In desperate need for some inspiration!

[Donshyoku]

I am in need of some inspiration in order to begin this new story. I tried what most people will always tell you, "just write." But it didn't go too well, I got 2 pages in a Word file and got completely stuck. And what I did get down, isn't exactly Pulitzer Prize material.

What I wish for is to give a breif run-down of my idea. My trouble is finding where to begin, a starting point that is relevant and gripping.

The idea: Ethan Finch is a private investigator. One night, he awakens with horrible chest pain (a family trait). [spoiler] Unknown to him, he has died from this cardiac arrest and is now living in an eerily similar city to that which he had lived. He was spared his life, but placed in a sort of purgatory/limbo until his final fate is decided. In this city, angels and demons thrive in a constant invisible war (most of the people living here are still unaware of their own death and current situation), and they adopt humans to help them on thier end. Fast forward ---> Ethan meets (how does he meet her? I could use some help here as well) a woman named Leah Hawke who is part of an underground coalition dedicated to bringing people from thier oblivious state to a state of awakening and righteous acting in hopes that they can still redeem themselves. Leah learns that the demons have been watching him (something that Ethan himself has been canny enough to notice), and plotting to have him killed as he is actually the fulfiller of an ancient purgatorial prophesy.

I know that is a bit to take in, but that is my general back-of-book synopsis to run with for now. I am sure it is all subject to change, and maybe a few of you can point out some fundamental flaws in this idea.

So, beginnings... this is where I am stuck...

How do I begin? Should I foreshadow his destiny or circumstances, if so, how? I don't want to babble on for thirty pages about him noticing things are different, but I don't want to dive into the action without holding my breath either.

I'd appreciate any and all help! Thanks in advance!

[Tsujigiri]

Provided that you can manage not to plagarise, I'd suggest watching Dark City, Constantine and The Matrix.

Then give yourself a days breather and try to write again. Sometimes being inspired by the mood of a genre into which you are venturing can help to ease writers block.

[Donshyoku]

I have seen Constantine and the Matrix Trilogy. I think that Constantine does tend to offer a bit of inspiration, but like you said, it becomes hard to not steal elements from Constantine. I haven't seen Dark City, but I may give it a watch if it fits into this category.

I am also considering moving the story around a bit and placing it in a more fantasy-type setting. I think this would give me a lot more room to work with. I have, in fact, started a second copy based in a fantasy setting (though I am finding myself making heavy modifications). I may run with it a bit more tonight and see if that makes a better idea to go with.

[Glen C]

Something you have to realise - No one writes good drafts - as people say, get it on paper with blind turns lousy characters bad spelling blah blah. Then let it sit for a while, then come back and begin the tidy up process. I know from experience I will write some 20 - 25k of words to get a 6k story finished.

A big help with inspiration is habit. Developing your writing skill is as much about the habits of writing as anything else. After a while the mind knows just when it has to go into the zone and start pushing good material out - sounds weird I know...but it does work

Hope this helps a little

Glen

[dwndrgn]

You just need a beginning point, a hook, but don't want that to be oodles of background info that'll bore the reader before they can get interested...

Perhaps Ethan and the girl meet under some strange circumstance, he saving her from some sort of demon or suchlike

Perhaps the girl is the rescuer...

Perhaps they meet by accident - say, she literally falls into his lap during a fall from a building (this is a fun one because you can go back and make this a purposeful fall that she created to manufacture a meeting between the two so she could get close to him).

Perhaps the reader is a fly on the wall as several demons discuss (this would only work if your demons are the type that discuss rationally as humans would) the nature of the 'prophecy' or whatever that says Ethan is the man they must obliterate...

Well, there's some thoughts for you. Whether they'd work for you or not is up to you of course, but at least they may get your mind churning...

Best of luck!

[Teresa Edgerton]

You don't need to know where the story begins at this point. Start with whatever part interests you most, experiment with different beginnings. Nothing is set in stone, and you can make changes later.

Or you can step away and let things gestate for a while before trying again. Turn it over to your subconscious. Internalize the story and the characters. Sometimes this can be productive.

[Donshyoku]

I know that I haven't shown my face for a while, but I am back. It has been relatively boring in my life lately, and the writing bug is hitting me. Oddly enough, Constantine just came out on DVD and I watched it again. Also, I got a book on Ancient Isreal legends focusing on angels and demons which serves a bit of inspirational purpose.

I hope to hit the keyboard this evening once everyone is in bed and I can think. Hopefully, I can churn out something interesting.

I know many people say not to work on the beginning first, but I find that very difficult. I suppose it is just my way of thinking that is so logical and ordered. However, if nothing comes out tonight, I may just jump ahead a few chapters.

I am still brooding on how the characters meet, but you guys have offered me some excellent solutions. I wouldn't mind anymore comments on this topic if any of you are still paying attention. I thought of Ethan saving Leah, but in fact, Ethan is a rather cold, depressed character and I find it hard to believe that he would simply walk into an alley to save a stranger. Then again, maybe there could be something about this alley or situation that spurs something in him. Perhaps he could walk away as if he didn't notice, bash himself with internal monologue, and go back. Hmm... ideas are brewing!

Thanks again for your help! If anyone has any comments feel free to expose them here!

[I, Brian]

Another point is to write when you feel the urge - if you find yourself with an idea, don't just leave it - get to paper or keywboard and just write what come sinto your head - don't criticise it - you have oodles of time for that later - just get the starter writing down. If you have great ideas but are away from writing materials a lot, then find a mnemonic system to memorise you can use. Hope that helps.

It is a great idea, though...

[Donshyoku]

Yeah, I have nothing real to do. I simply can't stand writing with so much people and noise around. I am a nighthawk to begin with.

Nonetheless, I just got started and am taking a small break right now. It certainly feels like it is coming out pretty well, and I am bullying myself not to go back and edit or overthink things right now. I want to get as much down as possible, and, as you said, criticize later.