tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post3549922290078956118..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How do you know if your story idea is The Idea?Stephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-14435849588100784902016-11-27T13:34:04.817-06:002016-11-27T13:34:04.817-06:00I always have so many ideas going on inside my hea...I always have so many ideas going on inside my head. Normally, I'll get really excited, plan everything out, write 80-150 pages into a book, and then the dedication will go away, and I'll want to write about something else. I know that it's a good idea for a book, and if I polish it up, the story could possibly be really good. But it seems like I just want to keep writing new and different stories all the time. Any tips for how to stay with one main idea, and to stick with one story? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-70986165685438394862016-08-31T09:23:20.438-05:002016-08-31T09:23:20.438-05:00The whole "it already exists" thing frus...The whole "it already exists" thing frustrates me to no end. I'm currently working on a novel about a teen Mage (magician) and I'm stressed that it sounds too much like Harry Potter or other fiction works. Is there any sure-fire way to avoid this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-21219919319800784932015-12-02T08:34:45.542-06:002015-12-02T08:34:45.542-06:00This post is really helpful, thank you so much! Th...This post is really helpful, thank you so much! The story that is flowing around in my mind these days comes from a dream I had and I could remember everything so clear when I woke up, that I wrote down the basic situations. Mostly when I write ideas for a story down, it fades in my mind after a couple of days, but now everywhere I go, it follows me, it gives me certain ideas that might or might not fit in the story I wrote down. Now was my question is this story one of the ideas that could turn out into a real book? I found your post and i'll be following your steps to see if this is really a great idea. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301410912851393278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48047121499461830432015-08-27T10:55:23.585-05:002015-08-27T10:55:23.585-05:00I get ideas all the time. I swear. If I go a month...I get ideas all the time. I swear. If I go a month without getting at least 3 or 4, I must be dead. (lol) But seriously, I have a folder on my computer to store them all, and I have about, uh...80-100 synopses right now. Lots of them are trilogies, so they're not all standalones, but it's frustrating sometimes because I want to work on ALL of them, and I can't!<br />What I usually do is one of two things. Here's the first one:<br />1. Idea pops in, write a blurb about it, leave it on the counter<br />2. wait a week or so. if I can't stop thinking about it, I expand the idea into a small synopsis.<br />3. If it's still going strong and my fingers are burning, I type a few pages.<br /><br />Next process:<br />1. Idea comes. Freak out because it's awesome!<br />2. Create very detailed plot and synopsis. Daydream to make it longer.<br />3. Write a few chapters<br /><br />...And that's pretty much how I do things.Lil Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-19397554625911648422015-05-05T21:46:38.294-05:002015-05-05T21:46:38.294-05:00Story ideas come at me constantly, but since I'...Story ideas come at me constantly, but since I'm working on other projects right now, I just write them down in my Story Ideas folder. Most of them fade eventually, but there are a few that have stuck in my head, so hopefully, I'll get to actually write them someday :)<br />And I've had that problem with my MC before! Where I decided I didn't like her. I still wrote the manuscript, but I had 3 other MCs I did love while I tried to find something lovable about that MC. It took a while, but I managed to give her some good qualities, and I'll try to encourage those when Igo back to edits. :)<br /><br /><br />Alexa<br />thessalexa.blogspot.comAlexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-19675838785448937942015-05-05T10:09:39.930-05:002015-05-05T10:09:39.930-05:00Agreed. I'm excited about that story!Agreed. I'm excited about that story! Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-33547439434595529922015-05-05T05:47:30.049-05:002015-05-05T05:47:30.049-05:00Well yes, Stephanie, I suppose it was, LOL. I supp...Well yes, Stephanie, I suppose it was, LOL. I suppose I should say I don't where thinking about yours took a major detour. But it sure was fun. =)Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-47550233029254240532015-05-05T02:50:39.178-05:002015-05-05T02:50:39.178-05:00When an idea hits me ('cause that's how it...When an idea hits me ('cause that's how it goes most of the time), I don't start immediately. I think about it for a while. Then I'll do some research or think about some story elements (perhaps draw a map of the location or read something about a certain kind of company that plays a major role in the story). If my enthusiasm for the idea is still there and still growing, I make a rough outline of how the story will look like. After that, and probably after some more research, I start writing most of the time. But to be honest, when I started with 'serious writing', I just jumped in. It didn't work for me, however. As soon as I did some proper preparation, I got to finish a first draft :)<br /><br />arendedewit.blogspot.comArende de Withttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08143950359368928929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-31118219419384718582015-05-04T18:11:29.492-05:002015-05-04T18:11:29.492-05:00Story ideas come to me all the time. I usually div...Story ideas come to me all the time. I usually dive into an good idea the moment when I know it's worth writing about. The other ideas I use when I get writer's block for smaller projects such as novellas and short stories. That way my mind can never get totally bored. CUPCAKES4EVERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01723222623390594686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-890054758650985362015-05-04T17:28:56.375-05:002015-05-04T17:28:56.375-05:00Awesome advice. I recently began a new WIP in the ...Awesome advice. I recently began a new WIP in the midst of edits for a different one. At first, I was struggling with whether this was worth pursuing or not (especially since I felt like I should be completely dedicated to editing) but it. Would. Not. Leave. Me. Alone. So that solved that for me. I've almost completely outlined it and began writing it and the creativity fire is still burning, so I'm sticking with it for the time being!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102112870911606839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-63947361937402784442015-05-04T14:54:32.757-05:002015-05-04T14:54:32.757-05:00I get ideas all the time, but most of them sizzle ...I get ideas all the time, but most of them sizzle within a day or two. The keepers stick with me longer and tend to take up more space while I'm randomly brainstorming on a doc. My best projects I let 'soak' and then come back to them when I can't get the idea out of my head. Sometimes I even do experimentations with projects I know I will never finish, but I do to help me become better at dialogue, writing a large cast, trying a different genre, multiple POV etc. They tend to last a hundred pages and then I loose interest. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76583243235406580412015-05-04T14:48:45.509-05:002015-05-04T14:48:45.509-05:00Even when I get an idea that's not big enough ...Even when I get an idea that's not big enough for a novel, I jot it down in a file I call Idea King, so I can look up stuff later to add into my current project. Idea King now has around 70 story ideas and it's always fun to look through. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72888631055992120832015-05-04T14:45:30.792-05:002015-05-04T14:45:30.792-05:00Oh okay, I'll probably wait around 2-3 weeks. ...Oh okay, I'll probably wait around 2-3 weeks. Although I am reading it all over and taking notes, ect. :) After I do the basic editing, I'll probably send it to some friends.Thank you! Sarah Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14331141670473223853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-90224920069477373002015-05-04T14:43:03.125-05:002015-05-04T14:43:03.125-05:00The dog in your picture looks so much like mine :)...The dog in your picture looks so much like mine :) He's a border collie mix.<br /><br />Yes, I have a slew of ideas that are good, but not big enough. Not yet, anyway. Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72582800233402845702015-05-04T14:41:31.438-05:002015-05-04T14:41:31.438-05:00Sarah, it's probably different for every write...Sarah, it's probably different for every writer. If my schedule allows, I try to give myself 6 weeks away from the book. It's what Stephen King recommends, and it's always worked well for me. Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-6658261506878428612015-05-04T14:40:03.051-05:002015-05-04T14:40:03.051-05:00I thought your idea was sparked by ME ;)
I've...I thought your idea was sparked by ME ;)<br /><br />I've actually been in the same place and felt semi-panicky over it. And then something pops up. While it can't be forced, you still have to be on the look out, I believe.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72396309061346187052015-05-04T14:36:23.833-05:002015-05-04T14:36:23.833-05:00If you're not a plotter, than I think your met...If you're not a plotter, than I think your method really is about the only way to know if the story will work for you. I'm glad you clicked with your MC!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79020681970645929542015-05-04T14:35:08.025-05:002015-05-04T14:35:08.025-05:00I get story ideas fairly frequently, but I just ca...I get story ideas fairly frequently, but I just can't seem to do anything with them. Usually, I think it's because the idea is not big enough to make into a novel. I know I've read something about that before on here. Thanks for this post; I think it will be helpful!Abbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09055419617967592383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-18758479578483944992015-05-04T14:34:07.348-05:002015-05-04T14:34:07.348-05:00When you're a contracted author, you have to d...When you're a contracted author, you have to do that a LOT, so it's great that you already have so much practice!Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-38105773512024502732015-05-04T14:33:21.537-05:002015-05-04T14:33:21.537-05:00You will soon, Jonathan. I was very similar in my ...You will soon, Jonathan. I was very similar in my early years, actually. It just takes finding the right idea and some extra determination to power through from beginning to end. Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1920196665799730312015-05-04T14:31:29.662-05:002015-05-04T14:31:29.662-05:00That's a great first step, Linea.That's a great first step, Linea.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37766792904268014082015-05-04T13:40:28.577-05:002015-05-04T13:40:28.577-05:00You should try looking through old journals..(if y...You should try looking through old journals..(if you have one) you never know what ideas you'll get! :D Try looking around yourself more, (as in when you go in public) study people..it works! :D I know what you mean, I just finished my first novella for camp nano and don't have another idea yet..still, I'm sort of glad I don't so I can focus on editing. ;) Sarah Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14331141670473223853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-49483061134539356342015-05-04T13:37:54.534-05:002015-05-04T13:37:54.534-05:00Usually my ideas will hound me..I try mixing ideas...Usually my ideas will hound me..I try mixing ideas as well-it makes for more interesting stories and makes more sub-plots. :) <br /><br />Do you find yourself more productive with editing if you wait a week, or over a month? I was wondering it would make a difference..I really want to start, but am wondering if I should wait. Thanks!Sarah Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14331141670473223853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-9683505099577302792015-05-04T13:10:59.804-05:002015-05-04T13:10:59.804-05:00Oh, I'm so jealous! Nothing's coming to me...Oh, I'm so jealous! Nothing's coming to me right now, and I really want to write! My current WIP is in the 6 week waiting period between writing and editing, and it's bugging me so much that I don't have anything to write.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05204177603888877364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-11020807363818184992015-05-04T10:34:52.351-05:002015-05-04T10:34:52.351-05:00My last gazillion WIPS have all been for series th...My last gazillion WIPS have all been for series that were sold based mostly on the idea for the first book...so much of my plotting and planning have been pre-determined by where the series as a whole needs to go.<br /><br />Last week, though, I was having one of those moments of "Okay, when am I ever going to come up with a new, independent-of-my-other-stories idea again??" and then the magic happened. I don't even remember what sparked the idea, but I knew it was a winner when, within 2 hours, I had plot, setting, and characters figured out. I even had a title, which doesn't always happen. It all fed off each other, which is just the most amazing feeling...Roseanna Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245767775900250399noreply@blogger.com