How to Decide Which Story Idea to Write Next

Published: March 17, 2020, 7 a.m.

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to choose between multiple story ideas, or how to decide which story idea to write next. Here's a quick overview of what we talk about in this episode:

  • [01:20] Two reasons why taking the time to flesh out your story ideas before you start writing a single word will save you time, energy, and frustration.
  • [02:15] 5 questions to help you decide between two or more story ideas.
  • [03:15] An example from a real-life writer who was torn between a "for fun" romance novel and a "more serious" memoir. "Which one should I choose?"
  • [06:15] What happens when your idea doesn't have enough "meat" to support a full-length novel (hint: it almost always has to do with a lack of conflict).
  • [07:30] What's the difference between a topic and an idea? And how do you determine whether you have a topic (aka part of an idea) or an actual story idea?
  • [08:50] If you have a topic, you can turn it into an idea that can support a full-length novel by asking yourself these key questions.
  • [10:00] What's next? Here's how identifying your genre can help you further flesh out your idea and understand your next steps.
  • [10:40] Key points and episode recap.

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