by Eldred “Bob” Bird

Every writer runs low on ideas at some point during their journey. One way I’ve found to get inspired to write again is to take a page out of Hollywood’s book. I look to the past. The entertainment industry is famous for recycling stories, be it retellings of historical events or adding a new twist to a classic film.

As writers there’s no reason we can’t take the same approach. Pulling from places like history, classic literature, and folktales can be a great source of inspiration. No matter how many times a story has been told, there’s always a new way to tell it. Add your unique voice and point of view, and you could have a whole new narrative on your hands.

So, where do we start? Here are a few ideas.

History

One of the best subjects to delve into when looking for inspiration is history. There are literally thousands of years to pull from. I’m not just talking about events, but also people and locations.

Pick any era and you’ll probably find that Hollywood has written countless scripts based on it. Some are updates of old stories while others may be a completely new tale told from a different perspective.

A good example of this is World War II movies. Hundreds of films have been made about this one tragic period, yet every one of them is different. Some are broad in scope, while others focus on specific events or characters. The genres range from action to love stories, and drama to comedy.

While most are told from the ally point of view, looking through the eyes of the axis can add an interesting twist. Think of a time or event in history that interests you, do the research, then turn it upside down and see what falls out.

Classic Literature

Hollywood is famous for tapping into classic literature when looking for material. Everyone from Homer to Shakespeare to Arthur Conan Doyle have been mined for story-gold. One big advantage of this source is that books and characters old enough to be in the public domain are free to use any way you wish, without the cost of licensing the material.

Think back to your school days and the classics you’ve read. Is there one that stands out? Maybe there’s a specific character you remember being drawn to. Try imagining that character in a different setting or even a different time period.

You could try writing a fictional biography for your favorite character to get your juices flowing. Shakespeare In Love and Young Sherlock Holmes are prime examples of fictionalized biographies involving both classic characters and classic authors.

Fairytales and Folklore

One need look no further than Disney to recognize the value of fairytales and folklore as a source of inspiration. A significant percentage of their entertainment empire has been built on these enduring stories. They’ve even done countless remakes and retellings of their own versions of these tales.

But Disney hasn’t cornered the market in this genre. Check out adaptations by other studios, such as Ella Enchanted and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, both complete reimagining of the original tales. My own take on The Three Little Pigs has the Big Bad Wolf cast as a crooked real estate developer trying to run the pigs out of their homes.

What was your favorite fairytale as a child? How would you alter the story now that you have some life experience behind you? Maybe you could try turning the story inside out and make the villain the hero.

Your Past Works

Hollywood is forever creating spinoffs of other projects, and you can too. Whether it’s published works, half-finished stories, or notes to yourself, your previous efforts can be a goldmine. Dig through your prized pieces and cast-offs as well. Look for those nuggets that can be hammered into something shiny and new.

Think of the characters you’ve created in your past works, especially the secondary characters. Is there one that stands out? One that, if developed further, could carry a story forward? Try writing a bio for them and see where it leads you. You might end up with a solid spinoff on your hands.

I’m currently doing this for one of the characters from my James McCarthy series. I had such a positive response to Deputy Sheriff Nestor Yazzi, a main player in both Catching Karma and Cold Karma, that I’m working on building a new series around the character.

Final Thoughts

Be it spinoffs, sequels, series, or remakes, Hollywood is constantly recycling stories, characters, and even entire scripts. There’s no shame in digging into past projects to find your future inspiration. Find something that resonates with you and dig into it, then filter it through your own life experiences and unique voice. You never know what might emerge until you try.

What is your favorite movie, fairytale, or classic book? How would you retell the story? Have you ever taken inspiration from past projects? Let us know in the comments.

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About Bob

Eldred Bird writes contemporary fiction, short stories, and personal essays. He has spent a great deal of time exploring the deserts, forests, and deep canyons inside his home state of Arizona. His James McCarthy adventures, Killing Karma, Catching Karma, and Cold Karma, reflect this love of the Grand Canyon State even as his character solves mysteries amidst danger. Eldred explores the boundaries of short fiction in his stories, The Waking Room, Treble in Paradise: A Tale of Sax and Violins, and The Smell of Fear.

When he’s not writing, Eldred spends time cycling, hiking, and juggling (yes, juggling…bowling balls and 21-inch knives).

His passion for photography allows him to record his travels. He can be found on Twitter or Facebook, or at his website.

Top image by Mariana Vartaci from Pixabay