We’re living in the golden age of writing. Sure, you might think the golden age came and went in the 1800s, or even the 1980s, but no—it’s right now. Truth is, more books are being published now than ever before. And people are reading them, too! With services like Kindle Unlimited and Audible letting people subscribe for endless content, more and more people read every year. So, why not get in on the action? Writing a book might take a lot of work, but you’re smart! You just have to put a bit of work in—how hard can it be?
Just one problem: you have no idea what to write.
Yes, we’ve all fallen for the aesthetic of writing, but it’s not as simple as just putting stuff down on paper. You need an idea, first. And if you started out with the idea that “I should write a book,” rather than “I should write this book,” you might find yourself in the middle of the ocean on a boat with no oars.
So, how do you find an idea?
Mad Libs!
One good way to find a story idea is to make your own template and fill in the details as you go! As I’ve discussed in my in-depth storytelling post, you can create a decent story outline with a simple “therefore, but” formula, where a character tries something and meets resistance. However, if you don’t have a story idea, you won’t have much to go off of. So, write out a simple formula for yourself, and play a serious version of Mad Libs! For instance:
______ is a _________ who wants ________ because ___________, THEREFORE,
______ goes to ________ to try and _________, BUT,
_______, a _________ from ________ stops them, THEREFORE,
and so on and so forth. Just write your own, following that general guide. Start out with your preferred genre and character names, and work your way from there. You’ll end up with a pretty incoherent and wandering plot. That’s normal! You just have to refine it. Take a look at your overall story arc. Are there any plot beats that you don’t like? Any sections that you could stand to trim? Shear as much fat from your plot as you can. Now, you can get on to phase two.
Daydreaming For Fun and Profit!
Go outside. Go on! I know it’s bright out there, but get outside for a moment. Now, put some headphones in and select a fun playlist from Spotify—something adventurous, with a healthy mix of fast-paced songs and laid-back, casual songs. Start walking. Lose yourself in the sounds. Let the music lead your mind down a road of images and scenes and dialogue, all centered around that story idea. Maybe a mysterious song leads you into a conspiracy. A slow, jazzy piece might hint at a romance. Orchestral sweeps, roaring guitars, fiery sea shanties, whatever gets your mind moving.
If it works, congratulations, you now have the essence of your story—the feelings that it evokes. Do this every day, even as you write. I promise it will fundamentally change the way you see your story, bringing it to life. Just be safe. Carry pepper spray, and make sure to pay at least a little attention to your surroundings.
And Then…
Write! Write, write write! Just go! You have everything you need now. Of course, you might still have some trouble getting through your daily writing habit. If that’s the case, just hop on over to my last post. You’ve just started your ultimate creative journey. Good luck!
Note:
Last week, I ran into some technical issues, so I couldn’t publish this article. Oops! I promise I’m still keeping to my weekly schedule, don’t panic. Keep writing, folks!
