As the title suggests, you can't decide when you're going to have your bestseller idea - you have to wait for it. The best thing to do is carry around a notebook at all times - or even use your phone - and every time an idea pops i
So how do you get inspired? When writing your first story, there's one thing to remember: don't limit yourself. Ever. Some writers know before they've even begun their first story what genre they'd be comfortable writing, and some haven't a clue. If you already know that you have a knack for writing detailed fight scenes for an action story or a heartfelt moment for a romance story, then that's great. If you have no idea, that isn't a problem in the slightest! This just means you're more open to try different genres.
So how can you get plot ideas? As I said, inspiration is the key. No-one can just sit at a desk and start writing. You need something to move you, an idea to come to you... and there are some methods of encouraging inspiration...
Read The News
This might sound boring, but it really does help. There might be a story that comes up that inspires you; maybe one of those stories that makes everyone's blood runs cold when they hear about a five-year-old who has been murdered. Try and look at all the angles of the article and find one that interests you: the parents' perspective, the killer's perspective, an older siblings perspective... or if you're really daring, the five-year-old's perspective. It's not unheard of for stories to be written from the perspective of children, nor from the perspective of a dead character.
Go For A Walk
It's impossible to predict exactly what will happen every time you go outside. You might come across an interesting couple: how did they get together? Who asked who out? How long have they been together? What troubles are they facing? Do they have to stay secret from their families?
Or maybe you'll find inspiration from a setting. A sunrise over a golf course could be the beautiful end to a romance as the characters kiss, or the chilling beginning to a horror as the light spills over the corpse laying next to Hole 5.
Follow Your Dreams
Your dreams display the height of your imagination; there are no rules, no limitations in your dreams and that's where all the greatest ideas shine. Try starting a dream diary; each time you wake up after a dream, write it down - even if it isn't very significant. It's not unknown for dreams to connect with each other - and even if they don't, you can link them yourselves; put them together like puzzle pieces and create a timeline for them.