How to Capture a Story Idea
A foundational skill for novelists.
It’s almost cliche for a writer to be asked where their ideas come from. I’ve been asked that question dozens of times.
The truth is that ideas are everywhere. They’re lying on the ground. There are techniques and strategies and games to help us pick them up. But, that’s not the hard part.
The hard part is holding on to them.
Ideas are ethereal, fragile, delicate things. They’re everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The trick is learning how to capture them and keep them, so that we can use them when we’re ready.
I’d like to share my strategy for that.
It starts with three things.
I’m talking about ideas for fiction stories today. Doesn’t matter how long — everything from flash fiction to an epic series of novels. There are three things that are foundational to every story idea.
Character. Setting. Situation. (AKA: Who, where, what.)
Character (Who)
When you have an idea, start by noting down who is at the center of it. Who has captured your imagination? Who is bugging you to write their story.
