It all starts with an idea…

Did you know that the tallest tree in the world measures just over 380 feet tall? To put that into perspective- if you were to chop that tree down, it would be too long to fit inside a football field. That’s insane! This massive tree, however, didn’t start big. It started as a small little seed. 

Stories begin in a similar fashion. They start in the form of an idea.

 

An idea is the seed, of which your story grows from.

In order for a strong tree to grow, the health of the seed is vital. But how do you create a good, solid story idea from which a strong and healthy story can sprout? Take heart- you aren’t doomed to stare at a blank page hoping for the next bestselling idea to hit.  I don’t want that to be you. There is a better way!

My hope for this post is that you’ll learn how to formulate a story idea that has you wanting to write and others wanting to read. Ideas have consequences- whether good or bad- and in this case, your idea might just create a whole new novel. 

Creating a good story idea is not hard at all. It only requires two simple steps. 

The FIRST STEP  is to ask yourself a question– 

What if…

Believe it or not, those two words can bring you into a whole new world. Most novels can be boiled down to a simple what if question.  So, if you’re that writer, who wants to write, but doesn’t have an idea, I encourage you to grab a piece of paper and jot down a couple of what if’s. These are not meant to flesh out your entire story. Just to spark your imagination. Let me help you get started…

What if the sun died?

What if Bigfoot really did exist? 

What if Romeo and Juliet was played out in a western setting? 

The simple question of what if, can open up a whole new world. A world just waiting to be explored. 

The SECOND STEP expands on the first: 

Add a problem. 

This might seem a bit more daunting than asking “what if…” but it’s not as hard as you might think. While we’ve got a brief and shallow idea, it needs expanding. It needs a problem. Let’s look at it like this:

IDEA + PROBLEM = STORY IDEA

You’re probably wondering what the difference is between an idea and a story idea. Well, wonder no more…

The idea– “What if three astronauts went to Mars” –might be a great idea, but it’s not a story idea. However, if we take the “what if” above and add a problem, then we have a story idea. 

What if three astronauts went to Mars + and became stranded.

Ok…I don’t know about you, but I’d read that!

An idea without a problem is not a story; a problem without an idea is pure chaos. But put them together, and you have a great story idea.

So, if you’re that writer who’s struggling to find that next awesome story idea—try asking yourself what if… and let your imagination run wild. Take that idea, add a problem, and next thing you know you’ll be writing a story. Let’s see what you’ve got!

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