Reality Check: Is Your Story Idea As Strong as You Think It Is?
Week Three of "Get Your Story Straight"
Imagine having to choose one person to accompany you on a one-year adventure. Likely you’d be fastidious about selecting the perfect companion.
It’s the same with your book idea, and it’s mostly your enthusiasm that will let you know it’s the right idea. Here’s some questions to ask yourself:
Does the idea seem to open dozens of doors? Could you see yourself giving an impromptu TedTalk on why your idea is absolutely the one? Is it so special to you that it’s impossible to steal because no one has the personal connection to it that you do?
That’s the level of enthusiasm you should be feeling. Not, it’s kind of a clever or cute idea. Or, I could see people reading and enjoying this. Or, it’s similar to an idea that did well.
If that’s how you feel, you might be close to “the one,” but you’re not there yet. Often, it’s just a matter of writing in your idea notebook, “I can see possibilities here, but I need more.”
If you wait a while, being attentive to clues, the creative side of your brain will deliver, and the idea will open up like a morning glory.
For instance, this week I had three ideas kicking around in my mind, but I had trouble choosing one, and after putiing the ideas through last week’s tests, I knew none of them were quite there.
I was impatient to begin exploring my chosen idea but instead I waited, hoping for illumination and it finally came. I ran across an article that got me worked up emotionally. It was related to themes I like to explore in fiction, and suddenly I knew which idea to choose.
It’s time to take that idea out for a trial run using actual structural pitch elements.
That’s what will be doing next week. Meanwhile, if you think you’ve found your idea, I have an important assignment for you:
Write a love letter to your idea that extols all of its virtues. When things get rocky or grim in the novel writing process, this letter will serve to remind you of your initial enthusiasm for the idea. It might even get you out of a jam if you accidentally lose your way.
I love this idea!