If you’re like me, every time you finish a story you find yourself faced, not with an empty idea bucket, but with the prodigious task of figuring out which story should be written next.
Following are five suggestions for culling the legitimate story contenders from the wannabes and also-rans.
Write the Story That…
1. You Want to Write
Listen to your gut. The first and foremost factor in deciding which story to write should be your desire to write it.
I’m a linear person. When I get a new story idea I write it down in a list of other ideas, with the plan of writing each idea in the order it comes to me. But that’s never how it works. Inevitably, one story looks up at me from the list and screams to be written, whether it’s “next” in order or not. If a story wants to be written and I want to write it, that’s the one I’m going to go with every time.
2. Fits the Market
We’re always being told not to write for the market. This is because by the time we’ve finished our own sparkly vampire tomes, the trends will inevitably have moved on to glittery werewolves (or angels or zombies or purple boogie men). But if one of the ideas you’re particularly excited about seems ripe for the market, go for it. You may hit it just in time to fit into the latest boom.
3. Is Ready to be Written
Sometimes I’ve been all set to write a particular story, only to realize it just wasn’t quite ready. Usually, this sense of unreadiness is just that—a sense. Excited as I may be about the idea, whenever I imagine actually writing it, I just can’t quite see it working. Again, this is a matter of trusting the gut. It’s even more important to be able sense when a story isn’t ready than to sense when it is.
4. Appeals to Others
Although outsider opinions can only carry an author so far, you may benefit from running your ideas past trusted beta readers and asking them which appeals most to them. Even if you don’t take their advice, hearing what they have to say may help you sort out your true feelings about which story is the right one to begin next.
5. Challenges You
If you’re trying to choose between an idea that’s similar to your last story and one you know will require more authorial skill, consider pushing yourself to new growth. Don’t let yourself fall into a comfortable rut. Always reach for the next rung on the ladder of your writing craft.
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Although sorting through our idea folders can sometimes seem like an overwhelming challenge, an abundance of ideas is an author’s greatest blessing.
Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! How do you decide which story to write next? Tell me in the comments!
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