When writers try to come up with story ideas, they often consult lists or ask other people. Although these strategies for breaking writer’s block can work, writers can develop excellent topics by trying out a few personal techniques. Personal experiences, interests and freewriting sessions are all potential sources for story content.
Freewriting to Find Story Content
“Freewriting,” a literary style in which the author writes without stopping to think or edit, is a powerful tool that goes underused by most writers. Just one ten-minute session can leave a writer with multiple leads for a short story.
If writers freewrite about their life, typing up how things have been without stopping to reflect or even correct a typo, they will often discover story ideas in the process. Whenever one freewrites, he or she is allowing the creative part of the brain to produce content without any inhibitions or editorial oversight. This content is often more idea-rich than that which is produced in a regular writing session. In addition, writer’s block has no effect on the process because the author still types in the absence of an idea.
Another powerful strategy is to freewrite the beginning to a story with little notion of its plot, characters or setting. This process forces writers to make things up as they go along, resulting in the production of one or more story ideas. Though the writing will not be publishable, the ideas contained within it may be.
Discovering Story Ideas in Personal Experience
Everyone’s life is filled with stories: some happy, some distressing, and some whose end is not yet known. Many writers will reference lists of story topics without considering their own life experiences.
One need not write a memoir to use content from their own life. Some of the best short stories (and novels) are based partly or fully on a personal encounter, as life experiences have plenty of details, dialogue and conflicts that can make a story stand out.
Basing fiction on one’s life events has a number of benefits other than countering writer’s block, as explained in this article.
Finding Fiction Topics in Personal Interests
The subjects one really cares about make for excellent story topics, as the writer will likely find enjoyment and satisfaction in writing about them. At the least, they can inspire settings, characters and subplots should the writer choose another story lead. An untold number of stories have been written about secret passions, for example, but an aviation enthusiast could break the mold by creating a romance between a pilot and a flight attendant.
If one freewrites about their passions, they may find even more prospective story topics than they had before.
Going Beyond the List
Writers don’t need lists of story ideas to develop superior stories. They simply need to reflect on their experiences and passions, which can inspire thousands of stories, or freewrite until their right brain discovers a story topic and cures writer’s block.
After one has a lead for a story, they need to develop a rough draft. This short guide has tips for the process. Writers feeling stressed over the writing process may find help in this article.
