The Best Way To Get Story Ideas and Inspiration \\ Great Ideas #2

[@HeartBreathings]

This idea of Master Lists changed my life forever, and I hope you find some inspiration here, too. Thanks for watching, and be sure to hit the "Like" button above. Thank you!

[@annelyle5474]

Love this idea - I'm already mentally combing through my notebook stash and wondering which one to use! BTW, you should totally watch "The Vision of Escaflowne" - the heroine reads tarot cards and dowses with a magical crystal pendant 😀

[@moniquerushinglynch]

You're such a great and natural teacher.

[@HeartBreathings]

Thank you so much for this comment. It means a lot!

[@Marion1457L]

I love the baby shoes in the background.

[@Katlyn_Duncan]

I’m here for the lists!! 📝 also your hair looks super cute! Not messy at all 💁🏻‍♀️

[@robyndehart4263]

That's what I was thinking too! Adorable hair!

[@angelabublitz5912]

I thought the same thing!! :)

[@cece_is_me6268]

Me too. Her hair looks super cute!

[@schuylergeery-zink1923]

I love old stories - ancient Greek tales have some fantastic archetypes and plots that resonate well. The inspiration for my first series “Blood Moon: Book 1 of the Crescent Crown Saga” was Ovid’s rendition of the Athena and Arachne myth.

[@kartcraft]

thank you very much for this video, I have recently decided not to hide anymore and to write my stories and also to draw them, I met your channel by turning on KZbin and it was of great help to me, thanks for sharing it ..... I’m an italian Girl and I live in Italy sorry for My bad english 🥲

[@hawkivory]

oooh I have an old notebook where I used to write what inspired me from my favorite stories! And now I'm inspired to pull that out again and do more work! Thanks for this video, Sarra!

[@SallyJane84]

I have been so excited for this video! I have notes EVERYWHERE!! I have considered using something digital for this but I love hand writing things! It makes my brain process information better when I write stuff by hand. Once I do that then I can make it digital if I choose. Thank you for sharing all of these amazing content!! And I love your hair, by the way, it looks great down too!!

[@megankirrmann6624]

Master lists.....what a brilliant idea 💡!!!

[@susanring7634]

I love the way you go deeper with this Sarra. I've always kept a master list of books, songs, places we want to visit, or certain other things I've wanted to buy but didn't want to panic buy! It's like a big magical intention book. Then you don't forget what you want. But, to have something inspire book ideas - even better!

[@Marion1457L]

This is so helpful. Now I have a starting point for using more of my notebooks and jumpstarting my writing practice in 2022. Thank you, Sarra Cannon/Heart Breathings.

[@JustCallMeInsane]

Omg I love hack//sign!! I rarely find others who do! Games, stories, manga, I had it all haha! And Fairy Tail is amazing. Watching it for a second time now!

[@dinascott8815]

This journal is a fabulous idea! Thank you!!!

[@alyssiakirkhart]

Sarra -- Everquest?! My husband and I met playing Everquest online -- we've been married 18 years this year. Like someone mentioned below, you are a natural teacher. I can't wait to take this sage advice and make a notebook of master lists of my own. When I'm working on any given novel, there is a state of mind I have to stay in at almost all times. I'm very careful with what I listen to and what I watch, and I almost always go back to the same books, movies or television, and music, because it puts my muse into the state she needs to be in order to not only create, but create well and effectively. I never thought about putting these down on paper. Thank you so much for this.

[@HeartBreathings]

This is awesome! George and I both played EQ but didn't meet each other until EQ2!

[@Okie_Stitches]

I had started this sometime back in scrivener, but out of sight and getting lost was a problem for me. Now I’m in paper and love that much better. I love yours. I’ve been stuffing mine too but I’m afraid it will bust the binding and I want it to last for years. I did think ahead to get one that lays flat. As always, much loved and much appreciated inspiration!! 😘 Thank you for being you.

[@SusanGHaws]

I appreciate this way of organizing. Thanks for the great workbooks and other rescources.

[@pattyellis5359]

Today I managed to get some items to use to combined all my information about my book into one folder. And tomorrow, I will be decorating the folder from some things I kept over the years. Since I saw how you created notebook or folder to help you with idea's and things for your books. I felt motivate to improve in my info for my book - Can't wait! Thank you so much for your creative vibe and other things in your vlog. Oddly enough, you are another KZbin lady that I listen to to help me sleep and dream idea's for my book - which happened and I so can't remember the scene I was working on in my book in my dream.

[@hopeforcambodia-rachellim9705]

Thank you Sarah. I learned from this video. Great points! Rachel Lim

[@medusa3592]

When in doubt...make a list. Bullet points work so much better for me than those stream of consciousness writing I used to do.

[@jenniferbrooks--planj5459]

This is cool! The work of Vladimir Nabokov, any of them, but especially Lolita, is a great story with an unreliable narrator. No one does complex characters like the Russians! Also, Toni Morrison's Beloved is a great example. I love unreliable narrators too. Now I need to go get another notebook!

[@HeartBreathings]

Thank you!! I need to add Lolita to my wishlist! I haven't read Beloved either so both going on.

[@jenniferbrooks--planj5459]

@@HeartBreathings I forgot to mention, Beloved also features ghosts and hauntings.

[@seraphime86]

Brilliant. I think I will set something like that digitally in Notion. Thanks for the inspiration 😊

[@saritaschaffter2133]

This is very helpful video. I might try this method. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@pagesofkelly]

I love this! I created a writer’s encyclopedia which is somewhat similar. Although, it veers more to books I’ve read and notes I’ve taken that inspired me or I liked how they structured a battle, magic or romance scene etc...their writing methods, choice of vocabulary and things of that sort. So, if I’m ever struggling with how to word a battle scene or romance scene I can simply go back and see how other authors did it. I am working on doing a Master List journal as we speak so fingers crossed it comes out well! 😊

[@marybeougher2953]

A lot of people give it a hard time, but I love the movie Sucker Punch. It’s a very in your head, what is really going on, and I love the different vignettes and how they’re different genres. Plus Emily Browning is a great actress.

[@anna_rn]

I’m used to “to-do” lists, but I never made lists of things and books I like. That quote you used is spot on. There is definitely a common element when you start analyzing your favorite things and why they are your favorite things.

[@ANSageWrites]

Such a great idea for a notebook! Definitely a useful tool for authors and any creators really. Love it!

[@anaerobinson]

I loved Gothica as well! Thanks for sharing.

[@TurtleJulia]

I have an Excel file for this, in a way, with one page for writing links, one for tropes, one for ideas, one for character comparisons (so my MCs aren't all the same) and different pages with notes/tropes for each of my projects. Now I want to make a book like that though!

[@SDHegyes]

Oh! I love this idea! I keep an excel sheet that has a list of all my characters from every and any book because I don't like using the same names over and over again (unless it's the same series). I don't mind re-using first names or last names, but the full combination. I've accidentally done it once. Luckily I caught it. Now my spreadsheet is set to highlight repeat names, so I can make sure I don't do it again.

[@pioneerspetticoatswithauth8676]

This is a great idea!!! I’m totally going to start an inspiration notebook!

[@pamjournalcreate]

Messy hair???!!!! I think your hair looks super cute 💜... thanks for all the wonderful ideas i am definitely making one in the very near future 🌸

[@anaerobinson]

Oh, can’t wait to read that book. I love scary books, mines like that. I’ll be watching out for that book! So excited 😆

[@sandrameesala6804]

This is so brilliant. I was thinking about it one day but thought it would be a waste of time or turn what I loved to do into a chore. But the way you explained it really showed me the value in the process! And thankfully I have notebooks galore lying around at my parents house! Thank you!

[@lynceeshillard4859]

Loved this! I also have a list of the best opening lines and opening scenes. While I summerize the scenes, I write the opening line in my notebook. Like you said this is for inspiration not to copy! Thanks for all the inspiring things you do

[@crystalmorrison4463]

Fantastic video-inspiring and I totally get the “why” of the lists. Brandon Sanderson also recommends Analyzing why you like some of the favorite books or movies that you do for these exact same reasons. I thought it was wise when I heard him suggest it and you put it in to perfect perspective. Thanks so much… Loving this series!

[@kristyl6201]

Thank you for sharing this video. It's going to come in very handy for helping me with my ideas. And what I love watching and reading to put in a safe place.

[@SaraLea]

My inspo book is in one of these big journals too!

[@greeneyelia]

Such a great video! I can't wait for the continuation of this series (but no rush, I know you're really busy right now).

[@CJ-gc1xw]

Thank you Sarra!

[@johnd.20]

I'm loving this series so far! Thanks Sarra! By the way, your hair looks great!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Such a cool, creative idea! Thanks for a great video!!

[@CanyonHolgate]

I adore this idea of master lists! So helpful! What size is your master last book? I want one the same size! ❤

[@catcooke9270]

Seven Deadly Sins is absolutely amazing and Violet Evergarden (which isn’t technically anime but it makes me cry everytime!). Also, fairy tail is soooooo good

[@you-chan4641]

? Violet Evergarden is an anime, by KyoAni, originally a light novel

[@splufford]

I'm definitely going to have a go at this. Thank you for inspiring me to create something beautiful. I can do this in the evenings when I am too tired to write but want something to do when my hubby is watching the football! Thank you for this x

[@AuthorAnnaCatanzariti]

I love elemental magic so much x this is a great master lists x

[@laurenearle6261]

This is my favourite video of yours so far. I've watched it four times already😄

[@JessameJase]

Loved this Sarra! I really appreciate you!

[@katies8080]

I had no problem with the links and downloading the brainstorming workbook after signing up to the newsletter. I'm finding your writing videos very helpful, now that I'm getting back into writing again.

[@etiernan5695]

Interesting. Like a bullet journal for collecting ideas. I have a blog where I write about how authors I like do what they do. This encourages me to go back to those writers and do more analysis.

[@therealannataylor]

Yesss! This is why fanfiction is such a great place to start! I didn’t even realize that I wrote fanfiction when I was younger, but reading back through some of my old stories... yeah. Definite twilight fanfic 😂

[@cate5029]

OMG I love this idea. I have the perfect notebook for mine. Love the stickers on the front and vellum and all the washi. (I need to use lots of washi!)

[@siddharthrajarwal522]

Thanks for the list idea. Also your hair aren't a mess 😂😍

[@tete869]

Thank u it was a great idea I am so excited to start my own master list ❤❤

[@sade8376]

Guess I finally have a use for the beautiful Archer & Olive I got last year! As for anime, glad to see Cowboy Bebop on your list, it’s an absolute gem with awesome music. I’d also suggest Dance with Devils because it’s rather uniquely a musical (certainly made me smile!). I think it’s on Hulu. Other fun ones, all on Crunchyroll: -Ascendence of a Bookworm -That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime -Demon Slayer

[@hollzbaker6686]

Thank you Sarra! As always - high quality advice and inspiration all in one! I know what I am doing on the weekend now, haha! Throwing out some anime faves from across the years: Witch Hunter Robin; Vampire Hunter D; Fruits Basket; Heroic Legend of Arslan; Slayers; Last Exile; Samurai Champloo; Rurouni Kenshin; 12 Kingdoms; Spirited Away.

[@kellbell1604]

I really like this idea. I think it could be super useful to have these kinds of lists to draw from and keep your ideas in one spot. My friend just got me into anime. I've recently started Black Butler. It's really interesting. The voice actor of the butler is in my fave Kamisama Kiss. It has 2 seasons on Hulu and 5 OVAs that are difficult to find but worth the pop-ups if you can find it on a sketchy site. It is such a satisfying love story. I loved it.

[@kcinkcity]

Before you even said "messy hair", I was like CUUUTE!! Or as you would say, "so stinking cute" ;)

[@medusa3592]

I love that book...Stealing Hollywood, it taught me so much about sequences. I use a binder for my story ideas and some are in a coumpter document, I need to start collecting them in one place.

[@inesjohnsonwrites]

My favorite unreliable narrator book is "32 Candles" by Ernessa Carter. It's inspired by the movie 16 Candles.

[@HeartBreathings]

Oooh. Okay getting this right now.

[@cassiebozeman2599]

This is an amazing video. Thank you!!

[@ramantinuwal1810]

A new viewer loving your videos ✌️

[@HeartBreathings]

Thank you!!

[@j.devore]

I got so excited when I saw Last Exile on your fave anime list! I rarely hear anyone talk about it. I love Dio so much! My anime suggestions are Steins;Gate (On Funimation, I think. A funny, quirky, sci-fi anime that gets really serious but it's so good and I totally cried), The Promised Neverland (On Netflix. Dark and dramatic. I got sucked in and it was so good!), Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun (On Netflix, I think. Super cute and funny slice of life. The meet-cute is so adorable!), and The Devil is a Part-Timer (Maybe on Netflix? Maybe on Funimation... Super funny, fantasy story about devils and heroes that come to earth and try to live "normal" lives.)

[@brandybullockauthor3778]

I love this so much. Your videos are just so perfectly in line with where I feel I am lately on needing to be creative and find a place for all the things. Why did you choose a bound notebook over something like a happy planner where you could add in pages?

[@lisadebruin8719]

This Is So Much Fun! I've made mine in Evernote while watching this video. Of course I'll need a notebook for this and I'll transfer! But it is so much fun to make these top 10 lists of what I personally like. Thank you for making this video(series) 💕

[@TynishaThompson]

I think I just figured out what I’m going to do with my Big Notebooks from the Archer and Olive Subscription Box😉. Thanks Sarra... this was inspiring and educational.

[@HeartBreathings]

Oh great idea!!

[@youdonotyieldbooktalk]

My favorite anime is Ancient Magus Bride!!! You need to watch it!

[@HeartBreathings]

I've never heard of this one!! Going on my list thank you!!

[@youdonotyieldbooktalk]

Think Beauty and the Beast Retelling as an innocent romance; fantasy with beautiful aesthetic with mages, Witches, familiars, and just everything magical 😁

[@marahsoore6452]

I have two anime that need to go on the list. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, I do love both movies, but the second movie that was made in the 2000s was beautiful and beautifully blends vampires, science fiction, and fantasy. Also Hellsing Unlimited, it's a classic in anime and is utterly beautiful. It's also vampires but it has secret organizations who are trying to save the world.

[@fionajohnson9955]

Hey sarra, I recommend the Friction erasable pens, you can normally get them at target, but they're great

[@karenrwalker]

Super helpful! Thank you! A zombie rec I can offer: Colson Whitehead's Zone One. Now, which of my one thousand blank notebooks shall I use? (-:

[@mlbullbooks]

Really neat! I think I'll start one of these too. :) I'm already planning to keep a binder for my saga book series, which I'm using specifically to keep track of my characters' arcs/life events and all the books in the series.

[@AuthorAnnaCatanzariti]

I am starting to use notion to outline my novel and loving it so much

[@Grace-Grace-]

I’d love a video on your favorite authors. 💕

[@zi2651]

I create lists of media, history, places, etc. that inspired me according to whatever story idea I'm currently thinking about. For instance, for my epic fantasy WIP, I've made lists of various inspirations ranging from books (An Ember in the Ashes by Sabha Tahir, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas), TV shows (Game of Thrones, Avatar: The Last Airbender), movies (Dreamworks' The Prince of Egypt), songs/albums (Beyonce's "The Gift"), history/places (Mesopotamia, North Africa, West Africa), time periods (Bronze Age), and even events from the Bible that have inspired me. I also make sublists of the elements of these things that specifically inspired me.

[@debosorio4676]

That's funny. I have a Milqueris notebook for just about as long!

[@RRose-vw1ex]

You'll love Hell Girl. Try "Death Parade". I also recently watched 'Weathering With You" which is the same creator as "Your Name" and "A Silent Voice". They're movies but well worth the time.

[@nimedhel09]

Such a cool idea! I just had to put it down and will come back to it later, as I feel I need to take the time to look at my notebooks and see which one could be great for this. Oh yeah, for the people that may live in France/Belgium/The Netherlands or wherever they are implanted in, the store Action has dot markers! There are 20 colours in total, each pack of 4 costing 0.99€ (so a bit less than 5€ for all the colours available at this time). The dot are not all round but they still do the job, and for the price, it's quite the steal! And yes! Fairy Tail! I've not watched the last season of the anime, though I've finished the manga. We stan a shonen that has female character that actually do something and are badass in their own ways. The world building is also soooooo cool. So many things that make my high fantasy lover brain work and be inspired. I nearly never watch anime anymore, but Fairy Tail and Seven Deadly Sins are two shows I really like (oh my, I can't remember the last time I watched a shoujo lol).

[@KatherineWilkerson99]

I see a new project for me! :) I have a shelf full of notebooks and planners. LOL Thank you for sharing! This helps me capture my book ideas! :) aka Planner Nerd Plans My oldest son loves Avatar: The Last Airbender. We own them on disc. Do you read Manga? I just discover the stories there. :)

[@amouramarie]

Oooh, let's see, fellow favorites: Buffy, Veronica Mars, elemental magic, crows and ravens, Memento, old spooky houses, special keys, shapeshifting, "So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you," ancient places with names, (Cowboy Bebop is _iconic_ you will instantly love the OP). Notion is amazing; I need to use it more. I think you might like the movie The Others with Nicole Kidman - I think it qualifies as unreliable narrator, has a grand old house, importance of keys, ghosts, a bit of nobody-believes-me - it's one of my favorites.

[@amouramarie]

Oh, speaking of Notion, I actually have a page in it I called Things That Are Cool, which is basically this idea! I even have crows, keys, and shapeshifting on the list! Some others are old books, genealogy, the four sacred beasts, geocaching, quantum mechanics, etc. It's funny, even reading over a list of things that I love that spark my interest makes me feel good.

[@dbklyn97]

I love this series very much! I am going to make a list book as well. I have one question what vellum do you use to print?

[@HeartBreathings]

I got it from Amazon! I'll look for a link and add it to the May notebook challenge when it comes up!

[@SeanIanJacobson01]

I’m not sure how much you still play games, but some GREAT games that play around with the unreliable narrator thing are Portal 1+2 and The Stanley Parable. Highly recommend them!

[@deniserhk]

Have you watched Samurai Jack yet? Beautiful visuals, unique characters and just fun. It’s not an anime but it’s animated. Also the new series by the writers who worked on AtLA, the dragon prince. Good story and fun magic!

[@SDHegyes]

My husband introduced me to a lot of the animes I watch now and the games I play. I think the only "anime" I'd watched before we met was Pokemon, and kinda like you say ATLA isn't exactly anime (I count it), Pokemon isn't either. I'm also a fan of Monster Rancher, Digimon, and Yu Gi Oh!. All along similar lines as Pokemon. I think my first actual anime was Inuyasha, and isn't that one of everyone's? Except for Ouran High School Host Club, I haven't finished any of the anime series I've watched. When you first mentioned doing a Book of Master Lists, my first thought was my 3-ring binders that kinda became a dump for everything like this. I really like using a 3-ring binder because I can get them as well as loose leaf paper cheap during back-to-school sales. I have one that holds all of my rejection letters from when I was aiming for traditional publishing, all my acceptance letters/emails when my works were accepted to anthologies and I use it as a dumping ground for all my story ideas. Another reason I like it is so I can move pages around as I add to them. I might have a list that I want to expand on, and my brain hates when similar things aren't together, so having a 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper will help. I have a currently-watching list in my BuJo that I do every month. Love those lists. Another good unreliable narrator that I like is "The Uninvited". It's not one of the best, but I absolutely love it.

[@gray_mara]

Loving this series! When is the next instalment coming out?

[@vanissa537]

introduced my 3 and 6-year-olds to dragon ball z and they love it, they now play the xbox game of it also.

[@laurenxenacampbell]

Love the concept behind this and definitely will be trying it. Although I was shocked to see that The Blue Exorcist and Tokio Goul weren't on your anime list ;-) Someone recently asked on Twitter for suggestions for the best romances or love interest in fiction and I just had to answer Kirito and Asuna. Think I might have to start my list there.

[@jackikelly3495]

Great video. Can you share how you did the vellum pages?

[@craftyladynow]

Also love Avatar and if you haven't looked into it yet try the first three seasons of Dragon Prince on Netflix. It was created by Aaron Ehasz and the magic is based on seven different elements, plus cute dragons.

[@emleigh1793]

The French movie He Loves Me...He Loves Me Not has an unreliable narrator played by Audrey Tautou from Amelie. The first half of the movie is from her perspective, then it switches and you see it from the other side. One of my favorites.

[@WriterTambra1]

My husband introduced me to the anime, Trinity Blood. I love it. Such good characterization and world building. Although, this is a comic, Girl Genius is fun and it's now being made into a video game. (By Rain Games.) I'd love to hear how you like these. Another amazing video! Thank you!

[@MD-vm2yy]

There's a live-action version of Cowboy Bebop coming to Netflix. Not sure how it's going to compare, because the anime is amazing.

[@karenrwalker]

WhATT!!?!?!? Yay!!

[@HeartBreathings]

I heard about this! Feeling like I need to watch the original first!

[@MD-vm2yy]

@@HeartBreathings Definitely! But here's the link to the Netflix show in case you're curious: www.netflix.com/title/80207033

[@magicpumpkinpie]

Definitely recommend Tokyo Ghoul and Demon Slayer ☺️

[@Lasikukka]

On the unreliable narrators, have you read the Realm of Elderlings series from Robin Hobb? She has some really interesting twists and turns in her books and as you love the hate the character until you get to know them, I think you would love the Liveship Traders! Would recommend reading the first trilogy (farseer trilogy) first though. Buy lots of tissues if you decide to read these, you'll need them... :'D No elemental magic in this series unfortunately!

[@HeartBreathings]

Thank you!!

[@pamelamusoke2959]

Speaking of psychological thriller vs supernatural, check out Evil on Netflix! Completely messing with my mind! That is some fun storytelling that I’d would love to learn to do well!!

[@cassiebozeman2599]

I subscribed by e-mail today. Will I still receive the workbook you mentioned with the lists? Or is it too late? Thanks!!

[@HeartBreathings]

You'll get a link to all of my free resources! There are over a dozen now I think!

[@maryebert3884]

orphan black would never be off my tv if I could help it

[@messyandbeautiful]

Ouran High School Host Club! A girl masquerading as a boy - it’s funny and cutesy but that’s just my style 😉

[@andyallan2909]

Vellum sheets? Sticker Paper? Never heard of these things. Where do you get them? How do they work? Anything else?

[@DeniseMcGeeAuthor]

God, I loved EQII. Spent many many hours playing as well. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie is probably my favorite unreliable narrator story. Is it a book you have read?

[@EvilGrapefruit]

I'd be interested to see how you have built it out now it is 3 years later

[@tunkytunky]

I’m reading the Black Butler manga now, I’ve heard it’s better than the anime. So if you don’t like the anime try the manga instead.

[@brookesaylor8788]

If you love zombies you should check out Black Summer on Netflix! I loved it