Monday, July 14, 2014

Conversational Prompts

I'm back from vacation! It was fun, my first time going on a trip with friends. We drove up to Moscow, Idaho to visit one friend's son at college there, then back down through Montana and Wyoming. I only snapped a couple photos of a sunset one night, as we weren't really sightseeing. I do wish I'd photographed the canola fields in north-western Idaho, though. They were flush with bright yellow flowers (the canola).

Trouble

Moon over Pocatello, Idaho

Pocatello Sunset



While on vacation, I didn't get any writing done. However, I got several ideas based on conversations we had. There are gems in everything we experience, buried there, waiting to be discovered. Now, only one of the ideas was directly based on something discussed. The rest were weird random jumps in thought that were triggered by an idea or even misunderstanding of an original topic. Point being, anything can be fodder for stories. Conversations and observances, reading writing by others, and just plain writing, which can spurn other ideas as you work. I'm excited to get started on some new story ideas. First, I have to resubmit something I got a rejection for yesterday.

Today is back to work. Or, as we sang while rolling into town: "Back to life, back to reality." Back to the grind. I'm hoping to have some Chihuly art photos to share on Wednesday with the links, and I'll likely do more links than usual to make up for not posting last week.

What was your last vacation? Ever taken a road trip with friends? Where'd you go?

May you find your Muse.

8 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad it sparked some ideas!
Been a long time since I took a vacation with friends. Usually it's just with my wife and family.

Maurice Mitchell said...

Anything can be the beginnings of a great story Shannon!

Andrew Leon said...

I haven't had any road trips like that in about 20 years.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Roadtrip! We're going on a short vacation in September to Colorado!

Mark Means said...

Looks like a lot of fun as well as some great scenery. Road trips are always good for an idea or two, glad you found some.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Alex, I've only ever been on vacation with family before, so this was a first for me. Much fun! But you can't get cranky at the end like you would with family.

Maurice, so true!

Andrew, it had been 36 for me. ;)

Susan, yay! It's lovely here in September.

Mark, they definitely are. Glad I took my idea book with me.

Rachel, I did!

Anonymous said...

Oh my. The last road trip or vacation taken was too many years ago! Glad you and your friends had a good time. : )

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I love when story ideas come from weird places! I thought I'd come away with a whole bunch of ideas after visiting people in the hospital, but I ended up absorbing lots of stuff, not coming away with anything concrete. The one actual idea that stuck? Came from a totally strange place...and I am so going to use it for a horror story. :)

Glad you enjoyed your trip!

Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption