Learning to Notice

On Tuesday 11th at 6pm, I will be doing a workshop for WestWord, called Found Prompts, and we will be looking at all the places you can find story ideas when you think your inspiration well is running dry. There are so many places we can find stories, from many surprising sources. Come along and let's explore them and create some stories seemingly from thin air!  Click on the button at the end of this post to book a place on the workshop, and I will see you on Tuesday at 6pm BST.

Found prompts and noticing the world around you has been the subject of my Daily Writing Craft Thoughts on social media this week. When I am asked where my ideas come from, apart from saying “come along to the WestWord workshop on Tuesday and find out (LOL)", I tell people my ideas come from everywhere. I am not saying I live a more exciting life than anyone else, but I do try to notice the things others may walk past. I notice those minute pauses when someone hesitates before answering something; I look at things like a single shoe at the side of the road; I make up scenarios when someone sits in front of an untouched coffee for too long in a coffee shop, and wonder why.

Most of these moments and observations never become stories on their own. But they become seeds. A gesture suggests a character. A snippet of conversation sparks a scene. An unexpected detail makes me ask, Why? And that's often where a story begins for me.

One of the best habits you can develop as a writer is simply noticing. Slow down. Look up. Listen carefully. Ask yourself what catches your eye, and more importantly, why it catches your eye.

Tell me: What's the last ordinary thing you noticed that made you wonder if there might be a story behind it? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to book your place on the Found Prompts workshop by clicking the button below.

Until next time, happy writing!

Book Found Prompts Workshop