Thursday, July 7, 2011

Finding the Right Idea

I have been trying out something new when it comes to deciding on a new book idea. I type up a synopsis and then write up the first three chapters of the book. Then I have my CP's take a look at it. If you're like me, you have a million book ideas and they all could be really cool.


But the question is whether there are already a hundred books recently published just like my idea. Or is this really something new and innovative? Or would it be something that my CPs are like: WOW! I HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING! WHERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER?


It also feels good to get some of those ideas out on paper. To see how the story might unfold (although it always changes as you start writing it, doesn't it?). Is this the story I want to be spending the next year of my life on?


There is the negative in this. I could be super excited about an idea and then if I get bad feedback on it, I might not be as motivated to complete the next project. I have a lot of writing friends who don't like to share any part of the novel until they've got that first draft finished.


But right now I'm lucky. Since I don't have looming deadlines, I still have the freedom to write what I want and take as long as I want. So I might as well have fun and enjoy it.


Have any of you done anything like this before? I'm curious to see how it worked out for you.

10 comments:

Matthew MacNish said...

This sounds like a great idea. I'm not sure it would work for me though, only because I don't get that many ideas.

Anne M Leone said...

Interesting idea! Unfortunately I usually have an idea of a story's plot before I have an idea how to begin it. So not sure it would always work for me. But if it could, and it sounds like it would for you, it'd be really helpful!

Christina Farley said...

Matthew- all it takes is one great idea (and lots of hard work!)

Anne- wow. That's awesome!

Andrea Mack said...

It is true that if you're going to be spending a year or more working on developing an idea into a novel you want to make sure a) it's something you love and feel passionate about and b) it's something that has a chance of selling (if that's your goal). Your idea is interesting. It also might work to see which story is really going to hook you into writing it.

Marcia said...

I kind of stumbled onto this method by accident. When I began my almost-done WIP, I had about 50 pp. written on each of two others. Now I have at least two more new ideas that I want to give this treatment to before deciding which of the 4 I'll pursue next.

Krispy said...

Hey, this sounds like a pretty good idea. I'm one of those people who hugs the idea close until it's well underway, but I think this is a pretty good way of testing the waters for interest. May have to try it someday!

Christina Farley said...

Yes, Krispy, I've done that too. And I really think it does depend on the project. Sometimes you've got this fabulous story and you just have to write it.

Kimbra Kasch said...

Sounds like a good idea. Kind of a way of fleshing things out before investing too much time in something that's not going anywhere.

Bish Denham said...

I'm one of those don't want anyone to see anything until I have at least a first draft. But I have so many ideas this seems like a good way for me to sort through them and to get some writing in at the same time.

Great idea Christina!

Casey McCormick said...

I love your new method, Christy. Maybe this is what I need to try!