“This story just isn’t working for me.” < Something I’ve caught myself saying more than once. You know how sometimes you have an idea for a story, but…it’s just not working?

Maybe you have the setting and characters nailed, but you have no idea what the plot is going to be. (Been there.) Maybe you have the plot, but no theme. (Been there too.) Or maybe you have all the “necessary” components of a story but you just don’t feel excited to write it. (Been there so many times!)

If you’re struggling with this, you’re not alone. In this post I’m going to share my process for sparking creativity and thinking up ideas I’ve never considered before. It’s kind of like a playground for your writerly brain!

Ask yourself these questions

Once upon a time, I had a story idea that gave me fits. I knew the setting I wanted and I knew the cast of characters, but…that was basically it. The plot was super weak and not something I felt excited to write. I told my sister all my ideas (which wasn’t much) and she was like “That sounds cool…so what’s it about?” And I had no idea how to answer her.

But I loved the premise! I loved the characters! I loved the world-building! I didn’t want to scrap the whole idea. So I tried to help myself… by grilling my creativity for solutions. It didn’t work. Why? Because I kept looking at the story from the same old perspective. I couldn’t see what was wrong with it — because I wasn’t changing my point of view. I wasn’t exactly sure WHAT was wrong with the story… so eventually I assumed it wasn’t any good. I decided to throw out the whole idea. I told my sister. I sat at the table one morning and sighed and said: “I don’t think I’m going to write that story.” And then my genius sister said, “Don’t throw it away! What if you…”

Her suggestion saved my story and sparked my creativity. All because of a simple “what if?” So this post is a collection of my favorite “what if” questions… and I think you might be amazed by the new ideas that spark out of nowhere. Don’t try to puzzle out your story like it’s a math equation — instead, let your creativity take flight. Ask your brain a question and it will answer. Let’s start with the question my sister asked me that day:

What if I made it the sequel to a different book?

Even if this “different book” wasn’t originally going to have a sequel. That’s what happened with my story. I had thought of a new story (one that actually had a plot) and the setting was basically the same. So my sister asked me: “What if you made it the sequel to the book you’re working on now?”

I’d never considered the possibility before. Right away, my brain said: “Whoa whoa wait. This current book is a standalone, Abbie.” But standalones don’t standalone for very long when you have plot bunnies attacking you every 0.3 seconds. So I let myself think about it. And then my creativity EXPLODED. I decided that my current book could easily spin into a duology! This was something I never would have considered before the “what if…?” So let’s explore a few more questions that might get the ball rolling for your Problem Story™.

What if I turn it upside-down?

I’m not talking about literally turning your laptop upside-down. I’m talking about looking at your story from a new perspective. What happens if you rearrange events? What happens if you switch things up? What happens if you change the point of view and make a sub-character the protagonist instead? Or what if it was from the villain’s POV? What happens if you change the entire starting point of your story? What happens if you take the end of the story and put it at the beginning?

It’s so important as a writer to ask yourself questions like this. Why? Because you have to keep your creative mind open to new possibilities! We are constantly bombarded with so much Writing Advice™, sometimes it’s hard to strip all that away and get back to a place of pure imagination. Free yourself. Step outside the box and have a look around. You might be surprised by what you find.

What if I make it a retelling?

This is one of my favorite “what ifs”. I love retellings, especially when they’re not strictly “by the book” — and by that I mean when the author turns them into something totally new and unique. Maybe you’re writing a sci-fi thriller and it just feels bland to you… what if it was actually a retelling of Around The World In 80 Days? With time travel instead of a geographical race? Or what if your dark faerie fantasy was actually a retelling of The Secret Garden? With evil magical plants and mysterious forces? Or what if your thought-provoking contemporary was actually a retelling of Black Beauty? With people instead of horses??

The crazier it sounds, the better. Bring all your ideas to the table, even your bad ones. I’m always amazed by the wacky ideas my brain comes up with… most of which aren’t any good – but some of which become my favorites. Don’t be afraid to explore, push the boundaries, and think outside the box!

Other helpful articles on writing:

• How I Became A FASTER WRITER (10 Tried And True Habits That Will Help You STEP UP Your Writing Game!)
• How To OUTLINE YOUR NOVEL Without Losing Your Inspiration, Drive, and Sanity
• How To Deal With Your Plot Bunnies (In 3 Easy Steps)

What if I combine this story idea with another story idea?

There’s a small chance that if you’ve had this problem once, you’ve had it twice. Maybe you’ve got TWO Problem Stories™ simmering on the back burner at the moment. Have you ever thought about mixing them together and cooking them on one burner??? It’s worth considering. Even if one story doesn’t have the same setting or theme…would that be an issue? Or would it only make the story more dynamic and unique?

Unlikely combinations are so cool because they force you to put 2 and 57 together when you were trying to just put 2 and 2 together. Sometimes 59 is the brilliant answer you’re looking for. Try it! Write all your story ideas on 3×5 cards and shuffle them around on the floor, just to see what ideas could possibly fit together. There are no rules. Be creative. Be crazy. Try new things.

What if I make it a spin-off story with characters I’ve already created?

Maybe it’s time to scrap something. If you find you are still stuck in a rut with this story, try eliminating some of the elements — such as characters. What if you replaced the cast of characters with ANOTHER cast of characters you’ve already written in different book? You’re already familiar with them (and probably in love with them if you’re anything like me) so that instantly makes it more attractive! Could this story happen to characters you’ve already created? Maybe not. But it’s worth thinking about.

What if I change the theme?

Yes, you might already have your theme figured out. But is it really something that’s important to you right now? When I write a theme into a story, it has to matter to me. I need to be emotionally invested in my theme. It is the backbone of a good book. And in order to write a compelling theme, it has to mean something significant to YOU.

So perhaps the question you should ask yourself is: what do I care about right now? What makes me angry? What is the truth I want to scream from the rooftops? It’s also important to remember that the answer to this question is always in flux — and that’s 1000% OKAY. Tomorrow I might be passionate/angry/driven about something TOTALLY different than what I’m passionate/angry/driven about today. That’s why certain stories need to be written when you feel the burning desire to write them. Follow that creative energy. Trust it to guide you, and it will lead you to great places.

Are you still stuck?

If you answered yes to this question, here’s my advice: GIVE IT SOME TIME. Brilliant ideas can’t be manufactured — they strike like a bolt of lightning. That’s how great ideas happen for a lot of writers, myself included. Also, talk to someone else about your story. It could be your mom, your sibling, your writing support group…anybody you trust. After all, it was my sister who gave me the brilliant idea I mentioned at the beginning of this post!

Remember: stress doesn’t make the good ideas come faster. Sometimes you’re just thinking too hard and stressing yourself out, which clogs your creative flow. RELAX. Take a deep breath. Let yourself imagine and dream and create like you did when you were a little kid. Good things take time.

Let’s talk.

Do you have a Problem Story™ giving you fits?? If so, I hope this post was helpful to you. Which of my “what if” questions got you thinking the most?

Rock on,
Abbie

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