Section 2 of 13
The Loose Story Idea
Every novel starts as a loose idea. In this module you'll put yours into words — not to lock it in, but so you have something real to build on.
Why start here?
Writing your idea down does two things. First, it gets the story out of your head, where it's easy to keep it vague forever. Second, it gives you something to compare against later — when your characters start pulling the story in new directions, you'll be able to see exactly what changed and decide, on purpose, which version you like better.
What if I can only answer a few of these?
Then answer a few. Blank answers aren't failures — they're a to-do list. Some of the best books started as one strong image or a single line of dialogue. Skip anything you don't know yet and keep moving.
Talk through your idea
Answer conversationally, like you're telling a friend about the book. Full sentences, fragments, rambling — all fine.
The heart of it — the thing that made you want to write this book in the first place.
While they're reading it, and when they close the book.
Who falls in love, and what's the situation between them? For example: exes getting a second chance, best friends realizing there's more, rivals stuck working together, strangers thrown together by accident — whatever yours is, in your own words.
The relationship or struggle the whole book turns on — between people, or between a character and a force, a place, a secret, themselves. In your own words.
"Currently" is the key word — Section 5 may surprise you.
Naming what you don't know yet is one of the most useful things a writer can do.
Build your story overview
Now let's shape those thoughts into a short working overview. Fill in whichever pieces you know — a phrase or a sentence for each is plenty.
What does the main character's life look like when the story opens?
The event that knocks their normal life off course.
What sparks between them?
The thing that makes being together hard.
What does each of them stand to lose — or finally gain?
Your best guess at the ending, for now.
Built from your own words above — edit it freely until it sounds like your book. Your individual answers are always kept, too.