I’ve got a fabulous little green book called o level tests in English Language. Great if you’re stuck and wondering about ideas. Here’s a couple of ideas.
Write about the following.
1. A day which started badly. Speaking of which, have you entered this competition yet? I’ve got my idea, just need to type it up. It’s free to enter, so that’s always a bonus.
2. Begin a story with. ‘Where he came from we never knew, but…’
I love using song titles for story ideas. Remember when I chose ‘Climb every mountain’ for my title a while ago? People’s Friend liked the story and even e.mailed me, that’s a first, telling me exactly which bits they didn’t like, but the plot they liked, and they want to read more stories, so watch this space. That story has now been sent to Woman’s Weekly.
It’s a great little book; I carry it around in my bag and do some of the exercises when I have a spare minute. It’s by L.E.W. Smith. An old battered copy, so maybe it’s out of print now. First published 1959, before I was born, just about. Funny how old books can be an inspiration.
What old book did you find that gave you an idea for an article or story? One more of mine was a Rowland Ryder book with a picture of Edith Cavell on the front with her dogs. It was among a pile of old books, and her face looked so expressive and kind. I wanted to know more about her, and when I read the inside flap of the cover I couldn’t believe how brave she’d been and I couldn’t leave her there on the market field, especially as the book was only 50 pence; so she’s on my bookshelf now, and I had an article in The Great War issue January 2011 published.
Hope your writing is going well, and reading as well. Writers’ are readers’ and readers are writers, somewhere they meet in the middle.
Susan Jones - Writer 
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