So, I’ve been playing with an idea for my first novel. Last week the idea came to me and I made a few notes in Scrivener.
Yesterday, I had a couple more fresh ideas and wrote those down.
But then today out on a dog walk? I was listening to The Bestseller Podcast, Episode 481 (Jake Lamar – Make It Sing) when I suddenly had a lightbulb moment on how I could twist that first idea into something infinitely better.
Now, I wholeheartedly subscribe to the rule that you don’t ever go with your first idea for a story, because usually, that first idea is a knee-jerk reaction to needing something and is usually obvious. It’s never well-thought through, but it hooks your interest because, hey, it just might fit what you need, right?
But I firmly believe in letting ideas marinate (marinade?) to see how much stronger and tastier they can be. (perfect metaphor, lol)
And as I was walking the dog and thinking about how hot I was getting in my winter coat and perhaps I didn’t need to have put it on, a fact from a TV program I watched years ago (Thank you, X-Files) popped into my head and aligned perfectly with my first idea, if I was willing to change it to fit.
I was a willing participant.
And so, I’ve spent the last two hours turning the story this way and that to create a protagonist, an antagonist, a setting and a bit of backstory, with a generous helping of science.
This confluence of ideas has legs. Which makes me happy. Which is making me feel excited for this story and when I feel this level of excitement, I know I have a story that I can delve into. A story that should keep me going for the months I have planned out (see previous post re schedule) to write it.
I’ve put the story back in the fridge to marinate some more. I want to know my beginning entry point into the story and I want to know my exit point. My big finish. Once I know those, I can plan out the connecting points in-between.
So back in the fridge it goes until I work out what the other ingredients will be.
And then I can start to cook.
Nic x
Nic Dracas 