How To Choose Which Story Idea To Write
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- čas přidán 2. 10. 2019
- Which story idea should you write? Oh my gosh, this is a difficult one today! I think many of us struggle with the decision of which novel to write! In this video, I’ve given you some of my top tips for figuring it out, but in the end, you just have to pick something and commit to it!
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Have you struggled with this in the past? Are you trying to choose which story to write next? Let me know in the comments!
I know Im kinda randomly asking but does anyone know of a good place to watch newly released movies online?
@Marvin Rocco i dunno try flixportal. You can find it through google:D -nikolai
@Nikolai Coen thanks, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I appreciate it !!
@Marvin Rocco happy to help xD
Sooo many stories to ✍️
i usually dont have problems deciding what to write next, i just struggle with sticking to that decision lol
Ignore the plot bunnies or they're gonna start invading your home
This is just what I need right now
So many plans and no idea which one to go with. Or which pen name to do next.
I've only clicked the bell for a channel twice. Obviously you are one of those.
You just made my day!! Thank you!
Perfect for NaNoWriMo prep! Think this year I might finally try out my chainsaw samurai idea...
Congrats on the baby!
Okay that sounds awesome. I need to know more!
About story switching is so true!!😅
One thing that really helped me with picking what to write at a certain time was the weather around me. I wrote one book in the middle of winter cause the book was written around winter and I could really pull the freezing cold I felt and put that into my book. Once spring/summer came around I worked on another book that was set back in time but they would be walking long distances so I could pull the heat wave i was feeling and kinda add it to the long walks they were taking in the story. Now that it is fall and the weather is unpredictable i am writing a story that I know the weather is all over the place and unpredictable. Cold, rain, hot, randomly.
To make a long story short, I have a novel I was writing a few years ago. I decided I wanted to take a break from writing and soon after I lost all interest in the story and the characters. Within the last week I decided to pick it back up and start writing it again Bc i didn’t want to waste it since I had already written around 20,000 words. By this time i really didn’t have much interest at all in the story so I changed up the characters and at first I thought I’d be able to get back into it since I completely changed the main male character and his personality traits. But I have again lost all interest and there are other things that interest me WAY more. I have been trying to decide if I should stop writing it altogether and save it just in case I want to maybe pick it back up in the future (I doubt I will) & write something else I feel more passionate about instead. I was doing a search to help me figure out when you should drop an idea all together and this video has helped me a lot. However, I have a lot of guilt for not finishing the other story. I’m trying to unlearn unhealthy behaviors and I believe my reasons for feeling like I need to finish the story are not healthy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, love the videos. Xo
OMG! This video is for me for sure! I always change over to another story when I reach that "sagging middle" or "muddled middle". I can't seem to go on to the end and start a new project. But, for my current WIP, I am determined that I will reach The End although I am struggling and really want to start another story. But, it also could be because I'm a pantser and don't have an outline to follow. Hmmm....maybe I need to write an outline.
This was super helpful. Thank you for walking us through this process. I've been sitting on several ideas for years, scared to choose the wrong thing and nervous to take this passion seriously. These are great ideas.
I clicked on this video SOOOOO fast!!! Love your content
Watched as realising my plot is just too messy. I think the conflict in mine is too shoe horned in; it's not flowing. Great advice, thank you!
I definitely need to give these a try, it's so hard picking what to do for your first nanowrimo DX
21:23 overview tips
So many half started stories!!! Thank you for this video!!!
Thanks, Sarra! These are great 😊
I love your checklist! I will definitely follow this for my future works! Thank you!
Welcome back ✌ Congratulations again to your family new addition. This video is right on time.
Oh my gosh, these tips are sooooo helpful! Also, well timed. I really needed this right now! Thank you for sharing this with all of us...me in particular!! 😁
I haven't felt like writing for almost a month, but I've got all of the ideas. I know I need to lock myself in a room and just do it, but I don't want to. :-(
It's going to be okay! Sometimes we just need a break. Just don't let yourself stay away from it too long!! Your stories need you!
@@HeartBreathings I did reread the last part I wrote, and it's good. So, I think the excitement might be coming back. :-)
@@RebekahMartinModernJaneAusten yessss!! That's awesome!
Fantastic tips, Ms. Sarra. But what I want to know is have you made any decisions about your writing plans?????
Getting to talk it out with you was so helpful! One of the best times of the conference! I've made some decisions about the order I'm writing what's left in my current few series, but I haven't decided on my next series yet!! Still lots of time though! It's just so hard to choose!!
Your virtual reality Robin Hood gal would love hanging out with my Virtual Arcana peeps. They could all illegally participate in VR together and get into all kinds of trouble. ;)
😂 sounds like so much fun!!
Thanks for these tips! Really helpful in helping me decide what to write for Nanowrimo!
I need to write and submit a play by this Friday. Still choosing ideas but I can't come up with a synopsis for my ideas as they're static and I am more character-focused than story-focused so I need to spend time with characters before I find my story. I might need to choose a theme first. This is probably terrible but story comes last for me.
I ran across your video while looking up Nanowrimo and this really helps!! I don't like sharing my ideas randomly, but one idea I have , when I picture it in my mind like a movie, I picture James Dean . This helps me know what kind of emotions I want for the story. Sounds weird but most of my characters I come up with are based on classic Hollywood actors/actresses. :) Paul Newman and Steve McQueen are also actors I picture when coming up with ideas. Really helps me get a grip on the character cause then I know what they look like and their personality.
Thank you so much Sarra, This just came at the right time, I am currently finishing self-editing my novel and I want to write a reader magnet as a freebie for my to be readers. A lot of ideas have been dancing around in my head, and I have written some notes, but have not started writing as I wanted to finish my self-edits, first. So much is going on in my life but I was considering doing NaNoWriMo this year to get the juices flowing again. Enjoy your baby girl, this time is so special!
Hi Sarra ! I hope you feel as good as you look. You helped us out 9 months ago with similar self imposed roadblocks of open unfinished series. We had three different open series and absolutely were at a standstill. The good news is we still have 3 open series but since deciding our path we have 3 books published and the 6th and final book in final edits of uncompleted self published Series #3. Since we have the rights back for series #1 that's the one we are "starting" to finish next. Thanks for all your help. Cheers
Sounds like amazing progress so far!! Good job!
Wow I didnt know other folk had those same experiences regarding how ideas come to us. I feel like I found someone who comes from my same planet.
Very helpful!
I am struggling with what to write next. I’m trying to prep for Nanowrimo. I outlined a book yesterday. But idk if it’s what I want to write in November. Uggghh I am also starting to use the save the cat beat sheet when outlining. Trying to find the process that works best for me.
I have never used save the cat, but I know a lot of people love it! You'll have to keep me updated on whether it works for you! Finding the right process is going to be a journey - and it's going to evolve over time. Try not to stress out about it. Just enjoy the journey and play around with it until something feels good!
That Save the Cat beat sheet is great... but after I read the Save the Cat book, it paralyzed my writing. None of the three stories I've got going fit into the sheet... Not sure how to deal with this. Best of luck to you!
@@carlk8308 that's discouraging!! But honestly, if that process isn't working with your story move on to another or just follow your own intuition. There are so many different explainations and wats to figure out plot and outlines. Don't let it hold you back!
Hi Sarra, new subscriber here :) Just want to thank you for your wonderful videos. They are so informative, motivating and answer so many questions on writing life and process.
Just wondering if you would consider making a video on how you taught yourself to write (what you did in that year or two that you were able to dedicate to the craft). I know you have also mentioned books you recommend on the writing craft (many now on the wishlist!). I suppose i'm interested in how you structured your days, did you assign yourself reading and assignments, did you write a novel and target specific areas you thought needed work, etc.
Or - what would you do now if you had the time to study writing? (with all your productivity tools in place)
Best wishes from Australia :)
I'm considering Nanowrimo this year if I can finish the draft of my current novel by this months due date. Not sure how much Nano prep I can do. I have three potential stories up in the air. One isn't completely thought out and I'm not super excited about it but it is in my chosen genre, the second idea is one I've been kicking around for over 20 years but requires extensive research since it's a historical paranormal. Now the third idea started with a cool title. But I got inspired & started plotting it out on my writer app and wow... it just flowed. But its a YA fantasy - something I've never tried. And it's going to involve a lot of world building/prepping. But after watching this video, I'm leaning toward the fantasy because I think it will be the most fun to write.
I think my biggest problem with working on a project is that the way I write is way slower than other people I see on authortube (and honestly, I like what I'm producing a lot better than if I were trying to bang out a bunch of words at one time) but, it's hard not to compare myself with others and feel like I'm always behind.
I don't have such a problem. I mean, l do have a thousand ideas but eventually, I will get stick with that one and only. Currently, I am stuck with 2 universe. Working on my first universe, once I finished with the 10 or 12 books in that universe I will move into the second universe.
As I've said in the sprinting FB group, I'm a pantser, and when I get stuck (which has happened more times than not especially since I've been "more serious" about trying to write), I would start writing from the same character's POV but from a different angle/situation until I get stuck again. LOL I currently have three starts of stories I like and am trying to blend together... but also taking a step back to try to outline/plot/develop character backgrounds with the hopes that will help me... :S
Where did you get that cool ring that you're wearing on your index finger?
Great video. I'm revising a stand alone novel right now, which is kind of hard to place in a genre. But, looking ahead, I would love to write Women's Fiction and Romance. I feel I want a series in each, and they are similar. I'm inspired by how Susan Mallery works, writing both Women's Fiction and Romance series, and stand alones. I do remember you saying before that you should write one series and then switch though, and I think you could be right. If you're able to make more videos on the conflicts we can deal with about writing more than one series at a time, I would definitely watch. 💖
It's hard not to write multiple at the same time when we have so many ideas! But even Susan Mallery started with romance for a long while before she branched into women's fiction! And you're right that they are really close, so fans of one often will read the other, too! I think it's just smart to get established with one before you start branching out.
@@HeartBreathings Yes, absolutely. The ideal is to focus upon one thing at a time, especially in the beginning. 😃💝
I already have the synopsis for the middle and end of my story but I'm really struggling with the beginning. Do you have any tips for that?
I'm confronting this issue and it's so frustrating! One story I have is outlined and it works. It's a sci-fi fantasy with time travel. I feel like there's a lot of depth and a lot of potential. It's about world without rain and a girl goes back in time to try her future from happening. But I'm hesitant, because I wanted to write a portal fantasy, about a stunt performer being taken to a fantasy world. However, not everything has been sorted with that idea. I'm more excited with the stunt performer idea than the world without rain. I don't really want to commit to the sci-fi fantasy idea, because it feels heavy and complicated. I'm not sure what to do. I feel paralyzed, I'm afraid of choosing which one to write.
I cant chose between a story where the location is 5 islands in space around a type of star thing. Or a normal world with magical oceans, jungles, lava..ect
I write towards the end of the middle and then I freeze and start a new story, I have many many incomplete stories like this, I want to finish these incomplete stories but I easily get distracted and I’m not sure which one to start with. All my incomplete stories are in different fantasy but pretty much the similar genre.
I'd go with my intuition as a reader before an author.
I wrote my first book and am almost ready to send it to the editor, but for my next series I'll try to take a look at all my ideas with a broad view to see which one is best, then combine ideas if needed.
I don't want to write series that are repetitive within sequels, as well as across series that have no relation to each other, not just for my sanity, but for reader's interests as well.
As far as good ideas go, I need a good anchor, a good hook, to not only book myself, but that I can also use to book readers in a blurb later.
I'm also experimenting with writing blurbs as summaries of my ideas.
Just out of curiosity, do you make physical books? I can only find digital format...
I have a similar problem.
I have a story idea I've been working on for 4 years now and I can't seem to finish it.
I have 2 versions of the same premise. But I can't decide which one to write and finally stick with.
The first is typically about a girl slowly getting dragged into a secretive world which she unknowingly belongs to as conflict rises. But I've read that theme so many times before. Twilight, Harry Potter, etc.
The other is about she already living in that secret world as conflict rises. It means I don't have to write pages upon pages letting my protagonist slowly find out the secret world exists but rather start with already being integrated into that world.
I seriously don't know what to do.
Any advice?
I totally understand where you are coming from. I wanted to write a portal fantasy (isekai) but that's been done so many times and it seems like a trend. One that's a bit difficult to crack into because some people say that it's repetitive. I've read so many of them! My primary idea was to have stunt performer being taken to a fantasy world, but then my protagonist would have to get used to this world in order to take part in this world. That means I have to take my time with the protagonist reacting to things. The other idea was to have a performer integrated already to the fantasy world. I wouldn't have to take my time with my protagonist reacting to the world. Believe me, I've going back and forth. But so far what I have desired is to write the portal fantasy idea because I really like it. Although it's been difficult for me to the point where I started another idea with a similar feeling of being introduced into a new world but now realizing that I would have to choose.
Usually what I've observed from previous stories in this genre and in situations where the protagonist are introduced to a new world, is if there's a special knowledge or ability that the protagonist have that is useful and necessary for the new world she's embarking in. The knowledge or ability is specific with the character and their personality. It could be something that she gave up in the past, but now there's a situation where it's useful for the character. Another one is since your protagonist is in between the two worlds (she has one foot in her world & another foot in the secretive world), is there anything that your protagonist will be opposed to if these two worlds cross. How does the secretive world affect her normal life? Is there any dangers (whether it's with relationships and keeping secrets or life threatening) that will cause discomfort for your protagonist
I hope this helps!!!! You're not alone in wavering!!!!!!!
Well i dont really have any ideas i have q seripuse case of writers block
Hi my name is Deborah I am from Atlanta Georgia should I write my inspiration
That's a good tip about your gut
710 like.... hope for more
Sarra, my dilemma is picking which genre to write in. Is it possible to be an author of multiple genres?
Why not? Is there a rule saying you have to stick to a single genre? Write whatever makes you happy and inspired! Just my opinion though
yayasis029 Sure you can. Many writers write in more than one genre. You’re not restricted-write whatever genre you want to write in when you want to.d:) I write fantasy, romance, and horror.
@@debrayoung9557 thats awesome! Love hearing about other authors doing their thing ❤
I switch stories way too many times
How to write the best novel
OMG..😳yes always I hate it
I will be writing a futuristic Adolf Hitler who is invading the queen Elisabeth golden age time period of this earth from earth 2. He has a fleet. super soldiers in space suits who wield laser guns. And a team of super villains. A plan from present day gets thrown into the past through a time vortex. A girl from the plane has a sentient necklace and is the only thing standing in Hitler's way.