B&A: How do you separate your good ideas from your bad ones?

Question

You're a writer. You have all these crazy and ridiculous and wonderful ideas whirling through your mind. So how do you sort them out into good ideas and bad ones? How would you define each of them? What makes a good idea good, and a bad idea bad?

Consider this:

Your character (let's call them Iggy) has reached a point in the story where they could do one of two things. Both options appeal to you, but each would take the story in a different direction. How would you decide what Iggy does?

Answer 1

Bad ideas are those that don't work with the story line, the character(s), the theme(s), and those that you would personally find cheesy or redundant (having showed up in a number of other similar stories). Also, an idea is a bad one if it distracts from the main point of the story.



Good Ideas are the opposite. No idea is bad if it fits the story, but some are only bad because they don't fit the story.



I use my gut instinct and common sense to weed my way through good/bad ideas. If it works for the story then I'll play with the idea to see if I can make it into something good. If I have reservations about the idea, then it likely doesn't fit the story or isn't good in some other way for that particular story, so I save it for later.



Situation Analysis: I face this all the time. I write out both an choose which I like best. If they both would appeal to the overall theme I'd write them both out, that is. If one goes against the theme then I know which one not to choose. It's more time consuming to write them both out (you could just make outlines for both if you don't want to write out the entire story going one way or another), but it pays off in the end b/c you could combine them or see that one is definitely better than the other.

Answer 2

Ideas that sell books are always changing. There's no way to base it off of what you think people will want to read, because after the long long process of getting the book published the trends and fads of the literary world may very well have changed. There's also the question of what makes an idea good or bad to consider. How do I pick and choose which ideas are good then? It's simple - I write them. I start any and every idea that comes to me at the time, and if I can't see it concluding or am having trouble writing it I know it's not a good idea. What makes an idea good in my opinion is how much I love it. If I love the idea to death and can hardly stand to make it through the pre-writing phase so I can start it, then I know it's a good idea. Even if it's not an idea that's 'in' at the time, if I love it to death then I'll most likely write it well, and if I write it well it doesn't matter what the topic is - people will read it. Who knows - maybe I'll have started a brand new trend myself ^.^



UPDATE: I forgot something so I'm adding on to my original answer :) I would decide what 'Iggy' does the exact same way. I would either write one idea and see where it's going or I would choose the idea I love the most. The more I love what I'm writing the better it will be. Fun question by the way :D

Answer 3

Good ideas are shiny. When you try to sleep, they twinkle with possibilities behind your closed eyes, and if you let yourself look at them, sleep is impossible and excitement rushes through you as if tomorrow were Christmas.



It's an indefinable quality. With bad ideas, the more you think about them, the more problems you notice. With good ideas, any problem is outshined by the sheer uniqueness and potential of the idea. Some ideas take a while to get shiny. They seem dull and normal until you turn them, looking at them from another angle and they suddenly catch the light and blind you and you wonder how you didn't see it the first time.



To me, EVERY point in a story is a time when it could branch off into a different direction. Iggy could be in the middle of a jail cell, wondering if he should try to escape or if he should wait for his trial, when an earthquake hits. Suddenly Iggy's situation is completely different.



When I'm at a fork in the road the thing I try to remember is "where is my destination?" If I go this way, will it take me closer to the emotional story I want to tell, or further from it? There are thousands of ways your story could work. Sometimes you have to make a decision and say "I'm going to introduce an albino chimpanzee right now" and stick with it.



Making a decision is hard enough, but it's even harder when I tell myself "I can always go back and change it if I need to." I've learned from bad experience that "keeping options open" doesn't work for writing a book, because there are literally endless possibilities when it comes to the decisions we writers have to make with our stories.



With every option that's left open, for every decision that's only halfheartedly made, we begin juggling multiple stories in our minds. There's the story I'm writing, and the story that I could have been writing. It's like listening to two different radio stations at the same time. "If this doesn't work, I can just go back and go the other way" makes it harder to stick with past decisions when they, inevitably, get difficult later on.

Answer 4

That happens to me all the time. I'd consider what each idea would do for Iggy, (I wish that really was my characters name, that would be funny) what would make it more entertaining, more sense, more enjoyable to read and write. Most of the time, if I have multiple ideas, I can scratch off a few of them as ridiculous and "what the heck was I thinking." Then I can usually decided with two or three. Sometimes I really can't though, and I either try to morph them together (which usually turns out disastrous and it ends up just being a totally different idea) or if I really can't think of anything, I ask people on here. That's right, I cheat sometimes, I'm not afraid to admit it!



I think a bad idea would be something that would lead to plot holes, doesn't make sense with your storyline or characters, and frankly, is just plain stupid. A good idea, well, that's hard to explain really. I guess it's just the opposite of a bad idea that other people and yourself find enjoyable.

Answer 5

I'd rather go with the option where the consequences of Iggy's choice agrees with all of the other character's and their arcs. If it affects a lot of them in the way that their own arcs wouldn't make sense then, then I drop the option. If not, I keep hold of it until I can fit into the story. I like to create scenes in my head where I try each scenario out and see if they'd be cool and abide to the storyline enough to put in.



A good idea compliments and supports everything in the story in ways that, for example, doesn't muddle things up, keeps themes going, and keeps the story interesting.



A bad idea is the total opposite. Also, I think a bad idea would also be when you know that it has been done in recent novels and follow a popular trend (e.g. vampire dude+human girl). It is only a bad idea until the writer takes sense enough to twist it to make it good, or at least okay.

Answer 6

Oh, this is such a good question!



This is when the first draft of a MS becomes my best friend. I can just write whatever I want. Finish it. Stash it away as I work on the next MS. Then come back and rewrite.



When writing on my trilogy (well, I'm still writing/ rewriting it) I wrote the first book, did a second draft on it. Then I wrote the first draft of the second book. After that, I realized the second book was much more stronger than the first, therefore making the first dull. Plus, I had changed a lot of elements and "executed" some needless characters. So I rewrote the first book _again_. Now it's ready for agents to review. Meantime, did first draft on third book, and now in the process of doing second draft on second book. When I first completed it I thought it was fantastic. Now I see how lax it is. So here comes the red pen!



On the side, I'm writing a YA contemporary. This one is tricky 'cause it covers ten years of a girl's life. What do I put in that interesting and important without dragging the story? It's hard.



To sort them in good or bad ideas, I first consider, Is this what my character would do? Remember, the characters control the story. Just like how people control their lives, not life control them.



Then I think, Has this been overdone in other books? Is it cliche? Does it sound good to me but obtuse to others? Will this throw the plot all out of whack?



That's the stuff to consider. Also, it helps to keep a notebook on the side so you can write down small but important stuff.



Good luck. I hope everything goes well in your writing.

Answer 7

I don't. I let my characters take the lead and tell me what already happened to them. I do this for the very reason that if I try to force them a certain way, it might not be the right way for the story. But, when I let the characters talk to me (I sound so insane right now) it's easier in a way. Sometimes I'll add a thing in here or there, but the main events are all them.



I think the difference between a good and bad idea is that one will place your character in a problematic situation, whereas the other will place them in something they can get out of easily without causing the reader any distress over their situation. Personally, I want my readers to be a bit distressed over my character's problems. That's kind of the whole point...

Answer 8

Very much similar to Gemi in a sense. If I have a particular plot and a theme, plus an expression or a 'moral' to portray i'll take whatever 'good' point will be able to place emphasis on that expression/moral/theme/plot and go with this idea.



But sometimes a good idea which will fit into the overall plot and scheme of things could be deterred as 'bad' usually because of trends/tropes/cliches. Usually, in more or one sense, an idea does generate from something we've seen before its about how we have painted them using the same paints as before which overall could make it a good idea.



For the consideration part, of Iggy's decision, which ever direction the story takes to better portray the moral of the story (in the most subtle of ways) that is usual the road i'll take. However the choice ultimately belongs to you (feel the power of the story flow within you!)

Answer 9

When I feel that a story is forming inside my head, I let it stay there for a while without thinking much about it. If the idea is persistent, it will start developing itself by force, even though I try very hard not to allow that. When it completely takes over me and makes me intrigued, I take the wheel and start shaping the idea, while allowing it some freedom. In that way I tame the idea and then I know that it's good. But, if the idea itself gives up before it gets to my consciousness, I give up on that idea as well.



I wouldn't decide, I would let the character do that for me. I would sit back and watch the story in my mind, or if I make a wrong decision, I always have my idea to tell me that I'm wrong. And, of course, I couldn't do anything without the help of my love. He can help me get back in control of the story when it goes wild and start destroying the shape I gave to it.

Answer 10

I don't think about it. The ideas come. Sometimes they just pass through and are gone before I can really think of writing them down. Other times, they just keep hold of me until I have no choice but to write them.



Iggy's always in control. I intervene very little. I let him make his decision and I wait as long as I have to wait for him to make up his mind. If I know my characters well enough, there's only one real choice for them. But if they really hesitate, usually another character will make their own decision and unblock the story by taking the choice out of Iggy's hands.

Answer 11

I suggest you list all of your ideas down then think about them, like how would that turn of event affect Iggy. Try to think of the outcome and the possible ending to the story on each idea. Choose whatever appeals to you and on how you would like the story to end. :)

Answer 12

Experience and practice.



As far as your example goes, I get into Iggy's head and I forget about the directions of the story in the future, because Iggy doesn't know about them. I think about what Iggy knows, what sort of person he is, what his priorities are, and what choice _he_ would make. I worry about what that does to the story afterwards.

Answer 13

I guess I just get in the character's head and try to think the way that they would. It's kind of a psychology thing mostly, working out who they are and becoming them, at least a little bit. It can be hard but in the end it's the best way.

Answer 14

When I have an idea it's crazy. I'm not like most people who just write it down I think about night and day like crazy. I sometimes have these unlogical ideas for my book then have to go back and erase and change it.

Answer 15

i dont really think any of my ideas are bad, sure some may be silly to some people but i thought of it for a reason and wanted to write it down then it must be something to me. even if it is a little cliche or if anyone else wrote it i would say it would be stupid, i write it so it makes it good, if that makes any scene. i make it good in my own bad way.



i would go with whatever option with more like lggy which was more lggy like or whatever one gives me the best story, na thats a lie, i would go with what i liked most. i write for myself no one else so i dont have to please anyone but me.

Answer 16

http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/novelwriting/tp/novelidea.htm



I place the four point as number one in my assessment, if I don't have enough passion for the subject matter after a few days, I toss it because it'll just be a distraction and never be completed.

Answer 17

I'd see where each choice would lead to then choose the one that would be most...is productive the word?