Ideas are wonderful, not to mention essential to the process of creating a story, but sometimes it's a little rough getting from the point of having an idea to the point of writing a story. Writing down notes of what you see, touch, taste, hear and smell will help you on the road to coming … Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. How to: Get an Idea for a Story! When they see or hear something that seems worth investigating further, they should write it down while it’s fresh in their minds. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. You can search the web and find a number of sites that offer them, or check out our database of creative writing prompts that gets updated every Tuesday. The solution to generating original ideas is, quite simply, to begin writing. In order to pitch your idea through correspondence, you'll be required to submit a query letter. The latter process, called pre-writing, certainly isn't easy. This article has been viewed 141,047 times. Learn more... Do you want to write a story to impress your family and friends? If an agent does agree to look at your idea, deliver the script in person. So for every fiction writer, getting great ideas is quite the challenge. How does one go about expanding a simple story idea into a fully-developed novel? At a friend's house. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Try making yourself write or draw every day in your notebook, even if you don’t think you have any new ideas. The pitch letter should have a clear and concise synopsis of the story idea. The mere act of typing can coax out ideas. And while most how-to books on writing address the importance of identifying a solid story premise, they fail to discuss how kernels of ideas already exist in most people’s brains—and that nurturing these thoughts into fully-realized stories is a process that takes time. This is just to get you mind thinking creatively. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. For example, if you live in a nature filled place, take a look at the leaves and how they sway in the wind and those small, delicate butterflies that flutter from flower to flower. As you go around in everyday life, look around you and imagine something happening. Furthermore, writers should feel comfortable veering off into other areas, far outside the realm of their original idea nuggets. You can use prompts below to help you harness your own life and background … Do you have a nasty teacher you could describe? When you get an idea, try putting it down quickly in your note/sketchbook. What is you got a school or university assignment to write a short story about anything. When they begin writing about one of these ideas, they should do so quickly and feverishly, without overthinking the exercise. But what should I write about?! Dieting is the WORST. Your family. Exaggerate personalities to make characters more interesting. Should your letter pique the interest of its recipient, they'll request to see part or all of your script. Just add one twist that distinguishes it from other books. A story can be triggered by almost anything, including an interesting person you know, or a compelling location you’ve visited. Skim the day’s events from the news of the weird to human interest stories from around the globe. Think outside of the box. Write a story about how a little boy is running toward your main character, a look of absolute joy lighting up their face. An agent will have the connections to get you into meetings with producers, so agents are essential in the process of creating a television series. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Your character cocks their head, confused, and then the truth hits them. Now you can avoid this right from the start. Even a great title can provide a valuable launch point. Search your cable guide. All stories, even ones about robots or plants, have some element of humanity at its core. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Generate a list of more or less random images, the first words that pop into your head: Kindergarten, Oakland, ashtray, oil paint. Or is there a really mean bully that is story-worthy? As my ex-boss John O'Donnell was fond of saying, "ideas are easy, implementation is difficult." Make a list the main events. Thoughts should be varied an unrestricted. Use the questions and answers you brainstormed to create scene summaries, and use a plot formula to organise them into a story structure. Let yourself be bored. It is important to get your mental juices flowing and writing anything is better than becoming frustrated with yourself. In reality, all of us already hold an abundance of viable ideas in our minds. Tell the story of a scar. Do you have any odd friends with strange families or any spooky houses? Because one original nugget will likely yield multiple story ideas, focus on nurturing one idea while archiving the rest for later. Or are you just having trouble getting inspired? wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. A common problem that I have observed when people begin to develop their first narratives is that the storyline rambles on with no clear end in sight. Images, characters, and story arcs will begin to emerge. It depends! Freewriting is an exercise that can benefit first-time and professional writers alike. Your characters don't need to be human. Create believable characters and a strong plot for your synopsis. An after-school painting class full of kindergartners in the East Bay? 2. An idea will help you plan your writing and write an attention grabbing headline which will help you continue and finish writing an amazing story or article. Check out these 9 quirky and zany ideas. If you're an artist, sketch story pages and sample work. If you're writing an original story, you have to use your imagination as you think of where the story is going and how to make it interesting for a potential reader. 5: Read news story headlines for ideas The internet is a treasure trove of ideas when it comes to news items. 3. When successful authors brag about having a lifetime of ideas, they really mean that one idea invariably splinters out into many. Starting your short story is the most important part. If possible, gain agent representation. I could build a story from a sentence; but big things, like somebody’s parent dying, I get inspiration for simple conversations etc. Many of us are very lost when it comes to finding an idea. Method #3: The Emotional Rollercoaster. Sometimes the simplest plots work the best, don't worry about making the story complex! Creative writers get to write about things that go beyond what we see or know of. From there you’ll create a business plan and start your search for prospective investors. But if … At the park. We get it: writing prompts are an excellent resource, but you want to know how to come up with your own story ideas. Once you’ve developed an extensive list, choose or combine the idea (s) that most excite your interest, then challenge yourself to write new a story based on each question. This article has been viewed 141,047 times. A cigarette burning in a painter's … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Get-Ideas-for-a-Story-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Ideas-for-a-Story-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Get-Ideas-for-a-Story-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid527860-v4-728px-Get-Ideas-for-a-Story-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"