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February 2005
How often do you come across
something that strikes your fancy for a possible idea to
write a story? Sometimes, they just jump out of the
woodwork, while other times you have to hunt before you
discover them. How do you know what ones are worth pursuing
though?
Here are a few questions to
consider when faced with the problem of deciding which ideas
to pursue.
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If considering the idea for
others to read, is it something that others have used many
times before, and can you discover a new angle to give the
idea a fresh spin?
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Does the idea speak personally
to you?
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Does the idea strike optimism
and excitement in you when you consider it?
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Does the idea need research and
how willing are you to do the research?
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After waiting a few days, weeks
or months, does the idea still create the same enthusiasm?
These questions will give you an
idea on if the idea will be worth writing about. It is
possible with a little revision of the idea, it will become
worth continuing. It will also tell you if you should just
trash it.
Just plucking random thoughts and
ideas out of thin air is a wonderful way to brainstorm, but
once you have finished brainstorming, you need to consider
how worthy the idea is.
After you have considered these
questions there is another step that you need to consider to
see if the idea will stand up to the long-haul. That step is
considering these:
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Can the idea stand on its own,
or does it require mixing with other ideas to keep its
freshness and appeal?
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What demographic, or audience,
are you aiming it at…you…children…adults? What age
specifically?
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What genre are you going to use
the idea in…horror…fantasy…science
fiction…mystery…western…war…or perhaps a mixture?
It is easy to find those ideas;
just look out your window and the world may present you with
dozens. However, deciding which idea to use is the tricky
part.
How often have you begun a story
with an idea, but slowly you find you write less and less in
the story. It loses its momentum and no longer feels fresh
and exciting to you. Is it because you cannot fit in the
writing because of how busy you are, or is it because the
idea the story has lost its pizzazz? By exploring a little
more into the idea that you want to write about, you can
save much time and mental anguish by discovering the idea
you thought was good has turned into a dud.
However, just because that idea
turned into a dud for that story, does it mean there is not
a possibility of reviving the idea? Not at all, there are
always possibilities. Remember the saying, It’s not over
until the Fat Lady sings… well, at this point, it is
definitely not over. There are several things you can do…you
can figure out a new angle to take the idea, or you can mix
it with others. Depending on where you are in your story,
you may be able to incorporate the mixture or new angle into
it, or start the story over. It will take some planning,
some strategy, some maneuvering…but you can do it, don’t
give up!
However, considering the
questions listed above, and any others that might help, will
help you in the long-haul on keeping the idea fresh and
strong.
Happy writing!
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