Literary Landscaping: Designing Your Story Idea Garden

Idea generation for a writer can be the most intimidating thing while others it’s the most freeing. Either way, this works for you personally, let’s buckle up, and tackle story idea generation techniques. Ready to dive into the world of idea generation?  Whether you're a fresh-faced novice or a battle-hardened wordsmith, this article is your baseline toward creativity.

As the masterful Stephen King once quipped, "The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better."

So, let's start and watch those story seeds grow!

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Myth-Busting: Ideas Are Like Rabbits, They Multiply!

First things first, let's pop that bubble of misconception: the idea that fresh concepts are as rare as a unicorn sighting. Ideas are more like rabbits—leave two alone for a while, and suddenly you've got a warren full of the fluffy little things. The trick isn't finding ideas; it's learning to be a skilled idea wrangler.

Techniques for Cultivating Your Story Garden

1. The Genre Blender: Toss different genres into your mental smoothie maker. How about a rom-com set in a post-apocalyptic bunker? Blend until smooth! Let's look at some successful examples of genre blending:

• "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Seth Grahame-Smith: This novel blends Jane Austen's classic romance with zombie horror.

• "Firefly" by Joss Whedon: This TV series combines Western and Science Fiction genres.

• "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman: This story mixes fantasy, romance, and comedy.

• "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman: This novel blends fantasy, humor, and religious mythology.

These works show how combining unexpected genres can create fresh, exciting narratives that appeal to diverse audiences.

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2. In the “What If” Wonderland, we take a real-world event and ask, “What if?” What if the American Revolution fought with magic instead of muskets? Let's take a page from the masters of storytelling at Pixar Animation Studios. They've turned the "What If" game into a fine art, using it as the foundation for many of their blockbuster hits. Here's how they do it: Pixar's former story artist Emma Coats revealed their "What If" approach in her famous 22 Rules of Storytelling. The formula goes like this: "What if [premise] + [premise]?" For example:

• What if toys came to life when humans weren't around? (Toy Story)

• What if monsters really did live in your closet? (Monsters, Inc.)

• What if a rat wanted to become a French chef? (Ratatouille)

• What if the emotions inside our heads were actual characters? (Inside Out)

Each of these "What If" questions sparked an entire world of possibilities, leading to rich, complex stories that captured audiences' imaginations. So don't be afraid to ask wild "What If" questions—they might just lead to your next big story idea!

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3. The Character Collision: Imagine your favorite characters from different stories meeting. What hijinks would ensue if Sherlock Holmes teamed up with Wonder Woman? Various media have used this technique to great effect.

• "Kingdom Hearts" video game series: This franchise brings together Disney characters with Final Fantasy characters.

• "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" comic series by Alan Moore: This work assembles various characters from Victorian literature into a superhero team.

• "Once Upon a Time" TV series: This show brings together various fairy tale characters in a modern-day setting.

• "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline: This novel features numerous pop culture characters interacting in a virtual world.

These examples demonstrate how bringing together characters from different universes can create intriguing storylines and explore new dynamics.

Creating Your Idea Incubator

Okay, that is interesting, but you’re here for the ‘How’ concepts. Let’s transform your surroundings into a story idea hatchery. Eavesdrop on conversations at the local diner, people-watch in the park, or dive into history books. Every overheard snippet or curious fact could be the egg that hatches your next plot phoenix. 

Neil Gaiman once said, "You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it."

So, let's notice together, shall we? And let’s prime that idea factory.

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Reading: Your All-You-Can-Eat Plot Buffet

It surprises no one to say, read. In my humble opinion, every writer needs to be a reader. There is one cavate to this; Read with Intention. This isn’t just your entertainment reading. Each page is a potential springboard for your next narrative. Analyze the plot twists, dissect the character arcs, or let the stories simmer in your subconscious stew, as you figure out why you liked that story. You're feeding the beast of inspiration, one page at a time.

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Story Idea Calisthenics

Exercise does not only the body good but the mind. Working on the below allows you the opportunity to write and lets your mind to physical output come together. Do the below activity several days over a week and see what pops out that really moves you. Are you finding trends of similar topics that you can connect. As you go day to day, are you refining an idea further? This is typically what I see when I work with writers.

1. Premise Sprints: Set a timer for 5 minutes and jot down as many story premises as you can. Don't judge, just generate!

2. The Plot Twist Tornado: Start with a familiar story and brainstorm 10 wild plot twists. The crazier, the better!

3. Character Speed Dating: Create a character and throw them into 5 different genres. How does your hard-boiled detective fare in a fantasy realm?

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When the Plot Well Runs Dry

Hit a narrative drought? No worries! Try raiding your dreams for story nuggets, mash up headlines from different sections of the news, or chat with that eccentric uncle who swears aliens abducted him. Plot bunnies often hide in the oddest burrows.

1. Trends vs. Originality: The Epic Showdown

   Sure, knowing the bestseller lists is smart, but don't let it fence in your story ideas. Write the tale that keeps you up at night. There's a reader out there for every story, even if it's about a time-traveling toast who must prevent the invention of sliced bread.

2. Your Story Seed Vault

   Whether it's a dog-eared notebook or a fancy app, keep your idea catcher within arm's reach. You never know when the muse will whisper—probably when you are elbow-deep in dishwater or halfway through your morning jog.

3. Sorting the Bestsellers from the Backburners

   As you flex your story-generating muscles, you'll develop a sixth sense for promising plots. It's like being a literary sommelier—you'll know which idea vintages are ready to be uncorked and which need more time to mature.

An example to fuel your muse:

The Tale of J.K., and the Delayed Train

 Picture this: It's 1990, and Joanne Rowling is stuck on a delayed train. Instead of composing a strongly worded letter to British Rail, her mind wanders... and suddenly, BAM! A boy wizard appears in her head. She spends the next four hours in a daydream, and the rest is publishing history. 

The moral of the story? Plot bunnies hop up in the most unexpected places, even on a crowded, delayed train. Keep your mental nets ready, and you might just catch the next Harry Potter.

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Your Turn, Wordsmith!

Now that I've pumped up your story idea muscles, it's time for action! In the comments below, share your game plan for plot/character story generation. Will you be concocting character cocktails? Time-traveling through history books? Or perhaps you'll be playing "what if" with your family photo album? Let's get those story starters percolating!

Remember, in the immortal words of Jack London, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." So, grab your idea-hunting club, and let's go bag some big game.

Tell me in the comments, what you plan to utilize from the article above this week in hunting for your next big story idea.

Happy hunting, and may the muse of new story ideas ever be in your favor!

(c) copyright Cassie Newell