Probably the most oft-asked question a fiction writer has to answer is “Where do you get your ideas?” Along with writer friends, I have struggled to answer it and, occasionally, struggled to find ideas. Even the most experienced writer can find the creative well dry.

So, WHERE do we get ideas for a short story, a picture book, a first chapter book, or a full-length novel?

The answers are as varied as writers themselves.

Let me share with you some suggestions that I and other writers have tried.

Journaling. If you don’t keep a journal, start. If you already are writing in a journal, look to it for things that are important to you. Chances are you will find ideas right there among your own words.

Read the phone book. Or a “name your baby” book. Sometimes a name can ignite an idea. Discover the origin of the name, what it means, when it became popular. Ask yourself what kind of person an “Alex” or a “Byran” would be.

Imaginary dialogue. Do you remember how you used to play “make believe?” Revive that pastime. Pretend that you are an eleven-year-old girl and are having a conversation with a friend. Write down everything you and your “friend” say to each other. Perhaps you decide to be a six-year-old boy dealing with the death of his mother. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Eavesdrop. I have put this forth before as a way to improve crafting dialogue. Eavesdropping is also a great way to pick up ideas. Hang out at a fast-food place. Visit the playground. Pick a spot at the mall, bring some snacks and a notebook, and prepare to be entertained.

Become a news junkie. Newspapers and magazines are a great place to find germs of ideas. I based one of my romances on a small article I found in the back page of our local paper. The article told of the transplanting of the gray wolf in selected areas of Colorado and the controversy it roused between ranchers and naturalists. Advertisements in magazines and on television can also spark ideas. Marketing people are experts on what children, teens, and young adults are interested in.

Tune in to social networking. Listen to what others are talking about. Pay attention to how people communicate with each other.

Volunteer at your children’s schools. If you don’t have children in school, volunteer anyway. You can’t help but pick up on what is current among children when you listen to their banter and conversations.

Make nice with a teacher and/or librarian. These individuals are on the forefront of working with children. They hear and see everything. They can steer you away from subjects that have been overdone and give you a fresh set of eyes from which to evaluate ideas..

Check out the calendar. Look at upcoming holidays. Does the memory of a Christmas past stir a memory within you that you can turn into a story? What about the Fourth of July? Can you picture yourself when you were a kid staying up far past your bedtime, waiting for the fireworks to go off? What about Labor Day? Did your family take a trip before school started? Tap into those memories and the emotions they produce. Then use them as a platform for a story.

Brainstorm. Do you belong to a writers’ group? Suggest a brainstorming session. (The other members will thank you as they are probably struggling to find story ideas as well.) Listen to the ideas of others; contribute some of your own. The only rule is that no idea is treated with ridicule.

Make a list and check it twice. Make a list of things that interest you, including your hobbies. Do you collect dolls? Do you like to hike in the mountains? Do you volunteer at an animal shelter? Find the core of that interest and ask yourself why you find it fascinating. Choose a character who would share that interest and start writing.

Finding ideas is much like going to a garage sale. You have to sift through a lot of junk before finding a treasure. When you discover that treasure, you will feel a zing of excitement like no other. Your job as a writer is to be aware of the world around you and then to write about one small element of that world with sensitivity, humor, and compassion.

Jane McBride Choate is the author of 32 books. Her latest is Larrabee's Luck from Avalon Romance. Read an interview with Jane at Avalon Authors.

The Successful Writer's Mindset – Part 2

In this video, Jon explains why knowing the difference between being a writer and an author is vital – and which label newcomers should embrace.

Related:  The Successful Writer’s Mindset – Part One

I was recently reminded that the simplest writing tips still bring the best results. I stumbled across a blog by Carolyn Jess-Cooke, an Irish writer living in England whose first adult novel, The Guardian Angel's Journal, was just published in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. I was impressed by how this young writer relies on tried-and-true techniques for getting the juices flowing. Her blog post "How You Are Being Massively Productive by Doing Absolutely Nothing" shows us that creativity occurs in the moments when we least expect it. Her article "How 1 Dollar Could Make You a Bestselling Author" on the Guide to Literary Agents blog underscores the age-old writing practice of keeping a notebook available at all times to capture those fleeting inspirations. In a high-tech world, it's nice to remember that low-tech still works.

Kindle Lending Library Coming Later in 2011

Amazon's Kindle Lending Library, debuting later in 2011, is a notable step for Amazon, which will offer more than 11,000 of its Kindle ebooks for loan via libraries throughout America.

Anyone with a Kindle or free Kindle app on their smartphone can borrow an ebook, make annotations and highlights, and find those same notes when they re-borrow the ebook or purchase it.

“Normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no,” said Jay Marine, director of Amazon Kindle. “Your notes will not show up when the next patron checks out the book. But if you check out the book again, or subsequently buy it, your notes will be there just as you left them.”

One thing I particularly like about the Kindle Lending Library initiative is that it keeps public libraries in the loop, instead of bypassing them. That's a smart move by Amazon.

OK, Barnes & Noble, it's your turn to respond. Whaddya got? 

Amazon Kindle Library Lending Coming Later in 2011

Book Bloggers Are a Fantastic Resource

Back in the old days (circa anything before about 2003), authors wrote the book, publishers published it, and the publisher's publicity department send out review copies and scheduled author interviews. While publicity departments still send review copies to primary print reviewers and a few high-profile online sources, the bulk of the marketing is now the author's responsibility. Since most authors don't have an in with the book reviewers at the New York Times, they've come to appreciate their new best friends: the book bloggers.

Book bloggers love to review books. They also love to interview authors. Many bloggers specialize in a genre or age group of book, making them go-to sources for parents or kids who are hungry for a particular type of read. And because savvy bloggers link to each other and to writing- and reading-related websites, their reviews spread quickly through cyberspace. The best part is that authors can contact book bloggers directly, send them review copies, and even set up "blog tours" of interviews around their book's pub date.

Still not convinced? Read author Miriam Gershow's account of why book bloggers became the best marketing outlet for her first book, even after receiving good print reviews. Then start following bloggers who review the types of books that you write. To locate bloggers, go to places like KidLitosphere Central, the children's literature blogs on JacketFlap, and About.com's list of children's books blogs. Or simply type "Children's Book Review Blogs" into your search engine and start following the links. Post comments, research each book blog's review policies, and get your list ready for your own market blitz when your book comes out.

Interested in learning how to write a book and send it to children’s book publishers? Come on over to The CBI Clubhouse for audios, videos, insider writing tips and much, much more!

The Association of American Publishers just released sales figures for February of this year, revealing that e-book sales have surged over 200% since February 2010. In fact, e-books were the highest selling category of adult and children's trade books. In the children's/young adult market, print sales were down over 16%. While the AAP attributes the high e-book numbers to post-holiday sales (people loading up their e-readers they got as gifts), the numbers are still staggering. And since e-books are cheaper to buy than than print, I think it's safe to assume those e-readers will continue to be replenished at a rate that surpasses last year.

In a related article, the American Library Association announced that two-thirds of all US public libraries now lend e-books, and a third of school libraries lend e-readers to their students. Since school budgets are being cut and school library spending is down, look for more cost-effective e-book options in schools.

So, what do you think? Are you on board with these trends? And, more importantly, is your work e-book ready? Let us know your thoughts.

Young Adult Writing Tip – Today's Kids

Actually Like Each Other! 

When I was 14, I was terrified of three things:  heights, vegetables and girls.  Thankfully, I got over the last two, although I'm still not a fan of tall places.

If I were to write a young adult story about a similar young man with those fears living in today's world, my teenage readers may nod in understanding with the the first two concerns, but scratch their heads at the last one.   That's because, for many kids, the barriers that used to exist between the sexes, between social cliques and even between grade levels are far less a concern than they were when we were young.

Laura and I have been taking our 15 year old music nut to a bunch of concerts to see artists popular with his age group. (An aside – go see My Chemical Romance, they're really, really good.)  At these shows, one thing strikes you straight away — these kids all act like they know each other.  Giant groups of kids mingle together, hug one another and act as if they've been buddies all their lives.

Now, when I was a kid going to shows (and no, it wasn't to see Al Jolson and Enrico Caruso, smart ass), that would never happen.  I went with my boys and we didn't mix with anyone.  It was an arena filled with thousands of small tribes, all eyeing one another warily.  But take any bunch of teenagers today, toss 'em in a room and it's kumbiya time.

I asked my son about this and he had a simple answer:  these kids — who have never met in person — already know each other via Facebook.  They're online friends, or they're friends of friends and thus, they're buddies.  Typical exchange:

Kid 1:  "Hey, what school do you go to?"

Kid 2: "West High in Murphystown."

Kid: "I go to South High in Elmwood. But I'm Facebook friends with Joe Smith from West High."

Kid 2:  "Cool.  Joe's a great guy.  What's your name?"  (Gets name, whips out smart phone, befriends Kid 1.  They are now pals.)

Now of course there are other reasons than social media to explain the higher comfort level teenagers have with one another today, and I'm certain there are still no shortage of alienated kids and teens who get tongue-tied around the opposite sex, but the point is this:  If you think that alienation from peers is anywhere near as prevalent among young adults as it was back in your day, you need to do some more observation.  Go to some concerts, wander around the mall, stay out the way and watch the way your readers connect with one another. 

You'll get a better understanding of your market — and you may even start feeling a little bit better about our future.  In a world where fear and mistrust tend to get all the attention, it's nice to know that today's enemies may be tomorrow's Facebook friends.

Interested in learning how to write a book and send it to children’s book publishers? Come on over to The CBI Clubhouse for audios, videos, insider writing tips and much, much more!

logical construction – A term used by editors and others that refers to a manuscript’s adherence to logic. In other words, logical construction is the quality that makes a manuscript make sense to the reader throughout. Samples of illogical construction would include characters that do not follow their own moral system throughout the book, actions by a character that do not make sense in the book’s world, and effects of an action that do not ring true.

From PUB SPEAK: A WRITER’S DICTIONARY OF PUBLISHING TERMS

Logical construction touches on almost every aspect involved in crafting good fiction. Many times, when a reader is pulled out of a manuscript, it’s because an action, thought or piece of dialogue they’ve just read doesn’t make sense within the context of the work. This is known as a logic problem, and can be easily fixed.

Character Building

Part of character building is mapping out your character’s moral code. For example, you might have a character that never lies, whether that means that he’ll get in trouble or others will. He is so honest, his classmates tease him with the name “Honest Abe.” He’s actually become unpopular because teachers know that if they ask Honest Abe a question, he’ll tell the truth, to the detriment of his classmates.

Logic Problem:

What if half-way through the novel, Honest Abe lies about eating a cookie without reason?

Fix:

Is it necessary to the plot that Honest Abe lie about the cookie? Does Honest Abe have to lie in order to achieve his ultimate goal?

If so, then you need to show a gradual change in Honest Abe’s moral system, so that by the time he lies about the cookie, it rings true to the reader. Maybe something happens and the boy’s honesty creates a much more serious consequence than just extra homework. Maybe he sees that people around him are benefiting greatly by their lies. Perhaps there’s a combination of factors and the cookie is the last straw.

But, if it’s not necessary to the plot that Honest Abe lie, then have him tell the truth. Keep his morality system intact, in order to stop the reader from questioning that one small lapse in logic.

Narrative Arcs

One of the common problems I’ll see in a manuscript is a character who has been trying to achieve a certain goal for the length of the novel, and then when they have the option to achieve it, they decide to do something else instead. Logically, it doesn’t make sense for a character to choose not to achieve their goal in the easiest manner possible. For example, let’s say you have a character who has been trying to defeat a robotic villain throughout the work, and the villain gives them an opening to disable them.

Logic Problem:

The protagonist can disable the robot by pulling out the battery while the robot is distracted, but instead decides to try an elaborate scheme that is likely to fail.

Fix:

The character needs to try the most obvious solution first. Let’s say he does try to pull out the battery, but then the robot wakes up as soon as he touches it. Then the character knows that what seems like the obvious solution requires more skill and planning. We’ve also added some tension to the plot, without bringing the reader out of the story by making them wonder, “Why not just pull out the battery?”

World Building

Whether your story is set in the real world or an imaginary world, the laws of the world must stay consistent. For example, if you have set your story in the real world and have a 150 pound adult and a 70 pound child on opposite ends of a seesaw, then the child will never be able to keep his side of the seesaw down without help, or without moving closer to the fulcrum (where the board pivots) of the seesaw. The laws of physics must apply in the story in the same way that they apply in real life.

If your story is set in an imaginary world, then perhaps the laws of physics are different in that world, but they must stay consistent throughout the story. If the same situation of a mom and child on a seesaw occurred in a world where everything weighed the same, then they would be able to play without any special considerations.

Logic Problem:

If, in that world where everything weighed the same, things were described as being heavy or light, then we have a logic problem.

Fix:

If everything weighs the same, then characters wouldn’t have a concept of heavy or light. So what would they use instead to describe objects? Would size become more important? Would a new unit of measurement have to be invented, or would an old unit suddenly have more ‘weight?’ (Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!) Eliminate descriptors that don’t mesh with the character’s world experience and think more deeply about how they would compare things in their world.

Tracy Marchini is an editorial consultant and freelance writer. She is the author of PUB SPEAK: A WRITER’S DICTIONARY OF PUBLISHING TERMS, and has been accepted for publication in Highlights. She has worked at a literary agency, as a newspaper correspondent and as a children’s book reviewer. She can be found at www.tracymarchini.com and on Twitter as @TracyMarchini.

As Yogi Berra said "95% of this game is half mental". So true, Yogi. So true. And it's the same with building a writing career: how you think will determine how far you'll go. Starting today, I'll drop in periodic videos to discuss the winning writer's mindset. If your attitudes, beliefs and habits are holding you back, it's time to break free. Maybe I can help…

Interested in learning how to write a book and send it to children's book publishers? Come on over to The CBI Clubhouse for audios, videos, insider writing tips and much, much more!

Laura Backes is bringing her acclaimed Children's Author's Bootcamp to Austin, Texas and Oakland, California!

For CAB, Laura teams up with Christoper Award-winning picture book author Linda Arms White to present two action-packed days of fun and instruction — all geared toward creating children's fiction that sells. It's a small group setting, so there's plenty of room for one-on-one interaction.

The Austin Bootcamp takes place April 30-May 1.  The Oakland Bootcamp is July 9-10.

Bootcamps fill up quickly, so reserve your spot today! Visit http://wemakewriters.com for a full course outline and to save your place!