If you’re a writer, you probably have so many ideas, it’s difficult to decide what to write next! I’ve compiled a list of ideas to help you choose your next story, so let’s get into it.
Explore Your Interests:
Write about a topic or genre you are passionate about. This is especially compelling if you’ve been writing in a specific genre for a while and need a little break. A lot of people say that multi-genre authors are not successful, but if you don’t follow your muse, you could burnout. It’s important to explore your interests and allow yourself to be creative with those interests, especially infusing your creativity into your writing!
Draw from Personal Experience:
Think about significant and/or transformational events or emotions in your life. Is there a story you can write that will convey the lessons you learned, and inspire your readers?
Revisit Old Ideas
Look through your old notebooks or unfinished drafts. Is there an idea that sticks out to you or excites you? Maybe, at the time you wrote it, you weren’t able to follow that whim, but could you do so now?
Adapt a Classic
Retell a classic story from a different character’s perspective or in a new setting. Retellings are a GREAT way to get ideas if you are struggling to come up with your next story. Is there a fairy tale, myth, legend, or classic that you could retell in an original and unique way?
Respond to Current Events
Address contemporary issues through fiction. Dystopian novels do a great job of showing what our world would look like if concepts, beliefs, or ideas were taken to extremes. But what contemporary issues could you resolve or address in other time periods, settings, or genres? If there’s a cause you feel strongly about, don’t be afraid to address it through literature. It’s one of the most powerful ways to help shift peoples’ perspectives and beliefs.
Create Character-Driven Stories
Develop a compelling character first, then build a story around them. Think about their goals, challenges, and growth.
Use Prompts
If you’re short on ideas, you can easily find writing prompts online or in books. Push yourself out of your comfort zone by entertaining new genres and settings. Try out writing groups on Facebook or other social media platforms, where prompts or games are played to help you spark new and creative ideas.
Listen to Feedback
Readers and fans will let you know what they want you to write next. And if they haven’t let you know, then ask! You might be surprised by the feedback you get, but don’t feel tied down to anything. If you’re burnt out of a single genre, and readers are begging for more of it, allow yourself to follow your muse, even just for a little bit!
Explore Different Formats
If you are used to writing novels, try something else like novellas, short stories, or other formats. Even journaling might help you spark new ideas for stories.
Daydream and Freewrite
Allow yourself opportunities to daydream and write whatever comes to your mind. Sometimes a particular character or scene might come to your mind, so don’t be afraid to entertain those ideas, even if you’re in the midst of a project. Sometimes the “shiny new ideas” will settle down once you’ve allowed yourself to write about and explore them.
Write down your story ideas and pick one at random
I use this method quite often when I’m indecisive about what to write next. I’ll write the ideas on a piece of paper, give them to my husband, have him mix them up, and then pick a card. If my initial reaction is excitement, I’m probably meant to write that story next. If I feel slightly disappointed or weighed down a little, I probably love the idea but don’t really want to do that story right now. This is a helpful exercise if you have way too many ideas and you love them all. It’ll help you pinpoint which one you really want to do at the moment!
I hope this list helps you choose an idea for your next story. I also hope you never limit yourself to genre or to expectations that other writers might have stated (example: “you can’t write more than one book in a year,” “don’t get distracted by shiny new ideas,” etc). Following your whim and having fun with your ideas will keep you inspired and avoid burnout.
So go on and write the next book that you (and many others) will love! You got this!