I probably couldn’t name the numerous ideas and story lines that cross my mind in a given period of time. While most stay in my daydreams, some of them make it to paper. That’s actually where my two novels started, a single chapter I cobbled together at age 13. No real plot or character depth, just a scene. A moment that inspired a novel.
We all have ideas. We’re always imagining something new. But the difference between an idea and a novel is development. An idea doesn’t need backstory, continuity, or depth. But a novel does. Every writer has their tricks for elevating a thought or character to a 300-page book. Having developed three novels with different techniques and varying success (my personal opinion), I figured now was a good time to look into developing a good idea into a good book.
Before the Novel, Write Shorts
This blog idea actually came from the conclusion of one of my initial Wednesday story collections. “Freedom’s Sacrifice” began as a Snow White/robot revolution and ended as… well, I’m not even sure. The idea came to me long before now, when I read Marissa Meyer’s Cinder. It remained a fun daydream until I spent recent months sifting through a world I didn’t quite understand. All through the art of short stories.
Well, attempted short stories; long form is my weakness.
I actually used this method for the first novel I wrote. While still unpublished, side characters from A War Waged benefited from mini stories starring them. These weren’t chapters for the book, simply personal research into the world I was creating and the people that lived in it. The best way to develop an idea is to write “side quests.” This builds out the society, characters, fauna, and more before Chapter 1.
It also helps with figuring out what ideas stick and which don’t. Remember my Wednesday stories? The process of scrounging through that rough idea got me curious about a technological dystopian world and how a place like that would function. Tanner added little to the plot, but the Chairman provided intriguing traits that could function for a deeper story. It takes some exploration and trial runs to find what works for your novel.
Read Similar Books
A few months ago, I wrote about writers needing to be readers. What you consume affects how you write. Same concept applies when trying to develop your story.
My current novel that I’m pushing to get published, Foresight, seemed like a one-off to me. Completely new and inventive. What could I learn from someone else? Turned out Patrick Lee’s Runner had some parallels which my editor thought would be beneficial. And after reading the book, I had to agree.
While a slightly different premise, there were elements that helped fill in the blanks in my story. As a woman, men are tricky to write without them becoming soft and emotional (poor Liam). Getting into the head of Patrick Lee’s male lead finessed characters like Damian and Kalek who had inconsistencies. The way he detailed the journey across the country gave me some inspiration as to how to make it interesting and move the plot forward.
Your idea may have a cool spin never before seen, but there’s probably a writer who had a similar idea. Look for books in the genre or plot arc that you want to write and read them. Don’t plaigarise though; that’s a disservice to you and the original writer. The point is to learn how someone else did it and see where those lessons can benefit your writing. If anything, you have a jump start to focus your thoughts.
Get a Notebook
Every one of my books, no matter the stage of development, has a binder. Foresight and A War Waged are chock-full of loose-leaf, tracing paper, composition books, and sticky notes. But they both started like my no-name superhuman cop academy. With a couple sheets of poorly scribbled notes.
Whenever inspiration strikes, I grab the closest notebook and jot my thoughts. Foresight got more organized when I was gifted with a SuperNote, but regardless, I find myself snagging sheets of paper to scribble senseless ideas. Words for a new language, army personnel conduct, space travel, homeless shelters. The range of information distributed across all my notebooks is dizzying. Hence why I write it rather than going mad.
Taking notes on experiences, research, and random thoughts is good practice. There’ve been times I didn’t write an idea down and I kicked myself later because I couldn’t remember the dialogue or scene. Ideas come from anywhere and everywhere, and anything that builds your concept adds pages to your novel.
Final Thoughts: Development is a Process
My pastor spouted some facts recently. “We’re expecting a fine-dining experience within the timeframe of fast food.” This is true of life, and true of writing. Teenage me wanted to rush ahead to publishing when my book still had a dozen plotholes, flat characters, and an under-developed world. And I could’ve self-published, but my goal wasn’t to sell a few copies. I had a story to be shared, a lesson to impart on my peers.
Your readers are worthy of your time. Not through TikTok dances and flowery quotes, but by developing your killer idea into a well-thought novel. Take your time. Don’t feel rushed by the countless individuals publishing books via Amazon. When your book is done marinating and developing, you’ll know. And your readers will thank you.