I usually know pretty quickly if an idea is not working because it will just kind of fizzle out, but when a story idea continues to grow and evolve and I get really excited about it, I know there’s something there. I have a list of books on my wall that I intend to write and every now and then I re-evaluate the list. The one’s that stay I call my heart books because there’s something significant there connecting me to that story - I am a character driven writer, so falling in love with the characters is crucial 🙂
I never know , as you do, if a story will come to reality as in print. It's the idea, or a characters name or a situation that could be so different. Thoughts pass through me and like a dream catcher I seem to sort them some how into stories.
I agree with Stephen King, who said he does not have a note pad for ideas. He writes the idea that will not go away, the idea that persists in his mind and will not go away until it is written.
My work is almost always multiple ideas that merge into a story. I'll look through my random ideas and assemble them, or I'll ponder somethign for a while gradually adding other ideas until it grows into a story.
Thank you for this video! James’ researching and then ditching a project resonates with me a lot. I have fully researched several projects only to realize that I was going full steam because I loved the subject and not because I should write the book. Knowing when to drop an idea has been something I’ve had to learn. This is sooo helpful in that journey. Thanks!
I make notes on my phone, ALL the time!! Names, phrases, anything. More developed ideas I jot down a quick one page or even one paragraph outline. Love the suggestion that you need to interrogate your ideas EARLY on in the process, to be sure its a strong hook and idea.
That sounds like good advice. I definitely query and I hope my books get published someday, but I write my books based on what story I want to tell. I figure if I write a book that makes me happy, then I’ll be happy even if it never get published.
I haven't tried writing the query and/or synopsis before writing the story yet because I really do just get ideas and pants my way through as much of it as wants to come out, but I have found doing so very helpful when I'm done with my fast/zero draft (whatever you want to call it) to go back and figure out if what I have is worth continuing and to fill in the many, many plot holes that pantsing leaves me with. It's great advice.
I don't have an "idea book," although I have written down different ideas for different books over the years in various notebooks, most of which, I never ended up writing. I love your suggestion of writing the query and (evil) synopsis first. I did this for my current ms, and I'm LOVING this project. That said, the "main" idea I had for the book - the thing the working title is based on - may or may not end up being the ultimate hook. I'm a pantser who has been writing a couple of chapter ideas ahead of time on this project, which is working well for me. I don't think I could ever plot out the entire book beforehand. That's too boring for me - I love the action of creation more than the knowledge of what's coming next. Having a query and an (evil) synopsis first is more than enough of a "plot" for me. Thank you, Jessica, for that sage advice! Also, I recently read STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules by Steven James and loved every, single word of it. I highly recommend it whether you're a plotter or a pantser.
I needed this big time! Been sitting on 5+ ideas without any clue of which one to start now that I’m done editing my other project. Gonna try writing queries and see which one excited me the most 🤞🏼
The last episode, you two presented books you'd read recently. James mentioned that he's an idea person. I highly suggest a book I loved. (no I'm not pushing a book of someone I know) The book is called The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle. It helps me a lot to know how to deal with people just by seeing the characteristics of their face. It gave me permission to be an idea person too, that moves a lot and enjoys talking. Thank you for all your info.
I wrote my query about 5k words into my WIP after watching your videos and it's been so helpful! It's keeping me focused through the second-act-slog. It's easier to write with purpose when I know what the purpose is lol.
I will definitely try writing the query first. I find that as a pantser, if I outline my story, I feel fulfilled, and so I don't return to it. Still, I'm curious to see if this helps to stay invested and eliminate the nightmare of writing a synopsis that is kryptonite to me 😅.
This is exactly where I am at. I am juggling several ideas right now and I am struggling to focus on one. I love the write the query first advice. Even attempting a synopsis first too. What if you like all your ideas? Do you try to write them all and see which one keeps you the most interested?
I have a huge idea notebook, most will never be written. I know the book needs to be written when the character shows up and starts telling me their story.
How do you do market research without reading dozens of books a month, which we presumably don’t have time to do? Are we just reading the blurb of books and looking for common threads?
surely checking the market before writing your novel is difficult because it will be several years between you coming up with the idea and your book getting published, and by that time the market will be completely different?
To come up with 5 ideas doesn't mean that one of them is super good, and other four are not. One person may have all five in the super category, while ten other people get 50 trash ones.
Thank you, good advice. I'm writing a book and aiming my story for a target audience that read historical novels also maritime novels. It may be that this generation ( because I'm not popular. Lol but frankly I don't actually care ) refuse to read it, but certainly the next generation will, so it will be called the family heirloom book ;) Don't believe everything you read, because information depends on who is controlling the narrative or trying to twist the narrative in their favour. x
I usually know pretty quickly if an idea is not working because it will just kind of fizzle out, but when a story idea continues to grow and evolve and I get really excited about it, I know there’s something there.
I have a list of books on my wall that I intend to write and every now and then I re-evaluate the list. The one’s that stay I call my heart books because there’s something significant there connecting me to that story - I am a character driven writer, so falling in love with the characters is crucial 🙂
I never know , as you do, if a story will come to reality as in print. It's the idea, or a characters name or a situation that could be so different. Thoughts pass through me and like a dream catcher I seem to sort them some how into stories.
I agree with Stephen King, who said he does not have a note pad for ideas. He writes the idea that will not go away, the idea that persists in his mind and will not go away until it is written.
Yes this!!!
Love that.
My work is almost always multiple ideas that merge into a story. I'll look through my random ideas and assemble them, or I'll ponder somethign for a while gradually adding other ideas until it grows into a story.
Thank you for this video! James’ researching and then ditching a project resonates with me a lot. I have fully researched several projects only to realize that I was going full steam because I loved the subject and not because I should write the book. Knowing when to drop an idea has been something I’ve had to learn. This is sooo helpful in that journey. Thanks!
I make notes on my phone, ALL the time!! Names, phrases, anything. More developed ideas I jot down a quick one page or even one paragraph outline. Love the suggestion that you need to interrogate your ideas EARLY on in the process, to be sure its a strong hook and idea.
That sounds like good advice. I definitely query and I hope my books get published someday, but I write my books based on what story I want to tell. I figure if I write a book that makes me happy, then I’ll be happy even if it never get published.
I haven't tried writing the query and/or synopsis before writing the story yet because I really do just get ideas and pants my way through as much of it as wants to come out, but I have found doing so very helpful when I'm done with my fast/zero draft (whatever you want to call it) to go back and figure out if what I have is worth continuing and to fill in the many, many plot holes that pantsing leaves me with. It's great advice.
I don't have an "idea book," although I have written down different ideas for different books over the years in various notebooks, most of which, I never ended up writing. I love your suggestion of writing the query and (evil) synopsis first. I did this for my current ms, and I'm LOVING this project. That said, the "main" idea I had for the book - the thing the working title is based on - may or may not end up being the ultimate hook. I'm a pantser who has been writing a couple of chapter ideas ahead of time on this project, which is working well for me. I don't think I could ever plot out the entire book beforehand. That's too boring for me - I love the action of creation more than the knowledge of what's coming next. Having a query and an (evil) synopsis first is more than enough of a "plot" for me. Thank you, Jessica, for that sage advice! Also, I recently read STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules by Steven James and loved every, single word of it. I highly recommend it whether you're a plotter or a pantser.
I needed this big time! Been sitting on 5+ ideas without any clue of which one to start now that I’m done editing my other project. Gonna try writing queries and see which one excited me the most 🤞🏼
Brilliant! Been there. Good luck with the queries.
The last episode, you two presented books you'd read recently. James mentioned that he's an idea person. I highly suggest a book I loved. (no I'm not pushing a book of someone I know) The book is called The Child Whisperer by Carol Tuttle. It helps me a lot to know how to deal with people just by seeing the characteristics of their face. It gave me permission to be an idea person too, that moves a lot and enjoys talking. Thank you for all your info.
I wrote my query about 5k words into my WIP after watching your videos and it's been so helpful! It's keeping me focused through the second-act-slog. It's easier to write with purpose when I know what the purpose is lol.
I will definitely try writing the query first. I find that as a pantser, if I outline my story, I feel fulfilled, and so I don't return to it. Still, I'm curious to see if this helps to stay invested and eliminate the nightmare of writing a synopsis that is kryptonite to me 😅.
This is exactly where I am at. I am juggling several ideas right now and I am struggling to focus on one. I love the write the query first advice. Even attempting a synopsis first too. What if you like all your ideas? Do you try to write them all and see which one keeps you the most interested?
1. Brainstorm, 2. Outline, 3 Query letter, 4. Start first draft
I have a huge idea notebook, most will never be written. I know the book needs to be written when the character shows up and starts telling me their story.
I have had many such books, now the ideas come as they will. If I'm in the mood or clever enough, I can put them into words.
I have a notebook of plot ideas...a list on my phone of story and coordinating title ideas, and a list of world building ideas on my computer😂
I let my characters write the story but I write the story line. Like puppets they are, until I realize, they have been telling me what to write.
How do you do market research without reading dozens of books a month, which we presumably don’t have time to do? Are we just reading the blurb of books and looking for common threads?
I don't think it has to be dozens a month, but there's no doubt writers are expected to be avid readers.
@@silvasilvasilva agreed. 1-2 books a month in your genre is a good amount.
surely checking the market before writing your novel is difficult because it will be several years between you coming up with the idea and your book getting published, and by that time the market will be completely different?
No. Not necessarily. And if you're reading widely in your genre, you'll start to see what about the genre is timeless.
List????? I have a catalog!!!
To come up with 5 ideas doesn't mean that one of them is super good, and other four are not. One person may have all five in the super category, while ten other people get 50 trash ones.
Thank you, good advice. I'm writing a book and aiming my story for a target audience that read historical novels also maritime novels. It may be that this generation ( because I'm not popular. Lol but frankly I don't actually care ) refuse to read it, but certainly the next generation will, so it will be called the family heirloom book ;) Don't believe everything you read, because information depends on who is controlling the narrative or trying to twist the narrative in their favour. x