Drawing from the Well
No queries or scenes yesterday. Like I said in yesterday’s blog, it was a very busy day and night right up on until midnight. I don’t expect today to be any different, but that’s life. I’m not going to lament or regret it, I’m just going to roll with it.
Filling the Well
1984: 81%
Bloodwitch: 17%
The Raven Boys: 5%
Okay, found the 1984 ebook on Hoopla, found my place, and read a bit. I may still be a little behind, but I’m going to get this book read, by golly. I also started listening to the audiobook for The Raven Boys and I am HOOKED! The premise is pretty great and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. The characterization is pretty top notch so far too.
Polishing the Well
Like I said yesterday, we’ve got two bridal expos today so it’s going to be hectic. That’s why I’m kind of rushing to get this blog done before I leave so I don’t have to worry about getting it out after I get home and am exhausted. My wife has already left for hers and as soon as this is posted, I’m changing and heading to mine. It’s going to be a great day for my wife’s business.
Well Chat
Figuring Out What Works in Your Story
How do you find ideas? How do you know which ones are good? Today, let’s look at how to test ideas before you go too far down the rabbit hole.
I’ve written previously about how to harness inspiration (here and here) as well as how to avoid the detour it inevitably wants to take you down (here). So this article will ignore those topics altogether. What I want to talk about today is that period of time between books, especially between publications (not that I’m there yet, but go with me), where you need a new idea. Truly, if you’ve followed some of my other advice concerning cataloging ideas, you should have a wealth. So how do you pick amongst the options?
First, you can narrow down your ideas by those that have sufficiently “germinated.” Those are the ideas that have enough world-building and head canon going that you can actually dive into a story. If all you have is a vague concept or a magic system, that does not make a story. But if you have a world and culture and strong characters AS WELL AS a powerful premise and a compelling magic system (if it’s fantasy), then this is an idea you might could run with.
So start by weeding out the “seeds” that need more time to bud and get down to the plants that are growing. Now, which of those excite you. If it doesn’t get you excited to create characters or generate some plot, it isn’t ready, it needs more time to germinate. Now, it may be that all your sufficiently-germinated ideas excite you. Great! What’s next?
Do you have any characters already that just need a little more flesh on their bones, a little more personality? Do you have any cool scene ideas that you just want to explore? Great! Here’s where it gets interesting.
Pick a story (preferably one that has some of the things I mentioned in the last paragraph if you can). It doesn’t matter which one. Write a b-story, something short and inconsequential to the story itself but adds character to the world FOR YOU. That’s right, this part is all for you. You’re not writing “the book” at this point; you’re trying to figure out if this is the book to write. This could be a character anecdote like I discussed yesterday or some side story that will never connect. It doesn’t matter. Write in the world and see how you feel. You may need to write in a few different worlds (may be literal or may just be the “world” of different characters, like a town) if you need to and see which one pulls you into writing more.
THAT is the story to write next. Write some anecdotes and do some more world building and start learning your characters and where they’re going. Before long, you’ll be back in the trenches writing words as fast as you can manage. That’s how I intend to pick my next story.
May the tide carry you to safer shores.
BSG