FLYING THROUGH THE FOG: Tips to Discovering Your Story Idea

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Are you ready for SPEEDBO?“

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YIKES!” you’re thinking. “Give me a break. It’s only January!”

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As long-time Seeker Villagers know, SPEEDBO is short for “speed book.” Each March Seekerville hosts a month-long write-a-thon where we write our little hearts out for 31 days. We draw encouragement from each other and push ourselves to one more word, one more sentence, one more paragraph, one more chapter. Maybe an entire rough draft!

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And...Speedbo is ONLY 32 days away!

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Are YOU ready? Have you given any thought to where your focus will be or do you plan to sit down on Sunday, March 1, grab any idea that comes to you out of the blue, and write through the fog?

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Due to exceedingly limited time available to write to a contracted deadline, I can’t be an into-the-fog writer. Between turning in one finished book and a proposal for the next, I try to allow myself about eight weeks to complete a beginning-to-end synopsis (12-15 double-spaced pages) and the first three chapters for my editor’s approval (an additional 50 pages).

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As I begin that proposal package, I can’t afford to take off totally into the fog without a plan -- “instrument back up.” I can’t leisurely fly this direction, then that, hoping for clear skies out there somewhere before I run out of time and “fuel.”

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Did you know that when flying through thick fog, a pilot without (or disregarding) a working instrument panel can become so disoriented that they believe they’re parallel to the earth but are, in fact, flying their plane straight into the ground?

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In order to avoid that and get moving on my proposal, I have to quickly lay a foundation. I can’t just launch into writing a proposal for something I’ve given absolutely no thought to. Not, at least, if I hope to make it through the fog and in for a happy landing!

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Unlike some writers who are gifted at pulling an idea out of a hat (with all the full-blown GMC trimmings), I MIGHT have a “spark” for the next book -- maybe a “what if,” a situation or a character who lodges in my brain. Or not.

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I’m sometimes at ground zero in the idea department. Flying into the fog with the clock ticking...ticking...ticking.

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So where do I start? How do I find an idea I can build on to discover a book-length story that engages me, my editor and my readers?

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For years I’ve kept a checklist that serves as a runway, a launching pad to help me get my story off the ground and through the murky realms to clearer sailing.

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So today I’m sharing the checklist I use (mingled with a HUGE helping of prayer!) to get my brain rolling. Please note that I don’t follow it in chronological order if one point or another captures my imagination first.

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So see if any of these ideas help fly YOUR Speedbo project out of the fog!

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- Peruse papers, magazines and on-line or TV news for stories that spark a “what if” (or review ideas previously gathered--I keep a running list).

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- Find photos of who you imagine your hero/heroine to be. (I’m constantly “snipping” face photos from the web or magazines and putting them in a folder or electronic file for future reference.) Sometimes a face will jump out at you, almost as if you recognize your character! And their personality and background suddenly kindles in your mind.

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- Come up with one- or two-word descriptors of the hero/heroine (their core essence).

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- Brainstorm themes and “hooks” this story might embrace (e.g., opposites attract, girl-next-door, friends-to-lovers).

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- Brainstorm one-line concepts of what the story is about. Getting something down on paper solidifies your fledgling ideas.

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- Expand the one line to a one-paragraph “blurb.”

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- Brainstorm a moral premise to see if one might give your story direction. Is there a Bible verse or saying that concisely nails what this story could be about?

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- Brainstorm titles.
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- Brainstorm opening lines.

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- Brainstorm opening scenes.

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- Brainstorm goals, motivations, conflicts (GMC).

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- Brainstorm hero/heroine backstory.

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- Brainstorm who the heroine/heroine is at the beginning and how they will change by the end of the story.

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- Brainstorm scenes that will SHOW this change.

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- Brainstorm what the hero/heroine is most afraid of.

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- Brainstorm a lie the hero/heroine believes about themselves -- and each other.

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- Brainstorm what most deeply hurt the hero/heroine in their past.

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- Brainstorm possible big black moments based on the above ideas.

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- Brainstorm story climaxes and resolutions.

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- Scene storm how to ILLUSTRATE and build escalating conflict to reach this climax/resolution.

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- Create a rough draft “calendar of events” as plot points come to you. Yes, ON a calendar so you get  feel for the story's timeline.

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- Research locale, occupation, story “issues,” etc. (But don’t get bogged down in this so that you never start the story!)

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- Sketch a map of the setting or a key building to firm it in your imagination.

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- Locate photos that illustrate locales or scenes.

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- Build a photo collage to capture the essence of your story as it comes to you. (I’ve never tried this, but was intrigued when I heard several years ago of authors doing it--have any of you tried it?)

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The results of any one of these brainstorming endeavors -- or a combination of several -- can grab my imagination and send it hurtling through the fog. That sparking idea then draws -- magnet-like -- other ideas I can use to build my proposal as I continue through the various brainstorming points.

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I find, too, that setting a timer to brainstorm helps immensely. Rather than “dreamily” letting my mind wander (although that can occasionally help IF I can find the time), a timer helps me focus. How many ideas for a given point can I come up with in, say, ten or fifteen minutes?

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It’s also helpful when the essence of my story finally begins to emerge (but I still feel like I’m in foggy regions), if I begin writing the opening scene. Get a feeling for the conflict and characters. Because I always start my synopsis with a few pages of hero/heroine background before launching into “as the story opens,” developing that background in the fledgling synopsis while at the same time working on the opening scene often begins to clear the fog me.

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So how do YOU kindle that idea spark? Share with us today where your ideas come from and the steps you take to build it into a full-length story concept that flies you out of the fog and into blue writing skies!

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If you plan to give Speedbo a shot and would like to be entered in a drawing for one of two copies of Jeff Gerke’s “Write Your Novel In a Month: How to Complete a First Draft in 30 Days and What To Do Next,” mention it in the comments section, then check the Weekend Edition to see if you’re a winner!

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Glynna Kaye’s debut book “Dreaming of Home” was a finalist in the ACFW Carol and Maggie awards, as well as a first place winner of the “Booksellers Best” and “Beacon” awards. Her 4 1/2 star “At Home In His Heart” was chosen as a Reviewers Choice finalist by national magazine RT Book Reviews. The first book in her Love Inspired “Hearts of Hunter Ridge” series debuts in October 2015!