Hi friends. I just got back from a four-day writer’s get-together and brainstorming party with author friends. And believe me, when you have 11 authors in a room, brainstorming book ideas for romance, suspense, teen fiction, mystery, etc. . . . it IS a party!
For you writers out there . . . have you ever thought of brainstorming with friends? You don’t need eleven. The same could be done with half that number. (Yes, 5 1/2 authors would work fine.) Here’s what we do. Try it!
- The writer who is “up” gets 1 hour and 15 minutes. (We limit it to three a day, because our brains get fried.)
- Then she uses about fifteen minutes to talk about the idea–sharing as much as she knows about plot, characters, setting, etc.
- Then the writer explains her needs. Some people need help with minor plot points and others need ideas for the whole book. (Yes, I can claim in part the success of dozens of CBA authors 🙂
- This is when things get crazy, and we play the “what if” game. One person has an idea. If it’s a great idea we build on it. Not-so-great ideas are put aside. Ideas fly around the table and plot, conflict, motivation, characterization forms before our very eyes. Excitement builds as we all jump in with our brilliance. People come up with things I never would have thought out, and then others build on that. And who knew, I even came up with a few good ideas too.
- During the last twenty minutes, we stop all the ideas and ask everyone to write a “List of 10”. This means on a sheet of paper we write down ten things the author can do with the book. It can be a list of scenes, or conflicts, or more ideas.
- Finally, we go around and read our lists. Someone’s one or two more ideas are thrown in, but for the most part our work is done.
What do you think? Is this something that could work for you?
Also, in life, what other things could be brainstormed like this?
It sounds like fun and a great way to spin a story with added depth. But it really sounds like fun! I think the key would be getting the right group together, but I love your methodology. I can’t wait to read the results, too.
Tricia–This could SO work for me. I belong to a Christian writers group here in KC, but as far as I know there are only 3 of us who are writing fiction. One is a well-pubbed author (who meets with others at her level) and the other two of us are aspiring.
How do you break in to a group like this if you aren’t yet pubbed? Or form one? My experience with face-to-face critique groups hasn’t been great, mostly because the members aren’t fiction writers (or readers, I’m thinking…) My hubby tries to serve in this brainstorming function for me but, after all, he is just one guy. And it’s lady lit!
Any suggestions?
Katy McKenna, who’s now using her maiden name in writing circles, with the full blessing of her hubby, the amazing Doug Raymond http://www.fallible.com
So . . . I’ve been thinking about it. Do you think this could work on-line . . . like with a chat forum? Hmmm . . .
Also, Katy there were unpubbed members in our group. And I think the best think would be just to start one. Ask around. See who would be interested. Also, invite readers too who you trust . . . they KNOW what works and what doesn’t.
So . . . back to that on-line idea, what do ya’ll think???