Many people have great ideas but still need tweaking take the test and see. It is not a good idea because it is selfdefeating and will not sell books. I cant guarantee that every writer, editor or publishing professional knows these, but i can say that if your aim is to create popular stories that reach a wide readership, hitting these markers certainly wont hurt. Crucial components to a good book idea if youre a popular writer with a large email list, you could write just about anything, use your platform, and succeed, to a certain degree. Here is a list of interesting professions for your main. If i couldnt come up with 1,500 words that opened the doorway to a book on the topic, then i shouldnt write it.
Collect possible story ideas the way a kid might collect autumn leaves or sea shells. Truth be told, the first novel i ever wrote technically is and always will be my novel from 2008. How to tell if your novel idea is a good idea youtube. Well crafted characters,ones you believe in and grow as. Have you ever found yourself wondering, is my book idea good. Oct 17, 2014 so you think your idea for a new vampire novel is a good one. It is a truly novel idea and, while most cambridge dictionary plus. Sometimes you will just begin to write something not knowing whether it will be a short story or novel and discover what it is after you begin. Aug 14, 2017 writers often ask if their idea for a novel is good enough or strong enough. If a novel was good, would you care if it was created by. Earlier this week i posted about watch, a method of figuring out which of four elements your novel focuses on. Four, terry brooks did not include any twists or real changes, whereas asmimov did. I have never written anything from beginning to end, not a story or a novel. Eventually, youll need to decide which premise youre going to develop and turn into a.
What im wondering, though, is which programs are the best. Writers and wouldbe writers get hung up on the idea that their story is not original enough and then they never end up writing that story. The only chance for sanity is to get the idea out of your mind and down on paper or on a screen. I have had ideas for a novel since i was a child,rewriting lord of the rings for my own entertainment. These ten ideas below will help you take the ideas you already have and develop them into a solid plan for your book. In this video i wanted to go over some misconceptions about novel. Examples of novel idea in a sentence, how to use it. Jan 27, 2020 imagine yourself, some years in the future, pulling a novel by an unknown author off the shelves and finding that it is really good. Nov 20, 2019 while its relatively uncommon for a writer to work consistently on a short story for years, the average novel takes 37 years to complete. I just collect different scenes, and the ones that arent any good to me, get slipped on to the floor and eventually into the wastebasket.
When you know which element is your focus, you have a good idea of how to start and end your novel, giving it. Jul 18, 20 earlier this week i posted about watch, a method of figuring out which of four elements your novel focuses on. College students nowadays call any book, fact or fiction, a novel. So you think your idea for a new vampire novel is a good one. What is it about your idea that makes it unique, compelling, and authentic. This list is for books that achieve this balancing act effectively, conveying both the ideas and the story in a plausible way. Novel writing software which programs are the best. Whatever it is its good enough to be the book that you write. Mar 10, 2012 this has sparked my interest actually. A good book idea doesnt just come from a moment of inspiration. Cant decide whether my novel idea is good or not mumsnet. The test isnt too detailed as i tried to focus on the most reacurring problems. There are already a ton of great posts out there about starting your novel.
While its relatively uncommon for a writer to work consistently on a short story for years, the average novel takes 37 years to complete. The hardest part of this whole situation is wrapping my head around the idea of another novel being my first novel. Thanks to the success of my parenting blog, i knew that the book i wanted to write needed to be about parenting, so it helped me weed out the most ridiculous ideas and focus on the ones that were most likely built to suit my. I am planning on writing a book on how to get motivated and stay motivated.
Sep 02, 2010 261 responses to is your book idea good. But lets face it most of us just arent in that situation. Jun 04, 2012 when you come up with an idea for a novel, write it down in a dedicated file or document. If you follow matts advice here, you should be able to produce an outline and even a first draft that are solid enough. This sounds obvious, but deciding what you want to write about is a challenge. If so, then all you have to do is take up the quiz and see if we agree with your view for yourself. As the author of twentyfour novels, elizabeth george is one of the most successfuland prolificnovelists today. How do we know this isnt just another story idea but your best story idea. Please feel free to add books that meet the description. Its possible to update the information on a novel idea or report it as discontinued, duplicated or spam. To borrow one of my favorite lines from a coworker about fantasy look, its a fantasy novel man. The problem is if you dont contribute anything original.
Measuring a persons degree of awesomeness is no easy task as we are all awesome in our own way. There are many factors that influence whether or not your idea is any good. A credit to someones thought whether it be based on fact or bullshit. Novels of ideas a novel of ideas is different from a novel with ideas. So you might borrow some elements from various stories. If youre going to commit that much of your life to a project, you want to be sure your novel idea is a good one. It is a novel whose story expounds and explores a particular philosophical perspective on the world. How to decide if your story idea is good enough to turn into a book. This was expressed in many different ways, of course, but at the core, you want to know what makes one piece of writing good and one piece of writing bad. Would you be any less moved by the story if you were then told. A novel of ideas is different from a novel with ideas. How to tell if your novel idea is a good idea novel boot camp 8 august 14, 2017.
If software can make the writing process easier, why not use it. A novel idea is a yearlong course that will take you through plotting, writing, and editing your book, and then help you figure out what to do with it once you have it polished to a bright shine. With all adventures the story usually progresses through a series of conflict scenes and emotional scenes seamlessly woven together, i think it is a good idea for a novel and if you write it well it should go down very well with the readerspublic. A novel idea is a tool for plotting your story and recording bursts of inspiration. Some ideas are good to go, but they explore a subject matter thats been done to death and i dont feel its the best time for that story to thrive. You take any idea and develop it into something plausible.
Jack kerouac, famed for writing his draft for on the road in twentyone days, pondered his ideas for years. Her work has been honored with the anthony and agatha awards, two edgar nominations, and both frances and germanys first prize for crime fiction, as well as several other prestigious prizes. It has the feel of a scififantasyadventure type story. Perhaps the most organic way to discover a novel idea is by writing a short story and realizing or having someone point out to you that what youre dealing with is bigger than a story. Home page of my novel ideas, website of the author, writer and creative writing tutor and teacher sarah cate anstey. Executing that idea into a book takes time, patience and plenty of caffeine. How to develop a story idea into a book writers digest. Remember this isnt accurate, if you try it on a allready published book you may be suprised.
Writers often ask if their idea for a novel is good enough or strong enough. At the bottom of the page, youll find links to hundreds more story starters and prompts. Do some dialogue where the lead introduces himself to you. If an idea lingers in your mind, and wont leave you alone, just do it. Ive been experimenting with novel writing software, and have found some success. But always the rarest, those streaked with azure and the deepest crimson, flutter away beyond my reach. This is a variation of the second book idea on this list. It might begin like that, but you also have to do the hard work to process, develop, and hone that idea. There are six core qualities for a strong commercial novel, which i use as signs that a novel might be pretty damn good.
How to know if you have a good book idea goins, writer. The short story and the novel differ in many ways, but the most important consideration is the time commitment involved. You may even have a solid draft ready to submit to an agent or an editor. May 12, 2014 when youre finished reading, find a novel idea using our central idea finder finding fresh novel ideas is a daunting process, even when you know exactly the kind of story you want to tell. I will have an idea of my theme before i start which is the garden of my novel in. But theyre both search engines, and again, this is some good data. And remember, any idea can be developed into something really good. There are also posts in which literary agents have spoken about what theyre sick of seeing, e. Nov 20, 2019 perhaps the most organic way to discover a novel idea is by writing a short story and realizing or having someone point out to you that what youre dealing with is bigger than a story. As the others have mentioned, you should definitely take a stab at writing it yourself.
Feb 01, 2019 measuring a persons degree of awesomeness is no easy task as we are all awesome in our own way. Weve got the criteria that makes a good book and how you can tell if yours falls under that category. Okay so a man, presumably in his mid20s, wakes up in a small overhanglike cave with no memory other then a loud crash and the feeling of falling into a bottomless pit a bit overused and normal, i know. I havent been able to get it out of my head for over a year. Is your book idea good enough to withstand the trials of publishing. Ideas for novels and stories here are some ideas for novels and stories to spark your imagination and help your fiction stand out. Eventually, youll need to decide which premise youre going to develop and turn into a book. Imagine yourself, some years in the future, pulling a novel by an unknown author off the shelves and finding that it is really good. Its a mainstream novel with some elements of magical realism.
Do you consider yourself to be shining in pure awesomeness or have people said you are awesome. She encourages her students to start with a strong idea for their novel before they even begin writing. I have an idea for a novel, but im not a very good writer. Published december 4, 2012 updated december 19, 2012 december 19, 2012 25,200 takers. May 26, 2010 the hardest part of this whole situation is wrapping my head around the idea of another novel being my first novel. Use its simple interface to create your characters, locations, scenes, and novels and then link them together to create your storys plot. You bring up some good points, and it would be especially noticeable when judging a contest. Develop your story idea in eleven simple steps wellstoried. Each novel has all four, but novels generally stress one over the others.
Some authors scoff at the idea of using software to help write a novel. Procrastinating over stuff like this is normal when youre writing books in my experience im on novel. You want to know, is my picture booknovelshort storypiece of writing any good. You need to have an idea that excites you, is worth writing, and provides value for your readers. If so, then all you have to do is take up the quiz and.
In mastering the process, george offers readers a master class in the art and science of crafting a novel. After publishing four books, ive learned this is a tough question to answer. I had a idea i wanted to make into a fantasy novel, please read and tell me what you think. Made popular during rick santellis famous rant about home owner bailouts on live tv. May 30, 20 one idea came from a joke written on a popsicle stick. Novel is increasingly used to mean any book, fiction or. Do what you need to in order to create suspense, relatability, and literary deliciousness on your very first page. Shaunta has published two young adult novels with penguin and teaches a popular writing course called a novel idea. Three months would be good, but if it takes six months, thats fine, too. It has lengthy results and even if you know ur not good, this quiz has tips. In this video i wanted to go over some misconceptions about novel ideas and what it takes to get published. How do you know that itll sound good to have flutes doing one thing and. Elizabeth george is the new york times bestselling author of twenty psychological suspense novels, four young adult novels, one book of nonfiction, and two shortstory collections.
But sometimes you dont know what you want to write. When you know which element is your focus, you have a good idea of how to start and end your novel, giving it continuity. My most successful novel harry bingham writing was two years in development, then written within two months. Mar 10, 2012 i had a idea i wanted to make into a fantasy novel, please read and tell me what you think. I started with an introduction, setting a goal of 1,500 words. Thats when an exercise for coming up with novel ideas is useful. Does your lead character have heroic qualities, either evident or potential. I am about to publish my seventh novel and know i have a limited readership mainly over sixties but the launch is always a joy, especially as i ignore bookshops and use places that feature in the book. When you come up with an idea for a novel, write it down in a dedicated file or document.
Ben zimmer posted on adsl a quote from the journalism professor michael skube, writing in the washington post. But i cant allow that novel to hold me back from writing something new any longer. You may not be able to commit yourself to performing something remarkable at the moment, but there is still interest in books where authors experiment with pushing their physical boundaries. If you have more than one idea and cant decide, post them all together but a maximum of three. Nine times out of ten, your idea is really quite mediocre and has been done before, actually a number of times and in a number of different ways. I thought i had it figured out after i climbed kilimanjaro, but now i realize that i am still learning. Before you write a book, you need a good book idea. Forget the rest of your novel for a moment and look at the first page. How to begin writing a novel when you dont know what to do. Nov 10, 2019 6 signs your novel may be pretty damn good. My friend and student, shaunta grimes, made me do this.
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