Online Writers Be Careful Who You Hook Up With

As an online writer I get a few emails each day inviting me to post my articles on some industry website or some online article site. Some are quite sincere and great websites yet if they are not affiliates with the category killers like EzineArticles.com you have to ask yourself why?

What I have found is that if article websites are not affiliated in anyway, maybe they did not pass the scrutiny of ethicalness to do so, or maybe they are not so legit. Perhaps they are, but one of the biggest give aways to scoundrel activity is an email which overly embellishes the writer’s abilities and attempts to stroke their ego.

Recently I had this happen and what a turn off it was. The gentleman in his email pitch stated; “I was just going thru your articles. You really write well. In fact I have myself been a Business Columnist for one of the largest newspapers. As a professional I can say I really like your work.”

Well how many people did he send that exact email too I wonder. So, here is the email I did not bother to send back to him.

“First off as a realist, I can say that my abilities as a writer suck, not that I care, as I am not a writer, I am just bored. Secondly I think all writers are persnickety, under whelming and mental cases. They are under achievers who could not make it in the real world. Third you are stroking me, because if you were a Business Columnist you would readily see my writing is lacking in so many regards. What a crock of crap and you know it. So, no I would not be interesting in contributing to someone’s website who is a BS’er like you nor do I care to have my ego-fed in such a way. Perhaps in the future you would stop throwing out compliments to people who do not deserve them and come clean. That’s what I think. By the way as an entrepreneur, you are a super marketeer and manipulator of people and your skill set is beyond belief.”

Now of course I did not send this email out, but that is basically how I feel about these ego-stroking losers playing games. If you are a downtrodden writer who needs you ego and god only knows what else stroked then perhaps you will fall for this line of crap. Personally I get sick of it. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Hero’s Journey: Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) Deconstructed

From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.clickok.co.uk/

The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) – Hero’s Journey [basic deconstruction]

FADE IN: context; Japan.

Ordinary World: a village on the coast.

Meeting the Hero: Sayuri peeps in.

Symbol of the Ordinary World: sister.

Forced out of her Ordinary World: Sayuri sold and taken away.

Resisting the Separation: Sayuri crying.

Going on a Journey: on the train.

Foreshadow of the Transformation: narration; I wasn’t born to the life of a Geisha.

New World: arriving in Beijing.

Creatures in this World: the residents, sights and sounds of Beijing.

Meeting the Antagonism: Hatsumomo.

Separated from the Ordinary World: sister taken away.

Meeting the Mentor: the mother geisha.

No Way Back: too late to send her back now.

First Threshold: upstairs.

Warning / Resistance: mother will hear you.

Meeting the Shape Shifter: Pumpkin; your family sold you to this house; you live here now.

Magical gift: clothes from mother.

Push back to the Old World: how will I find my sister.

Resistance: there are too many houses.

Developing the Antagonism: Hatsumomo; so this is the new arrival.

Polarization: stay out of my room; I can’t have you touching my things.

Elixir: by the age of 20 she had already earned back her purchase price.

Pushed to the First Threshold: go; don’t be late.

Resisting the First Threshold: I’m going to run and find sister.

Fish out of Water: clumsily learning the dance steps.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: seeing Hatsumomo with a man.

Forced to the Inner Cave: go to Hatsumomo’s room.

Inner Cave: why look who’s in my room; where is my sister?

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Hatsumomo arrives home drunk.

Sayuri forced to ruin the Kimono.

Foreshadow of the Transformation Mentor: delivering the Kimono to Mameha.

Inner Cave: Mother beats Sayuri.

Pushed to the Belly of the Whale: Hatsumomo tells Sayuri where her sister is.

Belly of the Whale: Sayuri finds her sister.

Preparing the Physical Spearation: arranging to steal money and leave.

Developing the Antagonism: finding Hatsumomo with a man.

Physical Separation: you will never see him again; what do you think, that a Geisha is free to love; no one is leaving here; Sayuri can’t get out.

Goodbye to the Old World: your sister didn’t wait for you. We are your only family now. Father and Mother dead; not a Geisha, but as a slave.

Meeting the Romantic Challenge: meeting the Chairman on the bridge.

Pushed to the Road of Trials and Transformation: from that on I vowed to become a Geisha and part of his world….

World of the Transformation: Sayuri grown and assistant to the other Geishas.

Developing the Romantic Challenge: seeing the Chairman again.

Meeting the Transformation Mentor: Mameha arrives and negotiates for Sayuri.

Developing the Shape Shifter: Pumpkin pushed aside.

Foreshadow of the : meeting the Baron.

Trials and Transformation 1:

Mameha begins teaching Sayuri.

Time Pressure: we have no time to lose.

In the sauna.

In the dance class.

Painting.

Learning instruments.

Learning to walk.

Brushing the ear.

The fans.

Antagonism: Hatsumomo watches.

Eyebrows.

The hair.

Sleeping.

Guided by the Mentor: Mameha stops a man with a single look.

TheKimono.

Transformed: Stopping the boy on the bike; you are ready; looking in the mirror.

New Name / New Self: from this day on you will be known as Sayuri.

Trials and Transformation 2:

New World: entertaining guests.

Meeting the Baron et al.

Fish out of Water: messing up with the tea.

Dancing with the fan.

Putting down Hatsumomo.

Hatsumomo: “I shall destroy you….”

Going to the Sumo match.

Romantic Challenge: meeting the Chairman at the match.

Winning the General over Hatsumomo.

Romantic Challenge: the Chairman’s hanky.

Trials and Transformation 3:

Cutting herself.

Meeting the Doctor.

Meeting the Oracle: slip it to Nobu.

Nobu gives Sayuri a gift.

Mameha is trying to instigate a bidding war for Sayuri’s virginity.

Developing the Antagonism: Hatsumomo ruins Sayuri’s chances with the Doctor.

Developing the Shape Shifter: Pumpkin finds out that Sayuri like the Chairman.

Journey to the Sword: the dance competition.

Guardian of the Sword: Hatsumomo angry about Sayuri’s performance.

Seizing the Sword: winning the Dance Competition.

Pushed to the Near Death Experience: invited to the Barn’s Estate.

Resisting the NDE: she is required elsewhere.

Pushed to the NDE: Hatsumomo gets involved; Chairman will be there.

Warning: watch out for the Baron.

Night Sea Journey: to the Barons’ Estate.

Developing the Romantic Challenge: Sayuri with the Chairman on the Estate.

Near Death Experience: almost raped by the Baron.

Reward: Sayuri has made history; the highest bid ever; and she inherits the Estate.

Atonement with the Father: Sayuri gives up her virginity.

New Self: you ar full Geisha now.

Apotheosis: Hatsumomo burns the house down.

Ultimate Boon: the Geisha life is over.

Magic Flight: the Chairman sends Sayuri away; running to safety.

Denial: no news etc.

Separating from the Old Self: until the Old Life is a dream life.

Rescue from Without: Nobu appears.

Crossing the Return Threshold: returning to Beijing.

Meeting the Mentor: finding Mameha.

New Self the Shape Shifter: meeting Pumpkin again.

New Self: the Chairman is dressed in white now.

Developing the Romantic Challenge: meeting the Chairman.

World of the Final Confrontation: being Geisha with the Americans.

Final Antagonism: Nobu wants to he her Danna.

Master of the Two Worlds: Sayuri doesn’t want to accept Nobu’s offer.

Romantic Challenge Polarization: the Chairman sees Sayuri.

Shape Shifter Revealed: Pumpkin reveals herself.

Freedom to Live: Sayuri lets the Chairman go; the Chairman reveals all.

FADE OUT.

FADE OUT:

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk.

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

How to Effectively Back Up Your Data

What to backup, and what to lose

The oldest “computer expression” is that there are two kinds of computer users, those that backup their data and those that will. Often, it takes a “data disaster” to compel otherwise responsible people to make a regular habit of backing up their data. Still, the majority of computer users do not back up their data.

According to Computer World, the annual cost to recover lost data per laptop is over $800.00 per year. This amounts to billions of dollars per year spent nationally to recover (or not recover) data that has been lost due to users not backing up their data. Critical data files are often stored on personal computers and laptops and often not subject to regular backup.

If backup is so important, then why don’t most people do it?

The truth is, backing up data from your computer to CDs, memory sticks, other computers, and network hard drives is inconvenient. It takes time out of a busy day. Most backup utilities require the users attention to start, monitor, and close the process. Backup takes time from the user that can be better spent doing something else. Backup is boring, since it may disable or tie up your computer while the backup is taking place.

So what data should I back up?

The simple answer is any file that you would miss if you did not have it. This includes documents, presentations, spreadsheets, accounting data, and other data files. Also include your Favorites folder, telephone directory, appointment calendar, and tasks. It may also include pictures, music, family video, and any other data that is significant, especially if lost.

Look at all of the programs that you use regularly. Find the data files that these programs and mark these for regular backup. Often these files are not behind your MY Documents folder.

For example, if you use Quicken or QuickBooks, the important data files are saved in a folder behind the Quicken or QuickBooks program. In Microsoft Windows XP, these files could be under Documents and Settings/user/Application Data. In addition, the Application Data file may also contain important information that aids in your ability to use many of your favorite programs. If you do not know how to get to these files, consult an expert to help you determine what files to choose for regular backup.

How often should I back up?

Think of this question another way – if my hard disk crashed, or I dropped my laptop, or it got stolen at the airport, how much time will it take me to re-create the active data that I just lost? What would it cost you to lose a day’s worth of data and to recreate it? How much time would it take to reconfigure your computer with the tools, configurations, short cuts, and links that you have spent years accumulating? Remember the Computer World data, the average cost per laptop for lost data is $800.00 per year. What is your billing rate? How much will it cost you to start over?

Some of us use our computers the entire day. That means that if we back up daily, then the most time that we would spend redoing the work would be less than a day’s worth of time. If you are an occasional user, then you may need to backup less frequently.

Once you have made your list, then you are ready to back up. Here is my partial list of backup files that would cause me great pain if they were not backed up:

  • Outlook.pst – Emails, Tasks, Contacts, and Calendar
  • My Documents – Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Quickbooks
  • Favorites (these are my Internet bookmarks that I have spent years building up)
  • Documents and Settings/user/application data (be selective here. You will most likely not need temporary files generated from web pages).
  • Goldmine data files and email attachments
  • What’s the Solution?

    The solution is to find a backup solution that is invisible to the user and does not create a “backup event” that must be scheduled from a person’s busy day. So hold this thought for the moment.

    Once you have determined which files to back up regularly, you must decide where to store this data. In the early days of computing, we used to back up to floppy disks. Now, our files are huge and often too large for floppy disks. CD ROMs are popular for backup and will now hold over 750 MB of data. DVDs can also be used for backup and how many times more data than CD ROMS.

    At the beginning of this article, I said that backup is inconvenient and that is why most people don’t do it. Therefore lets find solutions that are convenient. Not just convenient, but invisible like an insurance policy that just works.

    If you are a lone computer user and are not on a network, the best solution is to get an external hard drive that plugs into your USB port. These data storage devices are relatively cheap for the benefit that they provide. Follow this link for examples of these products: http://www.google.com/froogle?q=USB+Hard+drive. If you are using Windows XP, then you can use the Windows Synchronize utility found in XP. To use, copy all of your data to the external drive. Then install the Windows Synchronize utility to automatically keep your files up to date when you plug the external drive into your computer. When you travel with your laptop computer, leave the USB hard drive at home. Never carry it in your computer bag. If you are backing up your desktop, take the USB hard drive with you – or at least store it at a location separate from your desktop in case of fire or other disaster.

    If you are on a network, such as a home or business network, set aside some backup space on a hard drive on the network or on another computer. Hard drives are cheap. If you need more space than is available, buy another hard drive and install it on another computer. Use Windows Synchronize utility to keep the data synced.

    If you use a laptop or work in different locations, a new product called BeInSync automatically makes the connection over the Internet between your laptop and a designated target computer for syncing files. BeInSync updates, automatically and invisibly any and all files designated for syncing. It even allows you to sync files with friends and business associates. Since it works in the background, it does not require a backup event and impose itself on the user’s busy day.

    Follow this link to get more information on BeInSync: http://www.beinsync.com/?rfrid=BIS-P-1038. One important note about BeInSync is that it will sync everything in the My Document folder. Move My Music, My Videos, and other large folders out of the My Documents before enabling BeInSync.

    What’s the bottom line on backup?

    The bottom line on backup is that it is absolutely necessary for everyone that has something to lose if his or her computer was lost, stolen, or simply failed from regular use. There is a wide variety of solutions in the marketplace to keep your data backed up. Spend the time to explore and implement your back up solution. If you are not technical, hire an expert to create a solution that works for you. It will be some of the best money that you will spend.

    Eric Guth and Joel Gering are owners of http://www.ProtectMyLaptop.com and SecureTrieve and are experts in the areas of computer troubleshooting and creating and maintaining networks for small businesses and homes. They have over 25 years of hands on experience in data management, data security, and remote data recovery.

    Everything Students Should Know about Medical Insurance

    Something that is often found at the bottom of the list when planning an education is health insurance for college students. Students are in the mindset where health insurance is not the first thing they think of. Let’s face it, in your twenties you will usually tend to think that you will be alive forever so naturally you will never become sick.

    Regrettably, this is rarely the case regardless of how fit a person might seem. An appropriate student medical insurance policy isn’t for those with plenty of money, it’s an essential. Students who are covered by a parent’s policy are generally included up until their 23rd birthday. For individuals who do not currently have insurance cover under a family plan, a fundamental part of budgeting for going to school has to be getting an affordable medical insurance policy. What should a student look out for in health insurance targeted at students? So what’s your deductible? This is an annual payment that has to be made before your health benefits commence, the same as an auto deductible. For instance, should your deductible be $500, $500 must be paid before getting any financial benefits from the plan. So what exactly does co-pay mean? When your deductible is met, in general for every doctor’s visit, medicine, or procedure you will have to pay a portion of the cost. This is called a co-pay. What should the medical insurance cover? Almost all plans do include Health Maintenance Organization or Partnership for Prescription Assistance. This could mean certain specialists might not be in your list of health providers and may not be included on the insurance plan. A list of participating health providers are included with your medical insurance policy, before making your decision do look into the alternatives thoroughly.

    What does the term catastrophic coverage imply? Limitations are common in student medical insurance plans particularly concerning catastrophic illness, and for most health insurance policies for college students, it’s in general lower than any standard health insurance policy. Restrictions: Limitations are common in college student medical insurance plans. Look over your policy to discover the scope of your cover.

    Carry all the health insurance documentation nearby everywhere. It’s not just not possible to anticipate accidents or an illness, but they are regrettably likely to hit when you do not expect them. Familiarise yourself with your college medical insurance plan, whether you are included with your parent’s insurance or you have your own insurance.

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    This is the only wholesale club in the U.S. that offers no membership requirements and limitations. Read on about Exterior Entry Doors Wholesale Retail and Air Freshener Crystals Supplies Wholesale. The small ones simply have one group of products you can order. More on Exterior Entry Doors Wholesale Retail and Manufacturer Wholesale Medical Jewelry at our Wholesale Review website. Find out more about Exterior Entry Doors Wholesale Retail and how Salehoo directory can help you start your own business from home. Exterior Entry Doors Wholesale Retail, Now business owners can purchase their loose diamonds at wholesale pricing.

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    Why Do You Want To Be A Writer?

    Ask most people why they’re in law school, and having graduated from one, I believe they’d reply: “To make a buck, of course!”

    Ask most athletes why they have chosen that occupation, and though they too can earn top dollar, I think many would respond, “I love to play!”

    But why do people choose to become writers?

    Writing is a solitary endeavor; in fact, someone once said it is one of the few that “resists collaboration.” (I’ve tried to tell this to overbearing editors, without much effect.)

    Except in those rare conclaves where, under amazing pressure, teams craft nightly comedy skits and monologues for TV, I believe this statement is true.

    I’m fairly sure writers are introverts, except of course, when they’re mingling with other writers. If you were a people-person, it would probably drive you nuts to have to regularly lock yourself away just to drive your fingers, relentlessly, into a keyboard.

    I think the thing that drives writers to write is the same impulse that is disturbing creative types so much that they feel they just have to paint, or to act, or to sew.

    It’s an imperative, a “must-do,” not a “want to do” type of thing.

    Perhaps this is why so many of us are willing to earn so little at it, settling for paltry book advances, and penurious bylines, when we could be making the big money and great benefits, sweeping bar coded items through Safeway’s scanners.

    So, my question is probably backwards.

    Instead of, “Why do people choose to be writers?” we might more profitably ask, “Why does writing choose so many people?”

    Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

    Article Directories – Ten Great Reasons To Submit Articles To Them

    Article marketing is still a great way of getting recognition on the Internet. Indeed my own name is found several times in Google and a great deal of this was due to submitting articles to article directories. I have yet to optimize this method of marketing but will do more so this year.

    Here are ten great reasons you should write and submit articles to article directories:

    1. Publicity – People will know that you write and may even seek out your expertise on the subject that you write about. This is of course tied into credibility.
    2. Credibility – You will be seen as an expert in your field if your articles are mainly about a certain field, make sense, and contain timely and relevant information. As an article writer you may get special treatment by these new article directory owners and get them to create a category just for your expertise.
    3. Branding – You will brand yourself and your website so that people looking for information on a certain topic can easily find it on a publicized article directory. If you have several articles you can quickly become a top author at the new article sites.
    4. Ezine Exposure – Ezine publishers may be looking for an article in a certain niche and go to these article directories in order to find an article in that niche. If you’ve given permission for the article to be published then it may be publicized before you’re even aware of it being published.
    5. Blog Exposure – One of the biggest crazes these days is blogging. Many people are using blogs to express interest in a certain niche. One of my own niche interests is alternative health and I have four blogs each concerned with a different “sub-niche” in this area. Bloggers can either print your article in full in their blog or link to the article in the article-directory.
    6. RSS – Many article directories today offer RSS feeds for each of their categories. Someone with a website may need niche content for the particular area that their website is about and run that feed on their website. New article database owners are going to be promoting heavily to get their sites growing so they are going to be taking advantage of this technology.
    7. Mainstream Publishing – Editors of mainstream print publications such as magazines and tabloids within a certain field of interest may be impressed by your article and offer you payment to write articles just for their publication.
    8. Archiving – Your article is always in the directory and available by category or author search. This makes it easy for publishers and others to find articles that you have written.
    9. Website Exposure – When someone chooses to read your article or to print it on their website your URL is published for anyone reading the article to see, and of course, the most important reason which is marketing strategy.
    10. Search Engine Marketing Strategy – This is the all-encompassing reason why you should submit articles that you write to article directories. If you do not or for some reason cannot write and submit articles you are a missing out on one great method of building your business. Submitting to article directories can get you and your website mentioned in the search engines. Google and other search engines are always looking for fresh, new content. If you are an affiliate with a certain company this is a great way to build your business.

    Keith P. Stieneke is the webmaster of Article- Database.com at http://www.article-database.com and is always ready to help the would be internet marketer and writer. Keith also publishes several niche blogs all of which are hand crafted and about a particular interest that he has.

    Keith P. Stieneke is a writer and internet marketer with several interests. He offers http://www.article-database.com as a place for authors to submit their content and webmasters to find content.

    Putting the Brakes on Bluffers

    Bluffing is an integral part of online poker. Those who don’t know how to bluff at casino games don’t win as much as though who do. And those who fall for bluffs wind up losing their chips. How can you stop a bluffer from bluffing?

    First, in order to rebuff pokerbluffers, you must identify those who do use this tactic. Loose aggressive players rely on bluffing to scare people off pots regularly. Because they bluff so much, it is almost impossible to ever read their hands. But when you know a player is a chronic bluffer who consistently uses the tactic to bully people, there are ways to retaliate.

    If you’ve got good cards, you should raise right back at the bluffer. Let the bully know you won’t be pushed around. If you have a made hand or a lot of outs, then raise the bluffer, don’t just call the bet. You must also pick your spots selectively. Forget the small pots with only a few multiples of the blind. It’s not worth the risk. But big pots are and it is these that the bluffer will most likely try to steal. Bluffers make the tactic a regular part of their game. They are always going to take a shot at a pot whenever possible. But they also can go broke fast if they call when raised and are holding nothing. The first time you raise a bluffer and show a good hand, they will become more wary of you. The second time you raise their bluff, they will have to wonder what they are up against. Raise the bluffer a few times, and soon the bluffer will avoid you and look for better targets to fool.

    Lingerie Sales Do Amazing in the Credit Crunch Market

    Sexy lingerie sales are seemingly unstoppable even in these economic times. With huge chains suffering a dip in sales and high street chains shutting down faster and quicker, the lingerie market is seeing sales escalate at a brilliant rate. Search online for bikini lingerie and swimwear brands from around the world at Becheeky.

    A popular girls lingerie retailer in the UK has reported a sales increase by 9 per cent. The obvious reason seems to be very clear, females enjoy to feel gorgeous irrespective of how the British economy is doing. With many girls spending time at home instead of going out, ladies are finding the advantages of dressing seductive for their partners.

    For the biggest range in attractive underwear, lingerie retailers provide a range of alluring and recession busting underwear. For the girl that enjoys to appear innocent and wholesome there are silk chiffons, and for the more adventurous female there is lace bras and stockings. For the women that are dressing to attract then there are low plunge bras and stockings that is sure to please their lucky partner.

    Of course, female underwear is not only for females. Guys underwear is also seeing a shoot up in sales, mainly due to the famous David Beckham ads for designer clothing company Emporio Armani.

    So that whilst the British recession continues to grab newspaper headlines, it seems women are more interested in grabbing spectacular lingerie.

    Short Story Ideas – How To Have Them

    Hopefully, when you want short story ideas, you don’t sit there waiting for inspiration. It’s better to write anything, and do it right now. English writer Graham Green attributes much of his success to a simple habit: He forced himself to write at least 500 words daily, whether he felt like it or not. Perhaps creative inspiration can strike at any time, but it strikes more often when there is work instead of waiting.

    What do you write though? Here are a couple new ideas for generating new short story ideas.

    Explain This

    I once created a car travel game called “Explain This.” Someone suggests an unusual scenario in a sentence or two, and then each player explains it in a plausible way. It’s an entertaining way to pass the miles, but also a great way to come up with short story ideas.

    Just start with an odd scene, anything that pops into your head. You might start, for example, with “Todd handed out the dollar bills to the people as they walked by, trying to distribute as many as he could quickly, before the police could stop him.” Now explain that. Our minds insist on explaining things, so you’ll find an explanation if you try. If it’s interesting enough, you have your next short story.

    As I look at the scene in my mind, I imagine the dollar bills are signed or otherwise identifiable, and they can be traded at a big seminar for a gift worth even more. A person could spend it and get a soda – or get something truly valuable for it. Maybe this will go in the marketing ideas file instead of the short story ideas file.

    Maybe Todd is handing out the last of his money as per the instructions of his spiritual leader. Could it be a “get rich quick” cult that requires all members to start from zero? A religious movement based on getting rich? Someone could make it into a plausible story.

    Short Story Ideas From Combining Stories

    Here’s a fun technique that is hopefully useful, but is at least worth a few laughs. Just combine old stories into new ones. The less similar the stories you start with, the better. The story of Adam and Eve combined with “I Robot,” for example, could lead to an interesting new story. Maybe a pair of robots start a new world. “Original sin” might be the arising of their own consciousness, or their rejection of man as their master.

    Hmm… “The Miracle Worker” and “Gorillas In The Mist?” Struggles of an ape that learns at last to speak and be independent? “Star Wars” and “Cool Hand Luke?” The story of a man who livens up the deathly atmosphere of a penal colony in space? “Frankenstein” and “Gone With The Wind?” The possibilities are endless. Start cranking out those new short story ideas.

    Steve Gillman has been exploring new ideas for decades. Visit his site for invention ideas, business ideas, story ideas, political and economic theories, deep thoughts, and more. Get a free gift too: New Ideas (http://www.999ideas.com)

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