Brainstorming

Personally, I think that brainstorming is very likely the most important part of writing. No joke. When you really think about it though, it really makes a lot of sense. Without a simple beginning idea, you can't start writing. The seed idea is what starts the actual story, and those often times simply come to you, but, brainstorming is sort of like developing characters; except it's more the developing of the plot and storyline than characters. That actually relates quite a bit to world building, which is used a lot in science fiction and fantasy, which I'll talk about another time. Once you have your seed idea, you start to think about it. Open a new word document, or flip to a new page in your writer's notebook and start to write. Anything and everything that comes to your mind; write it down so that you won't forget about it and it vanishes into thin air. If you come up with a plot idea, or a scene seed, write it down. Even if it just doesn't happen to work for the book you're brainstorming for, it's pretty likely that you'll be able to use it sometime in the future.

For example, you come up with an idea for one of your characters to have a journey with and eccentric customer of theirs that just won't leave them alone. But your character is a kid that doesn't work. So they obviously can't have customers. You can still save the ideas however, and, eventually, it might fit into a current story. Another thing I suggest, is that when you're writing, brainstorming, or even putting down seed ideas, I recommend that every now and again (at least once a month) you look back through your notes and read some seed ideas that you've put down in the past. Even the simplest, most stupid sounding idea at the time, may now sound like absolute brilliance and may (or may not) spark a brand new idea for a book or screenplay. That is the thing with ideas. Even the most dumb sounding ideas may later make a comeback and slap you right across the face.

The first thing you'll probably think is: "Hey, I sure am glad that I wrote that down." The second thing that will go through your mind is that you'll remember next time, that, no matter how stupid sounding the idea is at the time, you'll write it down. Then you'll get down to business with the actual brainstorming part. Everybody actually has a different explanation (or description) of the brainstorming process. Some people play quiet music without words and take a walk. Some people sit down at the table at spurt out words, going back through later to find the gems (kind of like mining), and still others just let the words just flow, not putting a care in the world into them. So, until next time, Write On!

A Writer's Notebook - What is it?

So yesterday in my post, I said something about a writer's notebook, and how I would talk more about it later on. Basically, a Writer's Notebook is a place for a future author to keep and organize their ideas and thoughts, planning out books and short stories, and saving random plot ideas for later on. I tend to use the regular, basic 70 page, single subject notebooks that students use in school. It really depends upon the particular person, though. Some people are quite fond of finding a specific kind of specialized notebook, and only use that kind. Ever. (Normally these are quite expensive ones, such as moleskin notebooks.) Some people like a bound composition book, as it gives it a permanent feel. And, still others, enjoy sketchbooks, diaries, and notepads. Some people even use the computer. So firstly, find a format that works for you. The reason I'm so fond of 70 page notebooks is because of the spiral binding. At least that's one reason. I can simply flip to a page, wrapping some of the pages behind. I don't have to worry about my surface not lying flat (a composition notebook), or anything else. I work on both sides of the pages.

Next you decide what kind of pen you want to use. I know this sounds kind of pathetic and weird, but really, find a pen that works for you. Try out as many different kinds as you can find until you locate the one that's perfect for you. I have two personal favorites. Number one on my list are blue Papermate pens. The old kind that are all blue casing. The ink flows perfectly, especially when it's been used a lot, and, best of all, the ink is blue! Can't go wrong with that one. At least not in my opinion. My second choice, if I was forced to are Bic Roundstik. They work very well, even though the ink is black. :D. Personally, I just think that the blue ink makes it a little more interesting. For Christmas this year, my parents bought me a 60 pack of the blue Papermates - you know; the huge boxes that they normally get for offices. And I'm one person. Haha.

After that, I would recommend leaving three or four pages at the very beginning of the notebook empty, for a Table of Contents. That way you can find exactly what you need, exactly WHEN you need it. It feels amazing to be so organized, even if it isn't as good as a book TOC. Now we come to the actual CONTENT of the notebook. Different people put different things in their notebooks, but I'll list a few of the things that I have in mine. First off, and probably most importantly, I have seed ideas. I talked a lot about seed ideas in my last post; how they are the basic idea that eventually turns into a plot. In my notebook, I don't label it as seed ideas; though you could if you so desired. Instead, I label them as Random Ideas I, Random Ideas II, etc. So far, I'm thinking I've got somewhere around 10 pages full of these little tidbits. You can also include: name ideas (first and last; I have a page for each), brainstorming sessions, freewriting sessions, random words, prompts, quotes, lyrics, conversations, and whatever else your mind can think up that may be useful in your all too near writing future. So, until next time, write on!!

The Seed Idea

When you are writing something - a novel, a short story, a poem; even a paper for school, you have to have an idea. I tend to refer to them as a seed idea, as that is basically what they are. They start out as a tiny idea, and then, as you work with them more and more, you start to discover that they are actually more than they seem. They start to sprout into new ideas; sub-plots and, sometimes, you even mix two or more seed ideas together to make an entirely new, exciting plot. You develop it, and brainstorm ideas for it, discovering what it was actually meant to be in the first place. After a while, you start to find that you have discovered an entire idea for a book - and you begin to outline a bit, creating your own magical story; arranging all of the elements into a full, developed plan. That's the bud. After a little longer of simply watching the "plant" grow, you start to work on it. You write the actual story, using the outline "bud" as your blueprint. When the first draft is completed, that is the bloom.

But, as often happens with flowers, the first bloom is not as big and beautiful as the flower actually gets. Each day, that first bloom gets larger, and more full, as more petals grow. That represents the editing process. After all of the edits are complete, and the finished manuscript is polished to it's perfection; you start to realize that, just like a flower, it has bloomed. So that's why I refer to them as seed ideas. A lot of other explanations are given, each by their own author. Each and every person has their own description of these simple ideas; and we all know that some are just a bit more complex than others. For example, a very simple idea is that a boy and girl fall in love and eventually, after a few struggles, they live happily ever after. You see how simple that idea is. But it's also a very common one. The more complex ideas are often more unique, and come from the imagination, not what other people think.

For me, these ideas start coming to me when I'm in the midst of something else. Reading, watching television, riding in the car, browsing the internet, and, most of all, when I'm writing my own work. A lot of times I'll come up with seed ideas that I think might relate to my book, though only slightly. Sometimes I end up using these in my current manuscript, though, normally, I end up writing it down in my Writer's Notebook for later use in another story. I realize that I haven't exactly explained what a writer's notebook is yet, even though it is the title of my blog. I promise that I'll touch on that soon. But, basically, it's just a notebook that I write in every day, putting down my ideas and thoughts, for use in books later on. But get this straight. It is NOT a journal, nor a diary. I'll explain that in more depth another day.

One more thing though, before I leave. I once read something about writing, that said that to create a great book, you must combine the mundane and the extraordinary. Right now, I'm calling a can of worms on that (I'll write about that later), but I feel like it fits perfectly right here. At least a really simplified example. Basically, when you combine what seems normal (a high school kid) and then add something extraordinary (his teacher, is say, a ghost, or something similar) it adds an interesting touch. I realize that this is a very old example, and, it has been done a whole lot, especially in manga comics, but that was the example that was simply on the top of my head at this very moment. So, until next time, write on!!