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Three Offbeat Ways to Find Story Ideas
By Beth Bartlett
Every writer has heeded the call of 'write what you know,'
but there are great story ideas right in your own backyard,
if you know where to look.
Call up the local convention center.
Want to interview a mortician who performs magic in his
spare time, quiz an expert on crop circles or find the
ultimate treasure trove of quotes about any subject? Your
local convention center hosts hundreds of meetings every
year, and often will give you a calendar of upcoming
conferences, special events and contact information. Call
the conference organizer ahead of time and ask about a
one-day press pass; be prepared to offer up your article
idea and some clips so they know you're a professional
writer, although some may not even ask. A few may also
offer to arrange interviews with speakers or experts in
attendance, but sometimes you get the best quotes just
talking with attendees in the vendor room or at a reception.
In addition to conferences, look at special events as well,
from fundraisers to art shows and retreats; while I attended
one conference, I discovered another meeting, an African-
American women's inspirational retreat, in the same building.
After a quick phone call to the local paper, I had an
assignment to cover the retreat and met some truly amazing
ladies. I've interviewed people at conferences about UFOs,
beer can collecting, antiques, writing, magicians, art,
religion, food, medicine and tourism, which led me to our
next secret stash of great ideas.
Discover your own state's tourism website.
In nine years of writing about business travel, I've
learned that each state keeps a fully-stocked website
full of goodies for the freelancer, from story starters
to event calendars. While perusing a tourism site across
the country may be like a mini-vacation, sticking to your
own state or those within driving range gives you a great
opportunity to build on your residential knowledge and
find new ways of looking at your home turf. Click on the
'Media' section, and you may find historical FAQs, free
newsletters, photo libraries, and press releases; often,
you'll find out about an event or attraction in your region
you may not have known about. A local's viewpoint will
often provide a much-sought unique spin for regional
magazines, from the best shopping deals to a behind-the-
scenes look at a well-known attraction.
Crash a reunion (or at least go to your own.)
Dread that family reunion every year? Your attitude will
change when you look at that crowd as dozens of human
interest stories. Who was a World War II hero? Who spent
time in the Peace Corps? Who has a great story about Carlos
Santana at Woodstock? Head for the older relatives, and ask
them about their most memorable moments; you'll get more
than you can possibly use. Or, just sit in on a conversation
already underway, which can clue you in to irresistible stories.
If you've already exhausted the details of your own family, ask
your friends if they need a pal to go with them to their own
reunion; not many will refuse the offer of back-up support.
With these handy tips, you can find enough inspiration to
keep your keyboard busy for months to come; just remember to
smile when someone asks you, 'Where do you get all your ideas?'
BIO
Beth Bartlett's writing clips include articles for Writer's
Digest, Absolute Write.com, Writing for Dollars.com, Meetings
South, Meetings MidAmerica and Mental Floss.
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