“Any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.” – definition of the word ‘IDEA’ as found on Dictionary.com

Before a person can write anything, an idea has to be birthed deep within his/her soul. This idea can be inspired by anything and everything. When you catch a glimpse of something and relate it to something else, there it goes – a fresh new idea. When you combine more than two ideas together with a new equation, there it goes – an innovative idea.

Getting an idea before you can start writing can be the toughest part of the writing process. There’s no point in writing a book if you don’t have a big idea for it. A book or an article has to have a focus point. In fact, any type of writing needs a focus point so that the written materials serve a purpose to the readers. With no purpose, the writing becomes useless and it’s a waste of time.

So how do you get ideas? Where do they come from? How do you get inspired to come out with new crispy plots and stories? Personally, inspiration for ideas comes from many different aspects of my life. Day-to-day I learn something new about myself – that is an idea. My job, family, friends and relationships inspire me to come out with the most wonderful story I could ever think of.

The best thing is when an idea is inspired by your personal life with others; it’s something original and unique. It’s like your thumbprint – no one can come out with something that is 100% the same as yours. The big idea itself will become the core of your writing and determine its success. Where do you get ideas? You can begin by looking at yourself.

Originally written by Gina Yap Lai Yoong © 2007

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