Finding Plot Ideas

Question: How do I find plot ideas?

Answer: People ask this a lot. But honestly, finding ideas is the easiest part of writing.

My first suggestion is that you read the article, "Novel Writing Ideas: How to Get Them," which you'll find on this site at http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/writing-ideas.html.

As I point out there, the best ideas often come to you unexpectedly. However, I also take you through a process to help you find new ideas and get your creative juices flowing.

Alternatively, you might find it helpful to practice using writing prompts. Here are some sites to get you started:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-prompts-101

http://creativewritingprompts.com

http://www.writersdigest.com/WritingPrompts

I recommend starting with the first site, but there are also plenty more on the web.

A writing prompt is simply an idea you can use to begin writing. Take one prompt as your topic or starting point and spend anywhere from ten minutes to an hour writing. Do one each day and eventually you may find yourself writing something that you could develop into a plot for a longer story or novel.

Of course, you can also come up with your own writing prompts.

If you do this exercise regularly, you will most likely find you have too many ideas rather than too few. After all, a novel can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to write. So all you need is one good idea a year to always have something to work on.

Finding one good idea a year is easy. Finishing one good novel a year, that's the challenge.