The Written Word - Developing Ideas

 

"It seems to me that those songs that have been any good, I have nothing much to do with the writing of them. The words have just crawled down my sleeve and come out on the page." -Joan Baez

Most writers, no doubt, understand what Ms. Baez means when she describes words that so naturally crawl onto the page. But, seriously, these words don’t just appear from thin air. Not for a song writer nor any other kind of writer. It comes from an inspired -- idea. The source of which might be anchored in life's experiences, dreams, or from the plain ole written word (see reading.).

Life’s experiences are a good source of ideas, but how many of us are at once a doctor, lawyer, or scientist? How many have walked on the moon, flown fighters in combat, thrashed about in a hurricane, or explored an ocean floor for ancient treasure? How many have personally witnessed epic events in humanity's past that have forever changed the course of history? Ooh, then there are those experiences of oppression, torture, and murder… Few of us will draw ideas from real life, personal experiences such as these. Least, I hope not.

But we HAVE experienced nearly all of these things, haven’t we...? Vicariously, from a safe and secure distance, by way of literature, theatre, television, blissful dreams, or horrid nightmares? So experiences aren’t limited to REAL life for writers who are naturally blessed with hyperactive imaginations. Hmm ... mining for story ideas is just another reason to sustain the discipline (or is it a voracious appetite) for reading, don’t you think? A discipline of reading any and everything, not just fiction, but also nonfiction. It exercises the imagination and helps create fertile ground for new inspiration.

For Joan Baez, I'm sure the words flow naturally for all the reasons above. She’s a woman whose passionate about the environment, human rights, and nonviolence (both domestic and civic). She reads, she researches, she lives, she dreams. And from all these things she creats lyrical stories that seem, to her, naturally spun. So as aspiring writers, we have to appreciate that some passion and preparation is needed on our part before we also experience the same kind of free flowing creativity that Joan Baez describes... Where to begin?

 

Compelling stories usually begin with a compelling idea, but where do we mine these things?

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  Sharpen Your Awareness.
  

Ideas may come from any of the sources listed above. Or you might find inspiration in life changing events – yours and others. Scour the world around you for headlines that evoke passion, fear, adoration, or loathing. And don’t discount your dreams (waking or sleeping). But even great ideas for a novel are often fleeting so, as a new writer, start now. Organize!

• Write It Down

Most ideas happen spontaneously. Jot them down whenever and wherever you are. Write them immediately. keep a writing journal or a notepad handy for this purpose. If necessary use a cocktail napkin, a receipt, the palm of your hand … anything. All creative ideas must be written. Though it doesn’t stop there.

•  Flesh out the details

As soon as possible, gather as many details as you can. How did the idea come to spark your imagination? What was the setting? The scene? Describe what happened. When? Why? Convert these things into words. What are the specifics – Day, night, city street, or desolate wilderness?

• Develop the idea

Ideas don’t often develop themselves. And as a new writer, you shouldn’t expect this seemingly simple phase of your story to happen quickly. It has to evolve. An idea has to be explored, researched, and nurtured to full potential.

Begin by expanding on the idea. Write your own personal perceptions of the people and place that inspired it. What makes the event unique – primary characters, distinctive features, flaws, or attributes. What are these characters fighting for, what stands in their way, what would you imagine is the ultimate resolution? Project yourself into the story. How did it affect you? You have your own capacity to feel, to experience the emotion. It’s what makes your voice and style different from every other author.

• Research the idea

You’ve probably heard the adage – Write What You Know. Good advice, but how many interpret this in the wrong way? No… It doesn’t mean you should only write about the things you’ve experienced. It means you should write about things that intrigue – ideas that compel you to get into the books or log onto the internet. If you do the research, then you are writing about “what you know.” But for a good head start as a new writer, consider writing in the genre that you most enjoy reading.

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  Condense the idea into a Theme
  
  
  

Form the evolving idea developed above, write its theme? Theme -- a one-line explanation of your story. It's the underlying meaning of the story. write it on a paste-it note and stick it to the computer.

Example: Trappings of fame and fortune never comes without risk.

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  Now Expand it into a short summary
  

Turn the idea for your story into an imaginative vision of what it might become. Who are the primary characters? What's their goal, motivation, conflict? What's the climax and how are loose ends strung together in the conclusion.

Example:   Exhilarated, Jack and Diane feel the ship rise as they release the last tether holding the high-tech, helium-filled saucer to the earth. With the economy in the dumps, mortgages in default, and jobs transferring out of town -- fame and fortune for the first couple to circumnavigate the globe is their only chance to keep from being separated forever. The only problem is Jack and Diane are only ten, and the raging tropical storm off Corpus Christie’s shores is taking them further out to sea. No problem for the son of a brilliant engineer who’s played all the simulations on his dad’s computers; and a talented gymnyst whose impressive list of identities and worldwide connections on facebook will help confound both friendly and hostile intervention in a global trek that will unite a world that spends every waking hour glued to CNN.

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  Save your work
  

Save your work in a foulder on your computer and/or in a desk drawer. You might have gathered several ideas before beginning work on your first manuscript, but it doesn’t mean you’re done with the hunt for compelling ideas. Keep an eye on the market place -- what’s hot and what’s not. Stay vigilant. Always look for new ideas. If you don't write the story you've stumbled across, then eventually ... someone else will.