Story Ideas from the Bible? Really? You're kidding, right? Actually, I am not. Even though I am not as well versed in the Bible as I should be, I discovered an avenue of looking for a story idea I never thought I would use. The Bible.
If you take a moment, wipe the dust off it's barely used cover, you'd be amazed. Yes, the "dust line" is sad, but true. Since putting away the fantasy genre, I knew historical fiction would be enjoyable for me. I had already had a Civil War novel about done, so I finished it and pondered on a new idea. I drew a blank...until I sat down one day to read. I opened up to Jeremiah and began reading from around the 8th or 9th chapter. The more I read, my mind started clicking.
I thought, "Hmm, I didn't realize how much he went through." Then I came across a scripture which described the desolation Jerusalem would suffer, stating it would become a "haunt of jackals." God slammed me in the head. I heard Him say, "Here is your new title."
As I started researching the book of Jeremiah and his life, the amount of his sufferings entered a new realm of reality...and a story formed. I ended up adding a medieval twist to it since I enjoy writing more about medieval times than ancient, but the historical perspective is accurate. This is only one idea. The Bible has many, and you can use even a portion of a parable or a story in the scriptures to write about. The neat thing is as you write, your words will hopefully touch others. And researching is not a bad idea; it allows you to read from the Bible and perhaps enter a more in-depth study of your topic. Either way, you win.
So, next time you are in need of a story, think about the Bible. It never hurts to read, and you'll be better for it.
Take care,
Nick
If you take a moment, wipe the dust off it's barely used cover, you'd be amazed. Yes, the "dust line" is sad, but true. Since putting away the fantasy genre, I knew historical fiction would be enjoyable for me. I had already had a Civil War novel about done, so I finished it and pondered on a new idea. I drew a blank...until I sat down one day to read. I opened up to Jeremiah and began reading from around the 8th or 9th chapter. The more I read, my mind started clicking.
I thought, "Hmm, I didn't realize how much he went through." Then I came across a scripture which described the desolation Jerusalem would suffer, stating it would become a "haunt of jackals." God slammed me in the head. I heard Him say, "Here is your new title."
As I started researching the book of Jeremiah and his life, the amount of his sufferings entered a new realm of reality...and a story formed. I ended up adding a medieval twist to it since I enjoy writing more about medieval times than ancient, but the historical perspective is accurate. This is only one idea. The Bible has many, and you can use even a portion of a parable or a story in the scriptures to write about. The neat thing is as you write, your words will hopefully touch others. And researching is not a bad idea; it allows you to read from the Bible and perhaps enter a more in-depth study of your topic. Either way, you win.
So, next time you are in need of a story, think about the Bible. It never hurts to read, and you'll be better for it.
Take care,
Nick