Story ideas I hope to tackle in the future

If you are a dabbler, writer, and/or author, you have story ideas tucked away either in your brain or on scraps of paper. Jotting down ideas whenever they occur to you. Today I want to talk about some ideas I’m considering and how to organize your ideas to keep you sane.

Here are a few story ideas I’m considering:

Another stand-alone romance suspense.
A memoir.
A post-apocalyptic story about a group of people who must survive in a harsh new world.
A few writing craft books.
A suspense romance where the female lead is the daughter of a serial killer.
A story where the main character is the lone survivor of a total family killing by their parent.

And many more!

Where do you get your story ideas from?

Often, a question that authors get asked is “Where do your story ideas come from?” The reason it’s such a hard question to answer is that they come from so many locations, situations, and experiences. Often I get ideas while watching true crime and my brain asks me questions about the effect of the crime on the people that survived. What is their story after the person(s) are gone? I love to be in a crowded mall or theater and listen to the surrounding conversations. You never know when you are going to hear a gem that will spark an idea. I’m also a history buff and love crazy history facts. One fact about my home town sparked an idea for my urban fantasy noir mystery series I will publish under my pin name Ann Crow.

5 tips on how to find story ideas

Read the news - Keeping up with current events is a great way to find story ideas. Find stories that have a unique angle or that highlight an interesting perspective.
Observe - Pay attention to your surroundings and look for interesting people, places, and events that could be potential story ideas.
Talk to people - Have conversations with people from different walks of life and ask them about their experiences and what stories they can to tell you.
Brainstorm - Take some time to brainstorm different ideas for stories. Think about topics that you’re passionate about and how you could explore them in more depth.
Search for inspiration - Read books, watch movies, and browse the internet for inspiring stories you can use as a starting point.

Your Writers' Notebook

What are some story ideas you are taking space in the back of your brain or in your writers’ notebook? Do you keep a writer’s notebook? What is a writer’s notebook? It’s a notebook(s) dedicated to your writing craft. Often people have a notebook for the project they are working on, a series bible, world-building, character information, quotes, inspiration in the form of art or lists, writing plan for the year, project plan, and more.

How to start a writer’s notebook?

Starting a writer’s notebook is a great way to capture your ideas, musings, and observations. Here are some tips to get you started:

Select a notebook that has enough room for your writing. Choose a notebook that is the right size for your needs, with enough paper to last for some time.
Find a comfortable writing space. Whether it’s a desk, table, or even the couch, make sure you have a space where you can write comfortably.
Set aside time. Set aside some time in your day where you can write in your notebook.
Start writing. Brainstorm ideas, record your thoughts, and jot down anything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about getting things in a certain order, just write whatever comes to mind.
Review your notebook. After filling out your notebook, take some time to review what you wrote and see if there are any patterns or themes that stand out.

Speaking of your writers’ notebook! Are you interested but not really sure where to start? Do you want to make your notebook physical or digital? What are you going to track? If you want to know more, I’m doing a Free workshop in January on how to create and get the most use out of your notebook.

January 13-15th