| I've been traveling for the holidays and
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| | about? Which brings me to...
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| most recently I visited with family in
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| | What Is It About the Thing That Excites
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| Ohio. At one crowded gathering my
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| | You?
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| 9-year-old nephew Bryan, who has already
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| | I like to think I watch something over
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| been recognized in the local press for
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| | and over because I need that long to
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| his writing talents, pulled me aside and
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| | figure out why I'm intrigued with it. I'm
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| said, "Aunt Sophfronia, I haven't been
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| | not sure I can watch Robocop today--it's
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| writing. I don't have any ideas for new
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| | too violent for me now. But years ago I
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| stories. What do I do?"
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| | saw past the violence and became totally
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| First I complimented him on asking the
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| | involved with what the film said about
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| question--so many adults struggle with
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| | personality and spirit and what exists
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| this very thing and don't ask for help!
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| | beyond a person's physical being. I don't
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| Next, I asked him about what he's been
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| | know yet what's got me stuck on Top Chef,
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| watching/consuming lately re: movies,
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| | but I'm working on it! The key is to find
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| television shows, games, etc. We
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| | out what draws you to your latest
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| discussed several things, but the one
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| | obsession. Why? Because that will be the
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| story that seemed to grab him was from
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| | foundation for your new idea.
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| the movie, High School Musical. He
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| | How Can You Use the Same Themes
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| recited it to me in detail. I asked him
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| | Inspiration to Create Something New?
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| what about the movie interested him. He
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| | The ideas I gleaned from Robocop turned
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| liked how music helped tell the story. He
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| | up in a short story I wrote. My nephew is
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| liked that the characters were ordinary
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| | using his fascination with watching kids
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| kids. Then I asked, "Can you use any of
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| | just like him acting out a story to make
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| this for inspiration to create something
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| | a new story for children in his own
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| new?" He thought about it for a moment. I
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| | school. Making this next step is easier
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| could almost see the wheels spinning in
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| | than you think: chances are the reason
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| his head. Suddenly his eyes lit up and
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| | you're obsessed about a particular topic
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| opened wide. "The Vincent Elementary
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| | is because you have something very big
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| Musical!" He couldn't stop talking after
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| | you want to say about it. You just
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| that. He story was coming out fast--we
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| | haven't put form to your thoughts just
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| even discussed how he could use popular
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| | yet. Take some time to think and
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| song s to help tell his story. That was
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| | articulate the original feelings and
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| it, he was off and writing! Okay, what
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| | thoughts you have about your source of
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| exactly did we do to get him to his idea?
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| | inspiration.
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| Let's review:
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| | Map It Out and Get to Work!
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| What's Got Your Attention Now?
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| | An idea will remain just that--an
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| We all like to take in stories in one way
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| | idea--until you put something on paper.
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| or another: movies, musicals, plays,
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| | What you write doesn't have to be
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| television shows, operas, books. And
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| | elaborate. A few notes to yourself or a
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| there are times when you might find
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| | paragraph detailing your concept will be
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| yourself taking in the same thing over
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| | enough to get you started. Whether your
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| and over again. Maybe you're stuck on
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| | idea comes to you in full form, like the
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| reality shows or you've become totally
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| | "Vincent Elementary Musical" or in pieces
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| obsessed with a movie--I remember when
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| | that you'll put together over time,
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| the film Robocop came out. I'd never seen
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| | you'll see this process will work for you
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| anything like it and I couldn't get it
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| | again and again. So the next time you're
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| out of my mind. I saw it seven times in
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| | stuck think about these steps--and how
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| the course of a month! Right now I'm
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| | even a 9-year-old can do them--and find
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| watching the show Top Chef over and over
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| | your next big idea!
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| and I'm not even a foodie. What's that
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