I’ve been a novelist for over 20 years, but I started out as a screenwriter. I still write screenplays in addition to novels, but I find that coming up with story ideas is easier when they already exist.
With novels, it’s much more difficult because there are no boundaries or limitations you can create whatever you want! That’s why it’s so hard to come up with novel ideas: there are no restrictions whatsoever!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| – Novelists draw inspiration from various sources such as personal experiences, history, and everyday life. |
| – Exploring “what if” scenarios and combining diverse elements can lead to unique and imaginative story concepts. |
| – Tapping into universal emotions and relatable themes helps create narratives that resonate with readers. |
| – Researching different subjects and cultural aspects can provide fresh perspectives and enrich idea generation. |
| – Refining a story idea involves defining character goals, conflicts, and narrative structure for a compelling novel. |
Learn About Your Characters First
The most important thing to do when you’re starting a new project is to learn about your characters.
It’s easy to just start writing, but if you don’t know how your characters act and why they act that way, then this can lead to problems down the line.
Researching your characters will help you develop them further, which in turn makes it easier for readers to understand their motives and actions.
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Become A Collector Of Ideas
To get ideas, it’s important to live in a way that allows them to come to you. You need to be open and ready for inspiration because it will never just happen when you’re not looking or expecting it. There are many ways to do this:
In the beginning, keep a notebook with you at all times. If an idea comes up while on the bus, write it down! If one pops into your head as you’re walking down the street, write it down! If an image flashes through your mind when someone speaks, write that down too!
The more practice and discipline you have at writing things down as soon as they occur (or even before), the better chance there is that these ideas won’t be lost forever once they’ve left your brain.
Don’t stop looking for new sources of inspiration either; always have something going on in life even if that means setting aside time every day for reading books or watching movies and trying new things every week;
Learn about different cultures by eating new foods or visiting their homes and shops; go hang out with people who inspire you because they’ve done amazing things in their lives (and ask them questions).
You’ll find yourself picking up lots of little details along the way which could become part of something bigger one day…
Work Backwards
This is one of the most useful techniques for getting ideas and making sure they’re good. Start with your ending, then work your way back to the beginning.
The reason this method works so well is that it allows you to focus on what’s important for your story: the result.
It also gives you a chance to see if there are any holes or contradictions in your idea as it progresses from beginning to end, which can help prevent them from appearing later on in your manuscript (or worse yet, after it’s been published).
Elevating your creative writing skills involves continuous learning and improvement. Discover 17 actionable tips that can help you enhance your writing craft and refine your idea generation process.
Make A List Of Ingredients Or Building Blocks
As a novelist, you will likely have an idea for a story. You may even know who your characters are, or at least some of them. You might even have the basic plot sketched out in your mind as well. But what ingredients will go into making up this tale?
First, consider the setting: where and when does it take place? What are some of its more interesting features? Then think about the characters: who’s going to be involved in this story and what makes them special or unique? Next, is the plot; what happens to those characters?
How did they get there at all (if there was no pre-existing storyline)? Finally, consider the theme what message do you want readers to take away from reading this book or short story collection?
Permit Yourself To Play With Ideas
The first step to generating story ideas is to permit yourself to play with ideas.
Beside you on the table, there are two sheets of paper. One says “Yes” and one says “No”. Take a moment, and write down everything that you want your story to include in it:
A girl who wants to be an astronaut? A boy who doesn’t want anything but his dog? A family struggling financially?
Now write down everything that could be the opposite of what’s on that sheet of paper: A girl who doesn’t care about space at all? A boy who’s completely obsessed with it? A family that has lots of money but no love for each other?
It may seem silly or childish at first, but permitting yourself to play with ideas like this is an important part of being able to generate more interesting ones later on!
Crafting a compelling short story requires careful consideration and effective idea generation. Explore our insights on things to consider when writing a short story to ensure your narratives captivate your readers from start to finish.
Look At The Opposite Of What You Think Will Happen
For example, if you’re a novelist who’s writing a story about a character who has been wrongly accused of murder, you might consider what would happen if your character was guilty.
Or if you’re writing a historical novel that takes place immediately after World War II, perhaps it would be interesting to show what happened after the war ended as opposed to before it began.
You can also use this technique when coming up with ideas for characters: for example, what happens if someone betrays their best friend? What happens when their worst enemy becomes their biggest ally?
The key here is to look at things from different perspectives. If everyone knows that something is going to happen in life (or in your story).
Then there’s no way it could make an interesting plot point or twist but by looking at things from another angle, maybe something new will come out of it!
Consider The Setting
The setting, or where the story takes place, is a character in itself and can help you come up with ideas for your story. The setting can also give you insights into how to plan your story and understand it better.
Here are some ways that setting may influence how you think about your novel:
Characters’ lives are shaped by their environment and so will be yours as an author. Consider how each location affects people’s personalities and choices. If a character lives in New York City.
She might have different aspirations than someone who grew up on a farm in rural Missouri; if a character lives in an enormous mansion on an island off the coast of Maine, perhaps she has access to more resources than someone who grew up in public housing near Boston (or maybe not).
A good writer should know enough about his characters’ specific settings to make these sorts of distinctions clear throughout his work.
The physical environment will inevitably exert its influence on whatever happens within it.
Whether it’s flowing water or windy weather conditions affecting what we see around us or even our internal reactions happening unbeknownst to ourselves until later when we reflect on them.”
Think Opposites And Differences
If you’re having difficulty coming up with an idea for your novel, try thinking in terms of opposites. What is the opposite of a happy family? A sad family?
Or think about differences between things: what’s different about this character compared to that one? Or this setting compared to that one? If there are no differences, then it’s probably not worth writing about!
Maybe there isn’t anything missing from your story yet but maybe there should be! Maybe something needs to happen for all these characters who seem so bland at first glance…
Don’t let past setbacks discourage your creative pursuits. Learn from the experiences of someone who’s been there. Check out our article on creative writing tips from someone who failed English 101 to glean valuable insights that can aid your idea generation process.
Think In Opposites And Differences
To get started, think about the opposite of your story’s main idea. What could be the opposite of “good”? The opposite of a “happy” ending may be a tragic one, or maybe it’s something completely different (like a character who is happy despite all odds).
The same goes for characters: what if the main character isn’t good at all? Maybe he’s greedy, cruel, and manipulative the opposite of someone with good intentions.
A woman might not be beautiful on the outside but have an inner beauty that shines through her actions; meanwhile, another character could be ugly both inside and out!
By thinking about opposites and differences, you can generate ideas for your own stories without having to invent everything from scratch yourself.
Try Generating Ideas In A Group Or With An Idea Companion
A group of like-minded people can be a great source of ideas, and working with others can help you get unstuck. Try forming a writing group where you share your work and get feedback from other writers.
If you don’t want to start an official group, try connecting with other writers online via the internet join an online community of writers, or start an online blog where you share your own stories and read those written by others.
A writing partner is another way to generate ideas: someone with whom you meet regularly (once a week or once a month) to flesh out both of your projects together while offering encouragement along the way.
It’s also helpful if this person is familiar with one or more aspects of the industry (e.g., editing) so that they can help offer advice on how best to proceed if necessary.”
Write Down Everything You Want To Say In Your Story, But Then Write Down The Opposite As Well
There are many ways to generate ideas for stories, but the one that I find most useful is to write down everything you want to say in your story, but then write down the opposite as well.
So if you think a character will do something, write down what he or she won’t do. If you think something will happen at a certain point of the story, follow up with what won’t happen, and then make sure both ideas are true!
This can be done on paper or digitally; whatever medium works best for you is fine.
Eager to dive into novel writing but not sure where to start? Get quick advice and practical tips in our guide on writing a novel for beginners that will help you embark on your storytelling journey with confidence and creativity.
Conclusion
As you can see, coming up with story ideas is not a simple process. It requires a lot of time, hard work, and patience. It also requires an open mind that can think outside the box or even better, a whole box full of boxes!
But don’t worry; there are plenty of other ways besides these seven tips to come up with story ideas. For example:
Further Reading
How to Come Up with Book Ideas Short Description: Learn effective strategies for generating captivating book ideas and turning your creative sparks into compelling narratives.
How to Come Up with Story Ideas Short Description: Dive into techniques that authors use to generate unique and engaging story concepts that resonate with readers.
How to Find Story Ideas for Your Novel Short Description: Explore methods to discover the perfect story idea for your novel and embark on a writing journey that captivates your audience.
And here’s the “FAQs” section with semantic-based questions and answers:
FAQs
How can I generate compelling book ideas?
Generating captivating book ideas involves exploring various sources of inspiration, such as real-life experiences, personal passions, and thought-provoking concepts. Engaging in brainstorming sessions and seeking inspiration from diverse media can also help ignite your creativity.
What techniques can I use to develop unique story concepts?
To develop unique story concepts, consider applying the “what if” approach, combining unlikely elements, and exploring different perspectives. Drawing inspiration from history, mythology, and cultural themes can also lead to intriguing and original story ideas.
How do I find story ideas that resonate with readers?
Finding story ideas that resonate with readers requires tapping into universal themes, emotions, and relatable experiences. By exploring human desires, fears, and aspirations, you can create narratives that connect with a broad audience.
How can I refine my story idea into a novel-worthy plot?
Refining your story idea into a novel-worthy plot involves identifying your main characters’ goals, conflicts, and journeys. Creating a strong narrative structure, with well-defined arcs and turning points, will help shape your idea into a compelling novel.
What role does research play in generating story ideas?
Research can provide valuable insights and spark creative ideas by exposing you to new information and perspectives. Delving into various subjects, historical periods, or cultural aspects can inspire unique story angles and enrich your writing.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.