Preptober series: Is my story idea BIG enough?

It’s an important question. Because “Write what you feel like writing!” is a great idea if you’re calm, relaxed, and sure. But maybe not so great if you’re approaching it from a state of panic.

And let’s face it. If you want to make money at writing, there are business considerations to, well, consider.

But if this is your very first book or script, the most important thing is to find an idea that you can finish.

1. An idea and characters and world that you can fall in love with, enough to keep you writing every day, at least for 15 minutes a day, for nine months or a year.
2. An idea that you can test from the beginning to see if there’s enough plot to finish the book: which I recommend you do with Index Cards. Even if you’re a pantser! More on that below.
3. You need to find a writing community, online and in person, with experienced writers in it, that you can run your idea by to make sure other people will get excited about it, too.
4. And you must finish the book.

No dual projects. No chasing after shiny new ideas.

In all the years I’ve been writing and teaching, I have never seen a beginning writer turn into a pro writer by pursuing multiple projects. The chances are abysmal. Suck it up and…