Time to set the record straight on another frequently asked question. Namely, where I get my ideas for books, plays, films and so on.

I’ve very rarely got only one project on the go. Even now, my current work-in-progress You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic shares weeks with plans for the latest season of my podcast. Say nothing of the multiple ideas in the early planning stages. Or those that just occupy tiny compartments in my mind waiting to be put down on paper. Telling friends and family about this and they wonder how a person has one story idea. Much less several. “Where do you get your ideas for books?” they’ve asked me. Well, here are some of the answers.

Keeping up with the news

As a journalist, we’re taught to be interested in a variety of subjects, and then become an expert on those subjects. Back then, I focused my attentions on food, travel and entertainments, as those were my key interests. And much as I never became an accomplished news writer (apart from my days at HQB News and BeInCrypto, maybe), training as a news journalist helped me expand those interests. For one thing, I now keep a keen eye on crime-related stories – both the investigations and the legal proceedings following them. And every so often, I’ll discover something that I think would make a decent novel, play, series or film. There are two ideas, one local to me in Bournemouth, the other of more national significance (relating to the Holocaust), that I’ve got in the bank for plays in the future.

Channelling what you know and love

The age-old bit of advice: “write what you know”. Not necessarily the best or most interesting course, as I’ve said previously. But even as I’m writing You Can Hear Chopin, which, apart from reinforcing my interest in World War II, draws on my experiences working in the hotel industry, I find myself thinking of other stories that could also be set in a hotel. Obviously, I don’t want to make everything I write set in a hotel. So I end up thinking of what stories could follow a struggling novelist? A disgraced restaurant critic? A journalist who’s down on their luck? Experiences and interactions — these inspire better stories than thoughts, feelings and emotions. I’d reserve a poem to channel mental health issues, anger, and so on.

As for channelling what you love, that revisits my earlier point about what you’re interested in. If you’re mad about cryptocurrency, there’s plenty going on in that sphere to inspire a work of fiction. It doesn’t even have to be current. I have a long-seated love for a series of comedy films whose stars had their fair share of drama and comedy in their personal lives. That’s an idea for a multi-season TV show right there.

Playing with hypotheticals

I always advise people to pay attention to what’s going on around them when looking for ideas for books. Play the spy for an afternoon. Eavesdrop on the odd conversation, or just sit in a public place and people-watch. There are nuggets of inspiration everywhere. Usually, that is. If you find life’s on a bit of a monotone, take the time to think about a situation and ask “What if…?”

I’d recommend starting with yourself. “What if that person I knew 20 years ago suddenly reappeared in my life?” You have a character there already, and from that, you can develop the idea. The conflict, the setting, the events, and so on. There are several people in my life that I wouldn’t mind reuniting with after ages. One or two, I’d rather avoid, but in a fictional setting, it might still be fun to explore. “What if I encountered someone I went to school with who was convicted of manslaughter in his teens?” It’d be quite scary in real life, of course. But as an idea, it could make for quite a compelling thriller.

Ideas for books in family history

Family history has come up in previous posts as being catalysts for stories. In my opinion, it’s fascinating to know what our ancestors got up to. After all, they’ve made series upon series of Who Do You Think You Are? out of it! Taking a family legend as the core of a story is all you may need. Personally, I have a branch of my family in the smuggling world from the early 1800s. The key facts are now part of the public record, but the conversations that went on behind closed doors… the scenes that developed in between… that’s where the story lies.

Taking note of dreams

Science tells us we only remember a small percentage of our dreams. But that small percentage could just be enough. The end of a dream inspired You Can Hear Chopin, after all. However, there’s a clock on even that tiny portion of subconscious surrealism. So if it’s good enough, for God’s sake, write it down.

It can start with a name

Sometimes the ideas for books, series or whatever… they come after I’ve found a name for a main character. Or even the title itself. Titles and endings are two things I absolutely hate coming up with. But when I have a title at the ready and no story to attach it to… that’s a different kind of frustrating. There’s still a fair few character names in my bank that are just waiting to be given a place somewhere. But it actually reverse-engineers the process. I ask myself what story, what characters, what events can belong to this title? The possibilities can, in theory, be endless. In the past, I’ve mind-mapped anything that I think will fit, and then chosen the one I think would be the most interesting, compelling, or that just makes the most sense.

Thank you for reading. Want to know more? Get in touch via my Facebook and Instagram pages. Also, read further posts out more about my latest novel, and stay up to date with my podcast.

Our latest post (and video) is more of an advice-based thing for anyone who may be getting their first professional author headshots done. Whether that’s for their new website, for a social media or digital marketing campaign, or whatever. Anyone who may have no idea where to start… I urge you to read on…

This year, I branched out from my usual photographer, Patrick Čermák. Instead collaborating with new friend Jamie Webb of JKW Media on my latest author headshots, which were taken outdoors.

First bit of advice, before the Top 5 list – get yourself a photographer that you get along with. Meet them for a coffee or something first. I was fortunate to know and have worked with Patrick for many years before he started photographing me. Meanwhile, I had actually interviewed Jamie for a couple of features on HQB News earlier in the year.

Both photographers come highly recommended and you’ll find links and so forth at the end of this article. But before you do any of that, I recommend you consider the following points.

1. MAKE SURE IT’S ON-BRAND

I brand myself as someone quite smart, professional, elegant some have said… usually in shirts and trousers, often with the waistcoat, pocketwatch, etc.

Photo by Patrick Čermák

It wouldn’t really do for me to have promo shots in T-shirts, hoodies… informal stuff, in other words. Unless your campaign is deliberately saying something about challenging your brand or doing something different, then obviously do what you like. But otherwise, consistency is the key in this business. Right down to how you look.

2. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BACKDROP

If you’re indoors, try to get your writing space into the photos (or maybe even the places around the house where you don’t work). Or parts of the house that suit what’s on show. These photos of the books were on an elegant, arguably period-looking dressing table, for example.

Photo by Patrick Čermák

Outdoor shoots open up so many other avenues. I come from Bournemouth, which has a number of remarkable sights of which to make use, plus a rich literary heritage. Try to draw on similar things if you’re having your promo photos done outside.

Photo by Jamie Webb

3. MAKE SURE YOU’RE COMFORTABLE

I tried an outdoor shoot last year and, ultimately, I could only really use four or five of the end results. The reason? I was not remotely comfortable being photographed in public, and it showed in the photos. To put it bluntly, I looked like I had sat on something very sharp the whole time.

Photo by Patrick Čermák

If you’re having your author headshots done in a public place, I’d recommend finding a photographer who uses discreet equipment. An LED light stick, for example, as opposed to a full-blown light box. Draws far less attention from the general public.

I know it may seem obvious to say, “Well if you don’t like being photographed outdoors, just stick to indoor shoots”, and there’d be nothing wrong with that. But it can run the risk of your content going a bit stale after a while. Having a mix of indoor and outdoor photos adds to the variety.

4. HAVE SHOTS OR CAPTIONS IN MIND

As many of you may know I’m a planner with a vengeance. But on this last shoot I did, I was asked to let the photographer know if I had any ideas shots-wise, and apart from knowing I wanted half with me and the Bournemouth backdrop, and half with me and the books, I had nothing. More ideas came to me as we were doing the shoot, and then I could imagine what captions were going to go with which photo and so forth.

Of course, it also depends on what you want to use the photos for. My experience aside, it definitely helps both you and the photographer to go in with some concrete ideas in mind. You’re more likely to get the most out of your shoot, which are not always the cheapest things.

5. DON’T REPEAT YOURSELF

In the interest of keeping your content fresh, try not to go for the same poses, expressions, backdrops, outfits, hairstyles, etc. That may seem like an obvious point, but I know I am guilty of making more-or-less the same face in some of my photos, for example.

With this point in mind, I say it helps to work with only one or maybe two photographers for your author headshots. As opposed to getting different ones every time. The more you build your relationship with these people, they’ll become more familiar with your brand and, most importantly, what’s been done before. Not only by you, but by other people in the same or similar field.

Useful Links

Jamie Webb has an extensive photography and videography portfolio and range of experience. You can find the pages for his company, JKW Media, on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, plus its website. In addition, if you’re interested, find out more about Jamie, his work and his views in these HQB News articles:

• Jamie Webb, Videographer & Photographer (Q&A article)
• JKW Media: New Documentary Aims to “Help Students Realise They Don’t Have to Drink to Fit In…” (News Article)
• How to Become an Influencer in 2021 (Feature with opinions and advice from various Bournemouth-based influencers)

Patrick Čermák is an experienced event, fashion and portrait photographer originally from the Czech Republic. Visit his website for more information.

Want to know more? Why not let me know in the comments? For more author news and views, my Facebook and Instagram pages are here.