, orchestral, or ambient music) and let your mind wander. Picture the scenes that the music evokes. Is that tranquil harp melody the song of a peaceful elven village? Does the tumultuous symphony represent the climax of an epic battle? Use these mental images as a springboard for your fantasy narrative.

So there it is, everyone. Five unique ways to draw up some inspiration. Go find your muse!! Probably shouldn't have said mine hides in a dumpster. I'm all about being superstitious, so I'm sure she'll never speak to me again.

Happy Writing,

Indigo Everly 

P.S. Need more? Check out this post!

“If you’re nice to me I’ll be nice to you. If you’re a bitch to me, I’ll be your worst fucking nightmare okay?”

“You remind me of a penny…worthless and found in everybody’s pants.”

“You’re supposed to make me jealous, not die laughing at your new whore.”

“If you have an opinion about my life, please raise your hand..now put it over your mouth.”

“Yeah I’m a pacifist. I’m about to pass a fist across your face.”

“You deserve to be fingered by Edward Scissorhands.”

“Here’s a tissue, you have a little bullshit on your lips.”

“You smell like drama and a headache, please get away from me.”

“You couldn’t handle me even if I came with instructions.”

“If we were on a sinking ship and there was only one life vest…I would miss you so much.”

“You inspire my inner serial killer.”

“My superpower? I can look you dead in the face while you’re talking and not hear a damn thing you said.”

“Keep it up and you will be a strange smell in the attic.”

“Zombies eat brains, you’re safe.”

“You sir are the human version of period cramps.”

“Lol, okay, but who gave you permission to open your mouth?”

“The trash gets picked up tomorrow, be ready.”

“I don’t care what you think of me because it can’t be as bad as what I think of you.”

“Oh you’re dating my ex? Cool, I’m eating a sandwich…want those leftovers too?”

“Don’t be ashamed of who you are, that’s your parents job.”

“You were my cup of tea but I drink champagne now.”

“If I wanted to kill myself I would climb your ego and jump to your IQ.”

“If I treated you the way you treated me you would hate me.”

“I don’t hate you but I wish your dad used a condom or your mom swallowed.”

“If you ran like your mouth you would be in good shape.”

“I hope one day you choke on the shit you talk.”

“I hope karma slaps you in the face before I do.”

“Life is short and so is your penis.”

“I’d tell you to go to Hell but I work there and I don’t want to see you everyday.”

“I’m sorry did I roll my eyes out loud?”

“Keep rolling your eyes maybe you’ll find a brain back there.”

“My middle finger salutes you.”

“I’m sorry for whatever I did that made you think I give a shit about your feelings.”

“Sorry for the mean, awful, accurate things I said.”

“Bitch I would slap you but shit splatters.”

1.     The summer breeze brushed past my sundress as I walked down the lane.

2.     The Professor always made me feel awkward with his crazy inventions, and this time is no different.

3.     You never knew what hit you.

4.     By the time I reached the train station, she was gone.

5.     There was a time when my family was extremely happy.

6.     Every morning I walked to the cafe' for my latte' and a glimpse at him.

7.     There was a secret meeting tonight and I had to be there.

8.     He had asked me to meet him at the corner bakery.

9.     The night sky was full of stars but no moon.

10.   Lately, you felt that there was something missing from your life.

11.   You had a secret that no person could ever find out.

12.   The gaming convention was full of people and there was a terroristic threat.

13.   Lady Luck was always on my side at the casinos.

14.   I had to stay with my aunts for a while because mom had a new suitor.

15.   The lights and sounds of the big city have always excited me.

16.   Every time I heard the ice cream truck, it reminded me of home.

17.   The melody of the music box soothed me.

18.   The subway stopped suddenly inside the tunnel.

19.   Shopping is what I call my number 1 hobby.

20.   The internship was about to start, but I was far from excited.

21.   A hostage situation at a bank was not how I wanted to spend my morning.

22.   It has been weeks since I received communication from my brother in Iraq.

23.   The cemetery was rather quiet on my annual visit.

24.   You weren’t too adamant to go to your uncle's reading.

25.   Walking down the long corridor, he had no clue what his boss could want.

26.   You were hesitant to open the hotel room, scared of what you may find.

27.   Every time I pulled, the ropes seemed to get tighter around my wrists.

28.   The crash just happened and no one saw it coming.

29.   Shadows surrounded him as he walked down the ally behind Alfonzo's Pizzeria.

30.   He had been out all night and there was no sign of him arriving anytime soon.

31.   Flowers came to my house every other Monday around 1 o'clock.

32.   The nurse's station was buzzing as the bomb victims poured in.

33.   She had been watching her neighbor's house for weeks with no evidence of the abuse.

34.   He had been the only man I had ever slept with.

35.   The rain got harder as you walked alone in tears.

36.   The memories flooded back as I looked through the photo album.

37.   My clothes were completely ripped up and I had to go onstage in twenty minutes.

38.   April will forever be our favorite month.

39.   Eleven blocks was a long way to run, but there was so much traffic and time was running out.

40.   It was all over the Internet before I got a chance to explain things.

41.   You hadn't been out with the opposite sex in over 5 years, so you agreed to go on the blind date.

42.   The caller said if I dropped the money off at 3 p.m., he would let my kids go.

43.   The heat of his breath lingered on my neck.

44.   You and your friends waited backstage for a chance to meet a famous rapper.

45.   My fear would be hard to conquer but I had to do it if I wanted peace.

46.   The dreams were recurring and frightening to say the least.

47.   The house shook as if some powerful wind had gone by.

48.   You had been waiting for this audition to show that you had what it took to be a dancer.

“Nothing for you whore.” -Santa

“Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle.”

“I think Christmas is a wonderful time for drinking. And also after and before Christmas plus all the other days.”

“Keep calm and get your ho ho ho on.”

“It’s beginning to look a lot like fuck this.”

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, but if the white runs out I’ll drink red.”

“Jingle bells Vodkas swell, Tequila gets you laid. Liquor before beer you’re in the clear, and the Dr. saves the day. Hey!”

“Don’t blame the holidays you were fat in August.”

“All I want for Christmas is you…naked.”

“The only thing getting ‘lit’ this weekend are my fall scented candles.”

“Spending the Holidays with my family has shown me the true meaning of alcoholism.”

“I propose a toast to the booze for making you all seem tolerable.”

“Vacation calories don’t count.”

“I’m not Santa but you can sit on my lap.”

“You’ll know I’m your secret Santa if you don’t get anything.”

“Dear Santa, yeah I was naughty this year and it was worth it you fat judgmental bastard.”

“Santa saw your Instagram pictures you’re getting clothes and a bible.”

“All I want for Christmas is you money.”

“I can get you on the naughty list.”

“Is this Santa’s workshop or Santa’s sweatshop.”

“Did you poop? What the fuck I just changed you!”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Ring this doorbell so help me I will cut you.”

“If you wake up my baby I will cut you into bite sized pieces and feed you to the pigs.”

“I used to have functioning brain cells, but I traded them in for children.”

“Toddlers take thirty-five minutes to put shoes on, but can open three apps, delete itunes and call your boss in less than seventeen seconds.”

“I love how my kids can’t find their shoes but they can find a tiny bit of onion in their dinner.”

“Please don’t compare your dog problems to parenting. Your dog cannot say your name 3,258 times in a day.”

“Currently helping my son search for his chocolate that I ate last night.”

“I finally had the talk with my kids. I told them that animals in the wild eat their young so they better get their shit together.”

“My nickname is ‘Mom,’ but my full name is Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom…”

“My house looks like I’m losing a game of Jumanji.”

“I live in a madhouse run by a tiny army that I made myself.”

“My kid is turning out to be exactly like me. Well played karma, well played.”

“I just had to apologize to a toy shark then kiss a fire engine goodnight. Parenthood is weirder than I thought it’d be…”

“A two-year old is kind of like a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.”

“Silence is golden unless you have a toddler, then it’s just suspicious.”