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What to Do When You Don't Know What to Write Next

If you're reading this because you've got a bad case of writer's block mid-project, stop reading. That post will come, but this is not that post. This is for the people who are at a total loss as to which project to begin. Or to find a project-worthy idea in the first place.

Maybe you're still stuck on finding a NaNoWriMo project, or maybe you've decided to abandon your original project. Whatever the reason, it's time for a new direction. Believe it or not, you've already got the road map in front of you!


If You Have a List of Ideas to Pick From

This seems pretty obvious, but maybe try diving into your massive, ongoing list of ideas to pick your next project. What, you already thought of that? Your problem is selecting one? My bad.

First, narrow down your ideas by the length the story idea demands.

That's right, not desire, but length.

You can be as head-over-heels in love with your fantasy character sketch as you want, but if they're demanding an epic saga and you're itching to write a short story, that idea is not a good fit for you right now. Make some notes to yourself about it and put that project on the back burner.

Now you can pick the idea or ideas that's right for you. Consider the following when making your selection.
  • Approximately how long it will take you to draft it
  • How much thought and worldbuilding will need to go into outlining it
  • How familiar you already are with the genre's tropes and structure, and how much research you'll need to do to familiarize yourself further
  • How giddy you feel when you think about it
  • Whether you think that giddiness will sustain itself for the foreseeable future
  • How this idea fits with your brand, if you have a brand and/or worry about that sort of thing (but that's another topic entirely)
  • Whether this idea fits with the theme for the contest, anthology, or other publishing opportunity you've found (if applicable)
Maybe now you've been able to strikethrough your plethora of ideas and found the perfect fit. If so, congrats!

If you've still got options, it's time to get tough and rank them. Give them letter grades, or an overall score from one to ten, based on how badly you want to do it and how well it fits your brand as an author.

(I like to use the Idea Ranker from Eva Deverell's blog to help me with this process!)

If You Have No Ideas to Pick From

Well, this is a conundrum, isn't it?

My best advice is to be patient. Wait for those ideas to come.

For now, distract yourself with other pursuits—read, exercise, bake, paint, draw, go outside, go out with friends, go to the movies, take a free class—and the people you meet and experiences you have will, eventually, beget a fantastic idea that begs to flow from your pen.

But who's got that kind of time? Maybe you need a jumpstart. There are tons of generators on the Internet, sure, but they don't always get you results that... What's the phrase? Make any sense whatsoever.

How to Generate Ideas

Get some paper and a pen that writes nicely, or hop onto your favorite word processor.

Make a list of characters you admire, then make a list of movies or books that have always interested you, even if you haven't experienced them firsthand. Make a list of items, words, or phrases that have stuck with you from other stories or from real life. Mine your memories.

Now look everything up on TVTropes and read and research like your creative life depends on it. Study the components of the things you love. I promise there's something in there that fits with something else just right and can work as a story.

Do you know what you're writing next? Let us know by commenting below and make sure to subscribe so you can get the latest posts.



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