It Starts with an Idea by Jessica Spring Brown and Beverly Nault
This month, Jess and Bev discuss their inspiration for storylines, character arcs, or interesting situations and give some practical sites to access for the fine art of noodling.
BEV: Jess, where do your story ideas come from?
JESS: One of my favorite parts of writing is that first rush of falling in love with an idea. Like falling in love, a new idea fills my mind with excitement and joy. Ideas for scenes, characters, and complications fill my head.
And these ideas come from just about everywhere. A conversation at the table next to me. A personal experience that I play with to make it more dramatic. A friend sharing what happened on a recent vacation. Where do you find your story ideas?
BEV: I laughed when I read that you get some ideas from conversations at the table nearby. True to the t-shirt I read recently: “Beware what you say, you may end up in my or screenplay.”
I keep an ear out for interesting premises, situations, and people from real life, either currently or in history. From the very beginning, it’s important to filter ideas or premises to decide whether they’re worthy of a short, a documentary (non-fiction), or a feature. As a freelance content editor helping writers from the germ of their idea through publication, I have heard a lot of ideas that might make a magazine article but few that were worthy of a book-length project. Finding something with legs can be challenging in screenwriting as well.
JESS: Indeed. I like to brainstorm and use lists and Coggle to map out possibilities. I let my mind go and brainstorm ways to develop the story without critiquing it. When you imagine the scariest, the funniest, the most dramatic options, your mind often rewards you with all kinds of interesting ways to develop a seed idea.
So, Bev, I am curious about how you find ideas. I am always collecting new tools for my toolbox.
BEV: I need to look into using Coogle, that sounds helpful!
One of the resources I’m intrigued with is the annual release of new titles on the public domain list.
JESS: Annual release of new titles? How does that work, Bev?
BEV: Because of copyright expiration, new topics are released every January that might inspire all sorts of genres and premises. I asked a librarian on the Library of Congress’s online chat about the best compilation, and Peter recommended Duke University’s. Find it by searching for Public Domain Day.
JESS: Wow, that is easy. What did you find?
BEV: I jumped onto the site and found that the first movie with sound directed by John Ford, the classic Black Watch, is now in the public domain and available to view online. Wouldn’t it be fun to write a script around the time frame of the first talkies, centered on the lives of the actors who played in the movie? Or adapt the plot to an inner planetary epic adventure instead of India as in the original script. Modern adaptations can be super popular with viewers, and planting easter eggs from the original could be fun.
JESS: It sure would be fun to create a modern adaptation of a popular story from the past. I will have to check that out.
BEV: Jess, how do you decide what’s worth pursuing and developing? Also, how do you keep track of them…in a journal, spreadsheet, torn bits of napkins?
JESS: Like a sculptor, I like to play with the “clay” and pull out tools from my writer’s toolbox to see how to elevate the seed of my story. Some of my favorite tools are questions like “What if…?” Or “What character would be the most challenged and the most interesting to watch in this situation?”
BEV: Those sound like good tools to leverage.
JESS: I also love Erik Bork’s book “The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction.” He applies a PROBLEM process to walk new and seasoned writers through the idea development phase. Let’s do a quick overview of Erik’s process:
Make sure your idea passes each of these elements:
1. Punishing
2. Relatable
3. Original
4. Believable
5. Life-Altering
6. Entertaining
7. Meaningful
There is so much more to his book. If you are serious about elevating your idea and giving it the best possible shot of getting attention, I highly recommend reading Eric’s book and trying out his process.
Bev, I bet you have some favorite books on developing ideas.
BEV: I do! I recommend this list of writing prompt books by writing teacher Jane Friedman.
JESS: Oh! I am going to check those out. They look fantastic. I love a good book on the craft of writing. Thanks for those.
Well, Pensters, that’s a wrap for Bev and Jess for February. Have a great month filled with writing and falling in love with ideas. Next month, we have a special topic for writers that will build your writer toolbox on a practical level.
HINT: Directors recommend that all writers do this to improve their writing.
Bev and Jess