When looking for story ideas, it is always good to “write what you know.” So think of jobs you have had, both paid and volunteer. List your hobbies and interests or classes you have taken. Do you have unique friends or family members? Have you ever met someone famous? What are you passionate about? What skills or talents do you have? What experiences have you had in your life? You are unique–there is only ONE you, so what can others learn from what you know?
The answers to these questions can spark many ideas for stories or poems or books. Let me tell you how it works. I made a list of everything I could think of, using those questions.
Jobs I have had:
den mother, Campfire girl and 4H leader, and day camp counselor; ran a second-hand store; volunteered with REACT (Response Emergency Action Citizen’s Team), spent a year as a 911 operator, another year as a reserve Police Officer, was an advisor for a Search & Rescue team, and was a member and officer of several committees. Besides teaching, I also have worked as a Head Start Education Manager and Site Supervisor, School Board of a private school, a Family Advocate for incarcerated women, a receptionist for a bartering company, a caregiver for adults with disabilities, and a brief stint as a quality control worker in a manufacturing company. I have also directed several childcare centers, trained teachers, parents, and other professionals, and been part of several multi-level marketing (MLM) companies.
hobbies and interests or classes:
I also had 59 foster children (2 of whom I adopted) and six foreign exchange students; I play violin in a community orchestra, play and teach beginning guitar; I am researching my family history and have several scrapbooks filled with family pictures. I have taken classes (for fun): ASL, Japanese, and Paramedic training, to name a few.
unique friends or family members: I have a variety of friends in all age groups, some from when I was a child, some more recent. In family research, I have discovered an outlaw and a murder; I tracked down my mother’s family, who we knew nothing about; and have been in contact with relatives I didn’t know I had.
I haven’t met anyone famous, but I have met a few who will be someday.
I am passionate about: children, especially those who have abuse and trauma in their life; I love music and art and books. I love every one of my 11 grandchildren (even those I haven’t seen for a long time); and I love all the people I have come in contact with throughout my life: everyone has a story and everyone has worth.
Life experiences: I have experienced joy in raising children and heartache in losing friends and family members. I have owned a couple dogs and been owned by several cats. Life, for me and you, will have its ups and downs. All these experiences can lead to creative expressions of emotion.
Now that I have my list, I need to start writing! So far, because of my experiences, I have written a Home Childcare “how-to”Focus on Education and a music/poetry companion book Circletime Fun. I wrote an adventure book about a search I was involved with 911 ~ Missing Person! I have written a children’s mystery loosely based on events and friends from my childhood The Money Tree
Because I love writing, I am involved with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)and wrote No Escape! as a result. My love for children and children’s book sparked Tale of Tails
My life, with all its ups and downs led to 3 books of poetry (written under the name, Kathryn Lynn): About the Author . Through poetry, I have found peace and healing from losses. I have also shared laughter and joyful moments through my poetry. I have been asked to write poetry for others as they went through their own life’s ups and downs.
Now, I am retired from teaching, but still working some with children as a Childcare sub and trainer. I still have more books to write and am currently working on three! Never quit learning and experiencing and you will never run out of ideas! If I can do it, so can you!
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