From a Story Idea to a Book

The journey of a story idea into a book is long and tedious. It  requires  tremendous effort. Its culmination into a published  book is seldom easy.  This makes it crucial for us writers to choose  only those stories that  can be  adapted  into good books.

Hardcore  scribblers   that we are,  our  brains  are  constantly searching for  the perfect story that will enthrall readers. Its tough to sort and sift  through  the complicated labyrinth of our minds, navigate through alleys darkened by writer’s blocks and  stumble or, shall I say pounce upon a story idea that brings  an instant smile. 

           

At any time there are several ideas floating in my mind. It’s extremely difficult for me to zero in on the one I would like to work on. Several times I have started a story and after a chapter or two realized that it’s just not happening, that I am unable to do justice to the theme, perhaps the genre does not interest me at this time. I  feel guilty about these stories, but its better to shelve a project in the initial stage then be stuck with something that is unexciting  and  elicits a  half hearted effort. It’s not like I will never return to that story in my life. Few story ideas are not worthy of a book, its better that they remain  a short story. Perhaps more justice can be done to them that way.

One thing I have learnt is that I must let the story idea marinate and stew in its own juices for several  weeks, sometimes few months before I start working on it.  During the marinating days, my mind constantly hovers over the story; creating a vision of the character,  the journey it has to trek, his/her life story, love interest, goals, aims, principles and attitude in life, motivation, the problems they have and the solutions they crave, their dreams and aspirations. I  note down these as bullet points in a folder  called  the Ideas Folder.

Even tiny sub plots that fall my way are noted down. As are names of places, people and incidents that occur  in the story.  After several pages are filled, I read  my notes. Its then  that I decide whether I would like to go ahead with the story, or not. This free style thinking is quite liberating because  there  is no pressure on the imagination that a full fledged WIP brings. The creative cells go into an overdrive and  come up with several wonderful ideas when they are not under pressure to perform. 

A fellow writer advised me that  we must work on only those stories that Must and Should be told. “ If you don’t tell your story, will the world lose out on a  story that could have made a difference,  if your answer is yes, then,  by all means ensure that your story  makes its way out into the world.”

I found her suggestion  hard to digest. For me two things work in favour of a story. I must be really excited about it  and I  must  hate being away from it. That’s when I know the story is on firm footing.

How do you all decide whether a particular story is worthy of  investing your time and effort. Is there any particular criteria the story must have before you  plunge headlong into it.  Any tips you would like to share  to transform a basic  story idea into a full fledged book?