As we’re getting ready for Nano, the first step is to come up with an idea. I wrote a post about finding a novel idea the other day. Let’s explore idea generation a bit more before moving on to the outline.

You need to have a driving idea for the novel in order to move forward. Here are some examples…

A group of people face the end of the world — twice. After being mysteriously spared from a virulent plague, they must band together to save the world. Stephen King’s, The Stand.

A young man lives out the curse on his father because of his unusual pride. Tolkein’s, Children of Hurin.

A girl follows her father into Eastern Europe and discovers an ancient evil, and her long-lost mother. The Historian.

Of course, you can simplify any novel this way. If you were to take any of these ideas and write them yourself, it would be drastically different from the original (obviously!)

The gist is, you don’t have to come up with an “original” idea. Your execution, not your idea, is what will be original. Besides, you’d be hard pressed to come up with an idea that hasn’t been done in some form. I think writers tend to get bogged down in finding a perfect idea. Instead of focusing on that, take a good idea that you have and start working with it.

If you haven’t come up with your novel idea yet, try these tips.

1. Carry a notebook for the next few days. Write down any conversation snippets, ideas, descriptions, etc. that come to mind. If you don’t have a notebook, fold up a couple sheets of paper and put them in your pocket.
2. Go back through your old notes, short stories, abandoned novels, etc. for anything that might be resurrected or revamped.
3. Jot down the plots for some of your favorite novels. Simplify them down to one sentence and think about how you might do it differently.
4. Start with a character instead of a plot. Write down what she does during the day, what her goals are, etc. Think about how you’d approach a novel about this person.
5. Stop stressing. Sometimes, the harder you try for an idea, the more elusive they are. Sit down and just start writing; you’d be surprised at what might come to you.

Next, we’ll start talking about outlining the novel.