Where do you draw story inspiration?

[SeraphNocturne]

I used to be heavily involved in the European version of the Renaissance Faire (Fayre?) scene, and with only a limited knowledge of the North American version I think I can state that in Europe it's more 'hardcore' (but I must accept it may have changed in recent years). There was a lot of steel weapons fighting (in my case with limited or no armour, so you had to know your stuff, even with blunted weapons), and the real fun started when the sun went down and the tourists went home: there are a lot of very serious drinkers in that scene. But... as I was so deeply involved with it over so many years (20+) it actually hasn't ever featured in anything I've ever written, either here (under a previous pen-name or my current one) or out in the non-kink world. I don't think it ever will: the whole thing stopped being unusual for me and became just a bunch of guys drinking and being political with a small 'p' and telling jokes.

There was sex going on, of course, and I still chuckle when I remember fucking my ex-wife in a tent before the market opened one day. The market was next to the shore on Oslofjord and we were in an A-frame Viking tent, so it was quite big, with room to *ahem* 'move around'. She was on all fours and I was in the 'approved position' behind her, a heartbeat away from penetrating her, when a big, dumb Norwegian tourist, who shouldn't have been there for another hour, stuck his great ruddy (literally) face in between the tent flaps. I got very English, and did my Lady Bracknell impression, "Do you mind?!", and he was out of there like a scalded cat. Despite being amused, I still get mildly indignant about it, even though it happened last century - I mean, the tent was closed, and how would he have like it if I'd just wandered up to his house, opened his door and stuck my head in to take a look? Or perhaps he might have enjoyed it...

I have a multitude of other stories about the whole scene, the individuals, the absurdity, jokes we played on each other and on the tourists.

But as for inspiration, it comes when I least expect it, it's never there if I ask for it, and it usually strikes from a direction I wasn't anticipating. It is both a blessing and a curse.

I feel like Europe wrote the book on these sorts of gatherings. This sounds INFINITELY more entertaining than the event that I was at, the highlight of which were costumed actors posing as knights riding on horses and “jousting” and the amazing attention many of the attendees and the actors put into their costumes and speech patterns.

The Ren Fest here is essentially just another cosplaying convention in most parts—if you come with a weapon it must be peace tied, there is no age restriction and there are an enormous amount of vendors most of which are selling handmade wares.

I think they could definitely take a page out of Europe’s book and model a more adult oriented gathering, maybe toward the fall. I would absolutely love it. But modern Cosplay has made enormous strides compared to my younger years and the characters portrayed were infinite, with intricate design. Definitely tickled my fantasy realm inspiration!

Overall, it’s been wonderful hearing where all of you AH authors find inspiration. I’m certainly going to try some of your methods when observing my surroundings out and about from now on.

 

[HeyAll]

news/life articles

 

[ElectricBlue]

Overall, it’s been wonderful hearing where all of you AH authors find inspiration. I’m certainly going to try some of your methods when observing my surroundings out and about from now on.

It doesn't need to be high angst or deep and meaningful either. Sometimes even the simplest things are enough:

A Girl on the Bus

Brooke Works at the Hardware Store

Both of these are 750 word vignettes.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

My next project is one that features a virus/mind control/reluctance/seduction/sci-fi and horror as there are remarkably few stories that seem to fit into this bracket.

And that really is the inspiration…it’s hardly been touched. Cue me trying to come up with a Stephen King-esque story.

Maybe I should create a pen-name? I’ve got it.

Steven Kang.

 

[SimonDoom]

Most of my ideas come from things I read. I'll read a story and cull an idea from the story and twist it in my own way. For instance, MelissaBaby, in a thread some years ago, linked to a story about a type of worm called "penis fish" washing up on a beach in California, and I got the idea to write a story in which the penis fish really were aliens being used like sex toys by women.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

Most of my ideas come from things I read. I'll read a story and cull an idea from the story and twist it in my own way. For instance, MelissaBaby, in a thread some years ago, linked to a story about a type of worm called "penis fish" washing up on a beach in California, and I got the idea to write a story in which the penis fish really were aliens being used like sex toys by women.

Whoa, whoa whoa!

Penis fish? (I am sensing this is temporarily derailing).

 

[ElectricBlue]

Whoa, whoa whoa!

Penis fish? (I am sensing this is temporarily derailing).

It's the quirky side of Master Doom. The story featured a hot doctor in a white lab coat, so I was on board. Fuck the fish, they were just bait...

 

[Rustyoznail]

Whoa, whoa whoa!

Penis fish? (I am sensing this is temporarily derailing).

A quick detour, but it is on topic.

https://forum.literotica.com/threads/there-have-got-to-be-some-story-ideas-here.1514520/

Simon took the idea and careered off the road.

 

[SimonDoom]

Whoa, whoa whoa!

Penis fish? (I am sensing this is temporarily derailing).

Not at all. It relates directly to the topic of the thread--where story ideas come from.

The other name for penis fish is innkeeper worm. Scientific name is Urechis caupo. It looks somewhat like a human male penis. A bunch of them washed up at the same time on a California beach in an unusual storm event a few years ago and Melissababy linked to the article in a thread. I thought, well, what if they were aliens from another planet and they enticed women to use them like dildoes, and then exercised mind control, because, well, that's how my mind works. It's one of my weirder stories.

Inspiration can come from many places.

 

[Duleigh]

I’ve spent my entire day at the Georgia Renaissance Faire after an impromptu invitation…

I drew some inspiration from the Maryland Rennfaire many years ago, including a Literotica author who had a thing about dragons, Sea cat and the Dragon Lady and that was followed up by a fantasy including a friend from the military, The Revenge of the Dragon Lady.

My Geek Pride stories have been inspired by other writers, The Gate: A New Green Man Appears was inspired by Takumi Yanai, who created the anime "Gate: Jieitai Kanochi Nite, Kaku Tatakaeri" and Enchantress was inspired by one single line in the 41 Discworld book masterpiece by Sir Terry Pratchett. Both stories were incredibly fun to write!

My Nude Day contest entry last year was inspired by a weird plant in my front yard

I have a deep love for Asia which grows deeper now that I can never return, and I also love the upper midwest, and I have many Vietnamese friends, so I combined all of that into We're A Wonderful Wife. But the storyline of We're a Wonderful Wife was inspired by a story I wrote as a challenge to myself. I tried to write a truly original take on A Christmas Carol and came up with A Krissymas Karole which became the storyline for WaWW.

The Stormwatch series was inspired by my hometown, a business that took a chance and hired me, the friends I made there, and Buffalo's most famous asset - all the damn snow!

I never know where my inspiration comes from. One plot bunny that's nagging me came from a dream I had where I was warned that Martians Mate For Life - I have no idea where that's going to go, but inspirations come from everything, songs by Maria Maldour, Sade, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray... and a life that spanned the globe.

 

[yowser]

Like others, inspiration for stories can come from all angles, and just observing: seeing, hearing, taking in surroundings and people can provide all manner of seed starters.

That said, festivals (including events like Halloween and Mardi Gras) urge folk into playful often wanton mode, and music can extend boundaries in multiple directions. More than one of my stories has inspiration from festivals, music or Burning man events. Couple examples:

 

[SeraphNocturne]

My next project is one that features a virus/mind control/reluctance/seduction/sci-fi and horror as there are remarkably few stories that seem to fit into this bracket.

And that really is the inspiration…it’s hardly been touched. Cue me trying to come up with a Stephen King-esque story.

Maybe I should create a pen-name? I’ve got it.

Steven Kang.

My Geek Pride submission hit most of those tropes on the head--and my thoughts were exactly the same when I penned it!

I'm going to get into your Hot and Fuzzy here soon, but definitely give a shout on AH when your new project goes live, because stories that border erotic-horror are among my favorites.

And Maybe go with 'Stefan Kang' for your horror nom de plume, so you don't get a cease and desist from Mr. King. He's so pretentious I wouldn't put it past him--he's one of my favorite drama queen modern horror writers.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

Like others, inspiration for stories can come from all angles, and just observing: seeing, hearing, taking in surroundings and people can provide all manner of seed starters.

That said, festivals (including events like Halloween and Mardi Gras) urge folk into playful often wanton mode, and music can extend boundaries in multiple directions. More than one of my stories has inspiration from festivals, music or Burning man events. Couple examples:


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Oh I agree, absolutely! Ample amount of skin shown at that Faire. I think the one's playing instruments were probably among my favorites, there was also a gorgeous lady spinning fire, and more bare-footed, colorful faerie girls than I could count. Then you know, the knights, assassins, bards, faun and satyr--and an enormous amount of pirates and vikings. Over all, it was a visually inspiring feast!

 

[ChuckWolf]

I’ve spent my entire day at the Georgia Renaissance Faire after an impromptu invitation… needless to say, I’ve got about a million and one ideas regarding fantasy worlds and characters at this point, and I can’t wait to get home to jot some of them down and start forming plots. It’s been an epic follow up to the Geek Pride event for me.

Do you guys happen to draw inspiration from interesting settings like festivals, faires, or conventions?

Momocon is going down this weekend as well, one of Georgia’s largest anime cons, and I’m honestly tempted to head down there too and see what ideas it might drum up!

Very interesting thread!

Looking over my existing stories, not so much cons/faires/etc, but almost all of them take place in Sierra Diabla, a corrupt fictional midwest desert city.

Upcoming stories I'm working on are tied to the world of showbiz & celebrities.

One story set in a sword & sorcery fantasy world involves, Thorvik Kabot, Succubus-Slayer, which is intended as a reversal of the somewhat misogynistic Gor series of stories, where the strong hero, Thorvik sets out to kill different variety of succubus, but always winds up falling into their clutches

 

[Djmac1031]

Walmart is a good place to watch if you're into humor, but there are some sexy women there during the week.

I've never been "inspired" in a Walmart lol.

I have often considered a story about "The MILFS Of Target," however .

 

[SeraphNocturne]

I've never been "inspired" in a Walmart lol.

I have often considered a story about "The MILFS Of Target," however .

My favorite places to people watch are usually out and about in nature. I spend a lot of time on the trails in Georgia. You meet such interesting and incredibly friendly people there... likewise in the warmer months, strawberry fields, and my top favorite place--an expansive private residential garden spanning 220 acres I keep season passes to, which is my most common haunt for photography. I've shot so many unwitting lovers in the gardens.

Very interesting thread!

Looking over my existing stories, not so much cons/faires/etc, but almost all of them take place in Sierra Diabla, a corrupt fictional midwest desert city.

Upcoming stories I'm working on are tied to the world of showbiz & celebrities.

One story set in a sword & sorcery fantasy world involves, Thorvik Kabot, Succubus-Slayer, which is intended as a reversal of the somewhat misogynistic Gor series of stories, where the strong hero, Thorvik sets out to kill different variety of succubus, but always winds up falling into their clutches

Interesting sources of inspiration! I tend to lean toward completely fabricated locations but occasionally I’ll step out and take a slice from a city or place I’ve visited—though the circumstances are rarely run of the mill slice of life.

I believe I’ve read your Succubus slayer piece! Or started it at least; your summary is giving me deja vu—I’ll have to double back and check once I make it through the Geek Pride list.

 

[Voboy]

I'll add something I was just thinking about.

I get intrigued by the "supporting cast" or "behind-the-scenes" part of stories. Among my submissions, that manifests as me regularly promoting my secondary characters and giving them their own stories, but it also works on the inspiration side.

I have a story set in the middle ages. I came up with it after re-reading the story of Walter Tirel and his "accidental" killing of King William Rufus in 1100. I knew the story, but then I got to thinking about Tirel's wife, Adeliza. What would life have been like for her, with a husband who was a regicide on the lam? What about her young son? I pondered that and wrote a story about her and a former lover.

Another time, I was reading about Little Diomede. It's the westernmost US town, a literal speck on a tiny island in the Bering Sea facing Russia. I read that they have a school there, K-12, and realized the town is far too small to grow its own teachers, principals, and whatnot; they must come from elsewhere. What kind of person takes that gig? How does the superintendent get out there to visit? So I did some research. The result was a story about a guy reinventing himself by taking a job teaching at some remote community in AK. The story petered out after about 12k words, but I still like the concept.

Interesting stories can be written about such people: a band member on a cruise ship. A line cook at the cafeteria at the Amundson/Scott station in Antarctica. The receptionist who answers the phone at the cleanroom where astronauts hang out before they fly. The guy who mops the floors at a Turkish bath.

It's all about curiosity and imagination.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I call mine "urban erotica" with an overlay of "erotic nostalgia" - me being older than you I have examples of both. Enough to get on with, anyway.

But then I'm also quite happy to go back to the fifth century and write my version of the Arthurian legend, and wander off to Titan to write about angels and astronauts. One mustn't place limits on your imagination .

In the U.S., urban, as in "urban fiction," means it's about Blacks or some other non-white group (not "Asians," whatever that means). Inaccurate, of course, but that's how most people here interpret it.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

In the U.S., urban, as in "urban fiction," means it's about Blacks or some other non-white group (not "Asians," whatever that means). Inaccurate, of course, but that's how most people here interpret it.

I mean to give you a prod about your Geek Pride inspiration, once I've read it gunhill. Though, you're more than welcome to share your thoughts here, I don't think I'll be the only one interested in hearing them.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I've never been "inspired" in a Walmart lol.

I have often considered a story about "The MILFS Of Target," however .

Then there is Dollar General, which is a different kind of scene. "Dollar General is proud to be America's neighborhood general store. We strive to make shopping hassle-free and affordable with more than 15,000 convenient, easy-to-shop stores." Well, they are cheap, although they sure stock a lot of junk food.

 

[ElectricBlue]

In the U.S., urban, as in "urban fiction," means it's about Blacks or some other non-white group (not "Asians," whatever that means). Inaccurate, of course, but that's how most people here interpret it.

Well, that's a bit daft. White folk don't live in cities? "Suburban erotica" then - which in truth, my latest stories mostly are, since I no longer work in the city.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I'll be honest with you, Seraph, I have NO fuckin clue.

One of my old roommates (you know the one) used to play a "game" with me, where she'd say, "Wouldn't it be fucked up if..." and then list some psycho scenario. My story creation is a bit like that.

I had a commenter once say that I stole the idea for "Test Subjects" from a film. I replied that I'd never seen the film, but if they'd tell me which one I got it from, I'd love to check it out (That was almost a lie, because any film like Test Subjects would ABSOLUTELY be XXX film, and I don't actually watch porn).

Women's World came out of my crazy imagination, as did Fucky Friday and Eldritch Pact.

Rescuing the Fallen is a fan-work of another erotica series, so you know exactly where it came from... But that's the exception.

Basically, I'm sure all my ideas come from what I read or watch... But I rarely realize their source before I've altered them beyond recognition.

Oh, and I told you about that Femdom Amazonian story I have planned. That was inspired (super loosely) by this BADASS series on Lit called The Dead World. Have you heard of it?

 

[gunhilltrain]

Well, that's a bit daft. White folk don't live in cities? "Suburban erotica" then - which in truth, my latest stories mostly are, since I no longer work in the city.

When I look at the news every morning, I get the feeling that everything and everybody is more than a bit daft.

 

[PennameWombat]

In the U.S., urban, as in "urban fiction," means it's about Blacks or some other non-white group (not "Asians," whatever that means). Inaccurate, of course, but that's how most people here interpret it.

Well, that's a bit daft. White folk don't live in cities? "Suburban erotica" then - which in truth, my latest stories mostly are, since I no longer work in the city.

Not just fiction, 'urban music' is also interpreted that way and was really the original focus. Here's a short discussion of the term's history and evolution. The term was coined by a black DJ in NYC, but then spread beyond his original meaning. Not without ongoing controversy.

Where the usage doesn't quite mesh is modern 'urban fantasy.' Where para- or super-natural creatures and plots exist in a modern urban (city) setting, rather than specific human racial undertones or meaning.

 

[TxRad]

For one type of stories, the short answer is pictures. Snapshots. One photo is worth many thousnads of words if you let your imagination loose. Some of the time I need a long heavy leash.

The second type of stories are my in the country stories. Those come from my background which is country. Add a country boy to a country girl or even a city girl and things can get wild and woolly.

And the third kind are my "Memories of" stories. Jumbled, out of order, and disconnected in some ways but all based on real events. They pop up and out at the oddest times.

Stories come from anywhere and everywhere. You just have to have an open mind and open eyes.