Giving Imagination Permission

Photo by Diane M. Dresback

If you would rather listen to this Blog, click on the link below. It runs 5:19 minutes.

I’ve always thought it was fascinating that when trying to ignite a spark for a story idea, I do better when I actually give my imagination permission.  

We can all get caught up in taking care of what needs to be done in life—family, jobs, friends, housework, even leisure time activities. For me, I always have a ‘to-do’ list that I’m trying to accomplish, crossing one item off and adding two more! It’s hard for me to create something fresh when I’m just cranking away, focused on other projects and tasks. 

My focus here is to share what I do when trying to generate something brand new from scratch. It involves three basic things.

Creative Friendly Environment - The surroundings I put myself in can vary. Being close to water is always a plus for me, whether it be an ocean, a lake, or a puddle! Water helps my creative process.

Then again, I have spent hundreds of hours at Starbucks or other coffee shops over the years. Sitting there for four and five hours at a time, lost to all that is going on around me, being around people but not interacting with them, is valuable time for me. 

I recall one time going into one establishment with the goal of coming up with a specific script idea. Not long after I sat down, an interesting ‘character’ walked in and began talking the ear off the person next to me. I admit I eavesdropped, but honestly, I only caught some of his words. Those few words combined with my imagination and some note-taking, I had an idea for my script! Did it have anything to do with what the person was preaching to his unfortunate listener? Definitely not. But in my mind, it morphed into an entirely different scenario.

Photo by Diane M. Dresback

Some of the best creative times have been driving alone in my car. A few years back, I was driving from Phoenix to San Diego. My established goal was before I arrived at my destination, I would come up with an idea for a film that took place in a small town. As I drove across the open road, I captured my thoughts onto my voice recorder. By the time I arrived, I had a good bit of information about the plot, the characters, and many pieces of the story. Funny, that idea actually resulted in my first novel, Promise of Protection. I have used the method on numerous occasions.

Once in a while, I can spark an idea at home (sometimes in the bathtub), but not as often. Seems like getting out into the world stimulates more imaginative results.

Music - Music has an effect on mood and thought and inspiration. So, I almost always work with music playing in the background. The style runs the gamut. Movie soundtracks, classical, romantic, some with an edge to it. It’s more about the feeling I am trying to emote in my writing. It helps to place me in the moment with my characters and their world.

If I want to generate more action-oriented ideas, I might listen to the soundtrack of Batman Begins or Inception. Drama—definitely piano and strings. Something more scary, I love the theme song from the Exorcist and the score from the movie The Grudge. There are tons of choices.

Expectant Frame of Mind - This is most important. I can set up my environment and play some wonderful music, but unless I am mentally prepared, it’s just an enjoyable moment of relaxation. Preparation is key. I set aside a specific timeframe in advance (perhaps an afternoon or evening when I won’t be interrupted) and prepare myself mentally. 

I tell myself that during that time, I am going to generate an idea. Sometimes, I set parameters, and sometimes, I do not. For example, perhaps I want the story to occur in one location, involve a strong middle-aged female character, or deal with alternate realities. 

Then, I open up my mind and totally engage what I see, what I hear, and what I feel. And, be ultra observant of everything—an animal feeding, insects crawling on trash, blaring horns, people near me, a colorful sunset, a stalled fishing boat. It’s hard to describe, but it just takes something small to spark that imagination and suddenly grow into an idea…when you are expecting it.

Not always, but usually the outcome of that time spent is positive. The story that evolves may or may not end up even being close to the original idea, but many times, it is a very solid start. And that’s what I’m searching for—a starting place. 

Photo by Diane M. Dresback

The point is that I purposefully and intentionally set myself in a position to allow my imagination to flourish. I would love to do this more, but honestly, once that initial idea comes, I move into a different type of creativity to expand and develop the story. Then, something completely beyond that for putting all the pieces into place and making the final project come to fruition.

I know everyone has their own ways of setting in motion their creative process. There honestly is not just one way. For me—my laptop by a body of water, a hot chai tea, moving music, and permission to let my imagination run wild and do what it is meant to do.

If you know others who would enjoy these thoughts, share this Blog with this easy link:  Giving Imagination Permission

Stay up on the progress of my novel and filmmaking escapades and receive a free short story prequel to my trilogy by joining my email list here: Newsletter. 

Find details about my books at dianedresback.com and my filmmaking at mindclover.com.