Monday, November 22, 2010

Most Popular Author Question EVER

“Where do you get your ideas?” is probably the most asked question a writer is ever going to hear. And it’s a completely understandable one. How did Stephen King come up with Christine, a homicidal car that kills its owners? How did JK Rowling come up with Harry Potter, a kid who goes to a school for wizards? How did Stan Lee come up with Spider-Man, Bob Kane come up with Batman, Shuster and Siegel come up with Superman?

And, more importantly, how did they take those ideas and turn them into a story?

Ideas are everywhere, and ideas are- generally speaking- nothing special. Everyone has them. Quite often, when it comes to writing, people have the SAME idea, at the same time. Why do you think Hollywood comes out with two volcano movies in the same season, or two giant asteroid movies, or two earthquake movies? Ideas float around, just waiting to be plucked from the air and developed into something special- and it’s this development that decides how good it’s going to be.

I could have thought of Skulduggery Pleasant, after all, and set it in a world OF talking skeletons, where everything is magic and the fantasy overtakes the reality. Who knows, it might even have been good- but it wouldn’t have been the Skulduggery we all know today.

So the important thing, the really important thing, is what you do with the idea once you have it.

BUT- that’s not what I’m going to be talking about today. I’m here to talk about the ideas themselves, and where they come from.

Clive Barker once described the inside of his head as an attic. And in this attic, the walls are covered with posters. These are posters of every movie he’s ever seen, every book and comic he’s ever read, every song he’s ever heard. There are posters from history, from legend, from fairyales and from dreams. There are posters from his own life, his own experiences. His attic is FILLED with these posters, and they’re plastered on top of each other and beside each other, layer upon layer upon layer.

And here and there, some of the posters get torn, and frayed. Posters get ripped. And when that happens, he gets to see part of the poster underneath, and a little of the poster underneath that. And so suddenly he’s looking at a book he once read when he was twelve on top of a movie he’s just seen, combined with a dream he once had about a song he once heard.

And THAT is where ideas come from.

Different elements of different things combine to make something new. Skulduggery Pleasant is not the first walking skeleton in fiction, after all. Off the top of my head, there is Ghost Rider, Jack Skellington, Death (from the Terry Pratchett novels), and a character from a video game called Grim Fandango. I was aware of all of these things when Skulduggery came to me, but the idea of him didn’t come from ANY of these things. The idea of him came from his name, which told me who and what he was. The name Skulduggery Pleasant told me he was a skeleton detective- I didn’t come up with a skeleton detective and then look around for a name.

Of course, the books have a lot more ideas in them than good old Skulduggery, and some of them I even know EXACTLY where the idea came from. Serpine’s hand, for example, came from the Nick Cave song “Red Right Hand”, one of the coolest songs ever written. Other ideas come into existence out of sheer necessity.

Valkyrie’s reflection, for example. I started writing the book, way back in 2005, and the reflection wasn’t a part of it. I was writing a story about a 12 year old girl who sneaks out of her house and ditches school in order to spend time with a skeleton and find out who killed her uncle. She was getting into trouble in school, and she was having arguments with her parents. Every time she returned home, they’d have another argument- and that’s not what I wanted at all.

I wanted her home life to be warm, and fun, and funny. I wanted her parents to be crazy in love, and a little bit crazy. But I could write about none of that, because they were all spending their time arguing.

So I got to roughly halfway through, and I realised this wasn’t working. I needed to do something. The first thing I did was to have this story all happen during the summer holidays, when Valkyrie wouldn’t have to go to school. This cut down on SOME of the arguments, but not all. I needed something else, something bigger. I needed her parents to NOT miss her when she was gone. I needed a stand-in, perhaps, I needed a... a reflection.

The moment I thought of her reflection taking over her life when she was gone, my problems were over. Now she could be gone for days on end, and no one would know. I came up with the rule that she absorbs the reflection’s memories because I didn’t want her to miss out on school-work, and also because it was an entirely logical move to make.

Not only did the reflection solve a load of problems, it also offered up LOADS of story opportunities. It changed the course of the series, as you have all seen. The reflection is changing- it is growing. I know plenty of you have your own theories about what will happen to the reflection and I totally understand why you would think that. So far, you’re all WRONG, but I totally understand why you’d come to that conclusion...

Heh.

Now, when you get to the sixth book in a series, coming up with ideas is totally different to writing the FIRST book. Most of the elements are already there- they already exist. But you still need new ones.

Such as the whole Death Bringer thing. I’ve had that in mind for YEARS, and over that time, it’s changed. The more I wrote about Necromancers, the more I examined their powers, the deeper I got into their philosophy, the more I changed who and what the Death Bringer was. I needed certain things to happen to certain people in certain ways, and the ideas flowed from that.

Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention. If you truly NEED something, you WILL find a creative way to do it.

Er, hopefully.

The honest truth is, there is no satisfactory answer to the most popular author question ever- and I don’t think there needs to be. People ask me it all the time, like they’re waiting to hear the secret, like once they KNOW where the good ideas come from, they’ll be able to write that amazing book they know they’re capable of.

But the idea isn’t the important thing. The important thing is the work, and the effort, and how you take that simple little idea and turn it into something special. And all THAT will only happen when you actually sit down and write the thing.

3,992 comments:

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bencotter said...

"HI come in, you look lovely. dinner will bereadysoon."

Dragona Pine said...

What do you expect... the amount of times I protected my fellow russians on the outpost, by diving infront of sniper bullets... WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

Liz said...

not all at once like that!

bencotter said...

lol damn lol.

Dragona Pine said...

Actually I've dived infront of bullets in only one game so far... I'm not that stupid to do it on a regular basis...

bencotter said...

do I at all kiss her? what do i do. wait for her or . . .?

knight fantasy said...

what's the point of cleanin dragona if his atitude stil stinks...

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dragona Pine said...

*shoots holes in the hose, making high pressure water hit Kallista*

bencotter said...

text from my mate saying ood luck

knight fantasy said...

ALRIGHT ENOUGH!!!
would u just stop that ben?!

bencotter said...

good luck soz

Dragona Pine said...

You sound like my mum knight lol... but how does my atitude stink? I've got nothing to talk about...

knight fantasy said...

ben: u'll need it...

bencotter said...

OK OK. i'm just nervous

Liz said...

hmmm, what are you two going to be having for dinner?

knight fantasy said...

oh dont worry dragona...






hold up, what do u mean i sounded like ur mom?...

bencotter said...

oh thx knight! *say';s sarcastically

bencotter said...

chicken

knight fantasy said...

i didnt know u can cook ben(obviously)

Dragona Pine said...

My mum says my attitude stinks... but I don't think it does... I'm sometimes happy, so how does that stink?

Liz said...

one word is not enough, what are you having with the chicken? and are you having dessert?

bencotter said...

one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fiften sixteen seventeen eighteen ninteen twenty . . .

bencotter said...

dessert? oh damn

Dragona Pine said...

Lol ben... what's for good old pudding?

knight fantasy said...

ben, r u countin cause ur nervous...

Liz said...

*face palm* you need to have a dessert Ben

bencotter said...

how bout' I just forget dessert

knight fantasy said...

DONT SAY THAT DRAGONA!!!!
dont u ever say that again!
i'm sory ok?!

Dragona Pine said...

I'm sometimes happy... and sometimes depressed... I don't think my attitude stinks... I don't let my feelings show at home or school but on here I can be ME!

bencotter said...

no . . . i'm going to be on a diat. no stupid idea . . .

Liz said...

make something that is good, but quick. like pudding!

Dragona Pine said...

Ok knight I'll say something else...



I'M A FAILURE!

knight fantasy said...

my country dont really hv dessert...
we just eat sweets when we wanna...
but i think.. 4 u ben...sory 2 say this, but it IS important..

bencotter said...

your attutude doesn't stink dragona

knight fantasy said...

dragona: i didnt mean u hv 2 say that IDIOT!!!!

bencotter said...

i'll run down to the shops next to my house. brb

knight fantasy said...

ben, u still got time...
make somethin quick!

Dragona Pine said...

I know knight... but I am a fail... so weeeee!


*goes down helter-skelter*

Dragona Pine said...

*comes flying off the end, crashes into Kallista*

Liz said...

Ben, whats the weather like over there? if its raining or gloomy then my something warm and comforting, but if its sunny then make something lighter and airy, like a fruit salad

knight fantasy said...

good job lad!
run ben run!!!








OK FINE!!!!

dragona's atitude does NOT stink!!!!
R U GUYS HAPPY NOW!!!!
no need 2 rub it in my face 2 tell me that i'm an evil person u know?!!

Dragona Pine said...

I am a failure though... but I did something about it... revenge all the way :P

knight fantasy said...

better save the weather 4 later when ben comes back lizz

Dragona Pine said...

Hehe... *rubs sponge saying "You're an evil person" in knight's face*

Liz said...

or a purple nurple

knight fantasy said...

that the best u can do 2 cheer me up kallista...
and of course ur not evil and i can prove it...
every1 likes u...
ur nice....
and u cheer people up by bein funny or help them with their problems like me!

Dragona Pine said...

*hides away from Kallista*


I'M A FAIL!




*runs away*

bencotter said...

Right. got some ice cream

Dragona Pine said...

I don't have any problems... so Kallista can't help :P

knight fantasy said...

thnx dragona, i already know i'm evil...
a shit...
a crap...




glad u figured it out quickly...
hehhehehehehe.....



and what's purple nurple?
i only know that from the cartoon called 'chowder'

knight fantasy said...

nice ben, ice creams's good 2!

Liz said...

what kind of ice cream did you get ben?

Geckogirl said...

soz guys i g2g, computer is playing up and it wont show any comments from the past half hour

so peace out!

bencotter said...

what the? wat;s up with dragona?

Geckogirl said...

ohh the comments have appeared now! :D

did i hear icecream?

Dragona Pine said...

There's nothing wrong with me... I'm perfect :P

bencotter said...

strawberry flavor

Geckogirl said...

i dont not like you kallista! you give me lollypops! *sucks lollypop happily*

Geckogirl said...

bye guys!

Liz said...

hmmm, thats good. how are you preping the chicken?

Liz said...

byeeeeeee!

knight fantasy said...

dragona: excuse me?perfect? u?


kallista: that's not true...
ur a wonderful person here kallista!

Dragona Pine said...

*grins happily that the clubs from yesterday have been shut down because of Dragona*


Wait... have they?

bencotter said...

dragona. your attitude is fine

knight fantasy said...

i dont even know what noogie is kallista....

Dragona Pine said...

I shut down a dead club... I brought everyone back to life... I got angry for some reason... ah... nope... lost it... wait... has the other one been shut down... I DON'T WANT IT, I DON'T HAVE DENIAL!

knight fantasy said...

ok ben...
we all get it....
u dont hv 2 say it 2 make me feel worst...

knight fantasy said...

is dragona ok...

bencotter said...

what!? you mean i have to prepare it? can't i just cook i t?

knight fantasy said...

hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

awesome kallista!!!!

Liz said...

*face palm* how did you plan to cook it?

Dragona Pine said...

*pushes Kallista away before she can give wedgie*

knight fantasy said...

well u gotta serve it ben

bencotter said...

Dragona. use your magic yorkshire pudding to heal your voice

Dragona Pine said...

I'm fine... absolutly fine!

bencotter said...

well. maybe i should just take her out for dinner

Dragona Pine said...

Why ben? I pushed her away before she could give me a wedgie...

bencotter said...

kallista. i get lot of "Noogies"

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

Hazza New Post!

now if you don't mind me I'm currently mastering the language of the common christmas tree

bencotter said...

no . . . just cos' that yorkshire pudd is nice.

Liz said...

is it a whole chicken? if so then going out to dinner is the best bet because it won't have time to cook properly

Dragona Pine said...

How about the other one Kallista... I DON'T WANT THAT!

bencotter said...

og god . . . nicolette. *Make's sure gun is in back pocket*

Dragona Pine said...

*points Sigmus 9 at ben*


DOn't...

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

Hello All *bows then looks up innocently at Ben*

Don't worry I won't kill you .. maney hurt but not fataly .... whilst Dragonas around anyway

bencotter said...

no, just two legs and a fillit

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
knight fantasy said...

actually ben, if i were u...
i would hv choose goin out 4 dinner....
but....
u just make dinner and u rushed 2 the store 2 get ice cream...
mayb, a dinner at ur home would b better

Liz said...

ok, give me a sec...

Dragona Pine said...

The other club Kallista... the one made to sort out my denial that doesn't exist... or wasn't you on then Kallista?

knight fantasy said...

hi nicol

bencotter said...

ok dragona. . . . *smiles but still feels gun*

Liz said...

wait, how big is the fillet?

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

Why is every one talking about cooking chicken ?

Chickens are cool and so is cooking but it doesn't seem like a subject that would flout into your heads randomly so what brought it up ?

*levetates upside down and plays slapsies with her hands*

Liz said...

Ben has a date and i'm trying to help him make dinner

bencotter said...

I'll go out somewhere.

Dragona Pine said...

DROP THE GUN BEN!

Liz said...

ok, that's easier

bencotter said...

Not the chicken. but it's a small fillet

bencotter said...

*Drops gun*

Liz said...

hmmmm...

Dragona Pine said...

Hmm...

bencotter said...

wait


































































































































hi

Liz said...

if you want i can give you instructions n how to cook the chicken, or are you just going to go out?

Dragona Pine said...

Good ben...

bencotter said...

*Staggers*






























































































































*steadies*

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

FLASH BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freind: are you Crazy

Me: of course not :3

Freind: You have denial problems

Me: No I don't you have denial problems

Friend: No I don't !!

Me: yes you do you denied having denia problems if you weren't in denial you would admitt to having denial problems ....

speaking of which it would be funny if someone with denial problems admitted they had denial problems ..

bencotter said...

i'll go out. but thx for the offer

Liz said...

no problem, i love doing stuff like this

bencotter said...

i'm feeling nervous

Dragona Pine said...

*uses thermal vision goggles to see the gun*


Drop it Kallista!



Lol Nicolette that reminds me of you guys and me...

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

*jumps on a huge bed and wraps self up in the divet completly*

1,2,3!

*lauches self off of bed and lands on floor softly*

hehhehe Fun.

Liz said...

if you two are really good friends then it would probably be ok to tell her that. is this your fist date together?

bencotter said...

i feel like Jamie Oliver would do if he was on strictly come dancing with Ann would,he,come.

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

*getting ready to launch self of mt. everest in divet*

DONT FEEL NERVOUS BEN IT ONLY MAKES YOU SWEATY!

Liz said...

that's so much help Nicolette :P

bencotter said...

yes.

bencotter said...

but we've spoken a few time's/

Liz said...

yes its your first date? ok then, just be yourself and have fun, nothing to worry about

bencotter said...

and we've been freinds for ages

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

*comes tumbling down last part of mountain giggiling loudly*

*gets out* I found it amusingly helpful :D *flashes a smile*

... Ow *looks down to see icecle stuck threw her stomach* awwwww I don't want to die like this its just silly

*takes duvet to cliff were parana infested waters below* I want to die like this :D

Dragona Pine said...

*reloads Sigmus 9 and points it at Kallista*


I SAID DROP IT!



I am the only one allowed to hold a gun... it's part of my chosen profession as a bodyguard...

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Skyril A.K.A the Vociferous Chatterer, Loyal Forever and Always, The Ever-Present, the Pluviophile said...

You know, I think I know exactly what you mean, oh Master Derek. I've never actually put it into words before, but I've come up with an idea and realized it came from lots of different things I've seen or heard. The description Clive Barker gave is completely accurate!

knight fantasy said...

just...dont...go TO far ben, ok?

bencotter said...

Have fun as in . . .?

knight fantasy said...

hi sky

Liz said...

you have a point knight...

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

(whispers) I have never had a date

*launches self into parana waters*

There I told a secret before I dieeeeeeeeeeed!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Dragona Pine said...

*uses magic yorkshire pudding to heal Nicolette's stomach and guns down the pirhanas*

Liz said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
knight fantasy said...

so u guys known each other 4 a long time!
no need 2 b nervous ben!

bencotter said...

i know what you mean knight. but to be honest. it would be her going to far...

Liz said...

god Ben :P

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

*falls in water*

Awww all the pranas are dead .... now I'm jut going to suffocate in my blanket ...

well thats not normal normally people drown under water ... im going to sufocate .. YES!!

Dragona Pine said...

Brb...

Skyril A.K.A the Vociferous Chatterer, Loyal Forever and Always, The Ever-Present, the Pluviophile said...

Hey Knight!

bencotter said...

i know. and we kissed last night and she phoned be this morning saying hi. but last night was funn

Liz said...

whose definition of fun?

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

*pats ben on shoulder* Everything will be just fine ... if you follow their advice because I am crapat giving advice ..

Skyril A.K.A the Vociferous Chatterer, Loyal Forever and Always, The Ever-Present, the Pluviophile said...

Hullo Kallista :]



....~raises eyebrow~
What's going on?

Liz said...

FIRST! woot!

bencotter said...

oh god. i've only got fifty nine minutes left....

Liz said...

Ben has a date and we're all giving him advice

bencotter said...

right *smacks self* CALM!

Liz said...

ok, then, check list

1) is the house presentable?

knight fantasy said...

should i b disgusted ben...
and what do u mean she's the 1 goin 2 far....
girls dont really do that

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

BEN!!! .....


My only advice is ...


Check your horoscope!

bencotter said...

( :

bencotter said...

she does acourding to last night

knight fantasy said...

ok SOME1 make a list 4 ben!

bencotter said...

OK nicolette brb

Liz said...

2) are you presentable?

Liz said...

3) do you have enough money for going out to eat?

bencotter said...

it say's tht love will be tricky. typicall nancy who wrote it.

bencotter said...

i have eighty quid. how's tht

Liz said...

4) two words: breath mint

bencotter said...

OMG/

knight fantasy said...

alright ben, i dont wanna think bout it!

just, do the best u can and b urself!
u'll b fine!
cause emily likes U!
not the person u pretend 2 b!
even if u pretend, it wont work!
she knows u inside out already, right?

bencotter said...

not got time.

bencotter said...

her mothers car is in the driveway and Emily is getin out.

Liz said...

are you paying any attention to my list Ben?

Dragona Pine said...

Sorry about that guys...

bencotter said...

i'll be back. soon when I so called "Need to go to the loo!" ha ha. good idea from me. gtg. be back as soon a possible.

Liz said...

oooooo! good luck! i want info on how it went!

bencotter said...

wish be luck

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

.Wear clean, ironed clothes

.Floss, brush, brush again, and shave

.Bring something for when you meet

.Pay the damned check

knight fantasy said...

DONT PANIC!!!!

oh, 1 more thing ben...
love is special...
but when a boy meets a girl
and falls in love...
it's also like friendship...
it's just stronger and closer that's all!
ok? good luck!

Liz said...

I WISH YOU LUCK!

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD LUUUUUUUUUUUCK!

Nicole Fudge (Nicolette Croga) said...

SH-UGAR!!!

meant to be doing maths! ....... brb

knight fantasy said...

wont derek b shock 2 c some of the comments r bout love and romance....

boy, would i do anythin 2 get the expression of derek's face while readin all this...

hehehehehehe

Dragona Pine said...

Good luck ben...

Liz said...

LOL me to knight!

Dragona Pine said...

Lol knight...

Anonymous said...

You could just say you get your ideas from everything.

Liz said...

brb, i want a snack

Halo pickle! said...

HAI GUYZ!

Halo pickle! said...

yes they are.

Dragona Pine said...

I think I've fallen in love... that gel looks so cool... heat proof, waterproof and lasts for 24 hours... I WANT IT!

Halo pickle! said...

*wap* 5!

Halo pickle! said...

hair gel?

Liz said...

god Dragona, its a GEL! as in hair gunk

Halo pickle! said...

*goes to change picture* by guys!

Darkane Claw said...

Hey all, finished art HW YAY!!!!! Just as I finished it I remembered I have a chess match tomorrow so I'm missing art. I spent ages drawing the picture and now I don't need it. Hummph.

knight fantasy said...

dont mind dragona wasabi, he's sick...

and hi wasabi and suz!

Liz said...

g2g

knight fantasy said...

well done darkane!

Dragona Pine said...

Hang on... I've already got it... doesn't matter... not in love anymore :O

knight fantasy said...

hey, i've been meanin 2 ask...

Dragona Pine said...

Bye Lizzy...

Darkane Claw said...

Bye Lizzy

Darkane Claw said...

Superfast jellyfish!!!

Dragona Pine said...

*uses magic yorkshire pudding to heal Kallista's foot*

knight fantasy said...

bye lizz

and so funny kallista

knight fantasy said...

hey...
r u guys always like this?

Dragona Pine said...

Right... wait what is wrong with me? I've gone weird... Help me!

Darkane Claw said...

Um......... *points at Kallista's big toe in a pool of blood*

Darkane Claw said...

Like what knight?

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