In a couple of recent blog posts, I wrote about how to find ideas and where to find them. But once you do that, then what? In this post, I’m going to talk about how I develop an idea to the point where I’m ready to write the story.
Pssst. If you want to watch the video version of this post, here you go
Step 1: Create the Project
When I’m starting to develop an idea, the first thing I do is create the project. I try not to make this too formal at first. I don’t want to scare my subconscious into thinking this is a big deal.
I want something super flexible, that I can use to jot down notes and thoughts without worrying about an end product. This could be a stack of index cards or the Notes app on your phone.
Right now, one of my favorite tools is Notion. It’s super easy in Notion to turn a single note file into a full project and vice-versa. Which means I can start playing the idea and, if it turns out to be a story worth writing, I can turn it into a project. And if not… then I can just file it away with my other idea sparks, to be called up in some future project.
Once I’ve developed the idea to the point where I know it’s going to become a book or a series, that’s when I’ll create the more formal project. That used to mean creating a dedicated writing notebook (I love the Moleskine Volant journals).
Nowadays, that means creating the Scrivener file.
(I need to do an entire blog post or series on Scrivener. For now, just know that it’s the app I use for ALL of my writing projects.)
Step 2: Think/Ponder/Brainstorm
Once I’ve got my means of recording notes and thoughts related to the idea, I will start the brainstorming phase. This phase involves lots of thinking, wondering, daydreaming, list-making, mind-mapping, and any other techniques that seems to work for my brain at the time.
I previously wrote a blog post about this phase. Read How to Turn an Idea Into a Story and download the free workbook.
Until recently, digital mind-mapping has always been really hard for me. Even though it’s a very visual form of brainstorming, I just couldn’t free up my creative thoughts. Until…
Whimsical is a software service that lets you make flow charts, sticky notes, wireframes (for web/app design) and MIND-MAPS!
I don’t know what it is about Whimsical, but my brain just clicks with it.
I’ve already started mind-mapping story ideas and a secret side project that I’ve been working on. I’m on the free plan right now (you get 4 boards for free) but as soon as I’ve filled up my free boards I’ll be upgrading.
Step 3: Build Out the Four Doors
After I’ve done some initial brainstorming, I start building out Nancy Pearl’s Four Doors to Reading. The four doors include characters, plot, world, and language.
I generally don’t worry about language until I’m writing or even revising a story, but I definitely try to flesh out some of the other doors before I dive into a story.
Develop the Characters
The very first thing I always do when I’m trying to develop a character is find an inspiration image. I’ll scour the web for an actor or model who I think looks like this character. Then I’ll paste that image into my Scrivener project so that I can always have quick reference when I need to remind myself along the way.
I also like to fill out a character profile chart. I almost never fill them out completely, but usually filling in a few blanks is enough to give me a good handle on the character.
My favorite chart is the character tree developed by Film Critic Hulk. You can read all about that and download a free printable worksheet in 7 Things You Should Know About Your Characters.
Another fun trick I use is pre-defined personality profiles. Sometimes I’ll use astrological signs. I’ll skim through profiles of each sign and assign the most relevant sign to each of my characters.
You could also use something as complex as the Meyers-Briggs personality types, although that’s a little too in depth for my.
One of my favorite resources is The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines archetypes book. I’ve had this book forever and almost always use it at some point along the way to give me a deeper perspective on my characters.
Try to Plot
Plotting is not always the easiest thing for me. Some of the best and most exciting twists come to me as I’m writing them in the moment. Which makes thinking ahead to what the characters might say or do is really challenging.
But I to try to have at least an overview of where the story is going before I begin.
I tend to use structure guides or beat sheets to help me plot. I don’t use them as road maps. I don’t follow them beat-for-beat or page-for-page. But I do use them as inspiration. I use them to spark questions and ideas about basic story progression that will help me craft a story that actually goes somewhere.
Two of my favorites are Save the Cat by Blake Snyder (which is geared at screenwriters, but there’s also a version for novelists by Jessica Brody) and the Seven Point Story Structure by Dan Wells.
Build the World
Worldbuilding is one of my favorite parts of writing. It’s one of the reasons I write fantasy: because there’s so much more worldbuilding to do than in contemporary fiction.
There is a great set of Worldbuilding Questions from Patricia C. Wrede on the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America website. They are exhaustive! You could get lost in your world while answering those questions. (Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you have to emerge sometime to write the stories.)
My focus, at least in the idea development stage, is usually on the setting, the magic, and the history of my world.
A lot of these aspects come up in the writing process, but it definitely gets my creative juices flowing to think about them before I dive into the story.
Step 4: Consider Transmedia
I love stories that break free of their original formats. Whether it’s a novelization of one of my favorite TV shows or a website for a business in a movie, I love it when a story expands beyond.
I love thinking about those same things for my books. Especially things that could make my story universe feel more grounded in our ordinary world. I love coming up with transmedia ideas, like the website for a fictional school, social media accounts for characters, a character’s blog or vlog, or a character’s first music album.
Not only would they make the story world feel more real for a reader, but they also make it feel more real for me. It helps me understand the world and what’s about to happen in it.
So I definitely like to spend some time thinking about non-book elements that I can incorporate into my story and my worldbuilding.
Step 5: Just Start Writing
Finally, when I get to the point where I don’t feel like traditional brainstorming is helping any more, I’ll just start writing.
Sometimes I don’t feel like I can really get a handle on an idea until I actually start writing it. I might pick a fun moment that I think could be the beginning and just start writing.
Or I’ll pick a character and write from their point of view, telling me their story. I’ll write it as if they’re writing me a letter about themselves, kind of an autobiography.
For example, if I were trying to do this from Lily’s point of view in the Forgive My Fins series, it might look like this:
My name is Lily Sanderson and I’m a mermaid. Well, half mermaid. And not just any half mermaid. I’m a half mermaid PRINCESS! How crazy is that?! Okay, so I’ve always known I was a mermaid (kind of hard to miss that part) and I grew up knowing I was Thalassinia’s princess. So, really, the crazy part is that I’m only half mermaid. Until three years ago, when Daddy told me the truth—that my mom was human—I had no clue.
I generally start with something I already know (like Lily is a mermaid) and then follow the stream of consciousness as she tells me more. Some really surprising things have come to light this way!
Often, when I do this kind of just-jump-in writing, I’ll get a few thousand words into the project and then hit a wall. That’s when I’ll go back to the brainstorming and try to figure out what’s blocking me so I can get on with the rest of the book.
So, there you have it. My tried-and-true, battle-tested process for developing an idea.
The process changes from book to book, from series to series. And I am ALWAYS looking for the next great plot structure—the one that will help me figure everything out up front so I don’t have to spend so much time fixing it along the way. It doesn’t exists, but I keep hoping.
In the meantime, I’ll keep tinkering my way through.
Keep in mind that this is just MY process.
You will find your own way and it will be uniquely yours. But don’t be afraid to use the tools and teachings of others as a starting point. Try them and adapt them to fit how your creative brain works.
Hopefully I’ve given you some ideas for where to start and how to tinker your own way through.
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