Writing a novel? Who has good ideas on how to brainstorm?

Question

Have you ever written a story or plan on writing a novel? How do you come up with ideas ( this is to all you writers out there)?

Answer 1

There's an interesting approach to stimulate the brain. You might have original ideas that just need a little nudge to "awaken" haha ...

It's something called free-writing. You get a piece of paper then time yourself and, constantly keeping pen to paper, write anything that comes to mind even if it's about nothing (which I doubt).

Don't look too hard for the great idea. leave the story for a time and one fateful day, it might just come to you

Answer 2

I talk to myself.

Answer 3

if you really want to try, try having stories that every person could relate to. like school or jobs or love. you could also make up stories and do biographies but just change the names of the characters that's all thank you.

Answer 4

write ur story heading in the middle then come up with a bit of everything brain storms are a   wste of time

meg cabot

Answer 5

Though I have never written a novel, I once heard an author, Mdm You Jin say, your life experience may be your best ideas to writing.

Answer 6

write a list of everything u are intrested in when looking for a books

and join them into 1 idea  

Answer 7

Hmmm, I tried brainstorming once, but didn't care for the lightning coming out my ears.

No, actually, I can't really say where I get ideas... they just pop into my head...   Possibly from a parallel world.

Probably has to do with having read thousands of books in my youth.  All those plots meld together into something new... and horrible!

--Making me take cover behind my computer.  While I am hiding there I may as well write something, right?   - -   (chuckle)

Answer 8

i don't really remember where i come up with my ideas... it is usually that i come up with a single scene and then base my whole idea around that... the only problem is i have so many ideas now and not enough time to write them all at the same time! I usually end up writing the first chapter to get it out of my brain then setting it aside for later!

i would say just start writing a short story and see where that leads you.

Answer 9

well, plan character's physical appearances and traits and all that

make sure you know all about the setting etc.

basically, plan out settings, as for teh plot and all that, usually i just let it come to me.

sometimes i'm inspired by the people around me, a dream and something. .. . .

movies etc. etc.

Good Luck~

Answer 10

I get a name, for a character, and then I create a profile on that person, and that shall be my main character, and then I do the same for another person, and then you can perhaps create a conflict, or describe a landscape, or their situation within life, and from there you can go on to add or take away things as you wish

Answer 11

I had the same problem!! I joined a free writing site called http://chapteread.com

Once I surrounded myself with other writers I found the help I needed. They write everyday so they'll be the ones to ask!! The site also has great writing features!

Answer 12

I've written stories, but not a whole big novel. I come up with ideas by looking at what's happening around me, which means if I use that sort of topic, people will like it more because they can relate to it. Just take a walk around the neighbourhood, watch what's happening around you, watch the news and go to art galleries (I always find inspiration there- There's always such stange artworks that you can get ideas from).

To plan the story (I don't know about a novel), this is what I do: map out the

-Orientation (beginning)

-Complication (middle- what is the problem/complication in your story?)

-Climax (the biggest point in your story that gets the reader's hearts racing)

-Resolution (the end- the problem is resloved)

Answer 13

I use character analysis sheets and a g.o.t.e. sheet. As well as story development worksheets. It seems to work for me when I'm stuck or I just want to elaborate and it really helps you get to know your characters.

http://www.mnstate.edu/bartruff/scene.ht...

http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmf2/floss/char...

http://forums.ronin-studios.com/showthre...

http://www.writers-block-solution.com/