Where Do You Put Your Ideas?

We all have one, whether it is a physical box or jar or just a place in our mind where we tuck away little tidbits of information. I have a physical box and a place in my mind and a notebook where I write things down. It all works for me and my writing process.

My ideas may come from a cemetery in a new city I'm exploring or, I may have a vision or dream with a scene fragment which will start my writing muscles. But it's my idea box where the story really begins to take hold because there are bits and bobs inside that work their way into a story.

My idea box was a coaster box at one point in its life. The coasters are long gone, but the box - penciled snowmen, snowy trees, hats and gloves - I just couldn't bring myself to throw out. So I gave it a new life. I started collecting things in it. A pencil I found in the bottom of my purse that had been used so much there was barely room to place it in my hand. A red ring box with a hidden lever that took me forever to figure out. A yellow heart on a stick that reads "Hug Me". Blocked letters that read "Just Believe". Small charms from watches or bracelets. A ceramic bell from Isreal that has a beautiful scene hand-painted on it. A decoupaged postcard that reads 'everyday a new story begins'. A crystal angel ornament. A crayon that is white but colors in red, blue and green. The list goes on. I add to my box regularly and take things from my box but these core things always remain inside.

No hidden reason for this, I just needed a little Ryan fix...

This week I added a small piece of bebe's sash - it's the prettiest shade of turquoise! - from the very first wedding she's been in and a picture I found of a man and woman walking away from the camera, holding hands. For me, it's a great 'walking into the sunset' image because you can only see the hands and a little bit of hip/leg for each of them, the rest is left to the imagination.

No, Ryan Gosling isn't in my idea box, but if he'd like to volunteer..... Just kidding, Ryan, I know you're busy.

The ring box has made it into a book, the bell from Isreal, too. Several idea box bits or bobs have helped me show a different side to my characters. The picture I added this week, though, is the first  picture - everything else has been a physical thing...and I don't think I'll add many more because I like the ideas to be a little more unformed than a picture allows.


So, while my big Story Ideas may come from a vision/dream or a unique space in a city, the bits and bobs that flesh out my characters come from my own idea box. How about you?