You think about it all the time. It replays in your head over and over and over again. It seeps into your thoughts in traffic, in a meeting, or in line at the store. And it won’t go away.
It’s a nagging idea. A story idea or a little snippet of a story that lives in your brain 24/7. You add to it, subtract from it, and fine-tune it, but it remains locked inside your head.
Time to let that nagging idea escape.
Let’s talk about it.
When in Doubt, Write it Out
The time has come to let your nagging idea find a new home. It’s time for you to write it down. Just sit down with a pad and paper or at a computer and write it out. It can be a seemingly incoherent mess at this stage, but you have to get it down on paper.
By doing this, other ideas may be linked to the initial thought. Suddenly you have a basic story idea, a character or two. The main thing is to give the idea space to breathe and roam free. Seeing it visually in front of you can go a long way to making the idea more than just a nagging thought in your head.
Talk About It
“So, I have this story idea…”
You can tell yourself about it when you’re alone or pitch the idea to a trusted friend or relative. Verbally expressing the idea can help gauge if it’s a solid concept or if it is just something your brain has become fixated on for no reason.
Talk it out, and if you like what you’re hearing, write it down.
Ideas Are Like Legos
Ideas are the building blocks of a complete story. Even if the nagging idea is a small piece of what could be a larger work, it should be given a chance to connect with other ideas. Think about the millions of ideas we encounter in films, tv, books, and podcasts. All of these started with someone having a small idea they added to, built upon, and eventually used to create a project now out in the world.
Final Thoughts
Ideas can come and go, but a nagging idea is worth paying attention to. By writing it out, talking it through, and building on it, you may be able to take a small idea that’s been living in your head and create something larger and more significant. Only when you decide to act upon that small idea can bigger things emerge.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!