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Ideas Matter

By Jeffrey James Higgins

Ideas matter. Beyond structure with a beginning, middle, and end, your story should be about something. A plot that people can understand.

I meet writers at conferences, festivals, and in my literary salon. When I ask them what they’re writing, many stammer over plot points and character quirks without ever getting to the central conflict and primary themes that are the essence of their story. A novel doesn’t require a high-concept to be great, but it should have a point to it, an idea that you can easily articulate.

So where do ideas originate? That’s a question I often ask writers on my podcast, and I’ve heard wildly different answers, from reimagining childhood experiences to channeling the infinite possibilities of story that exist in the multiverse.

Some authors struggle to create stories, while others—like me—have hundreds of plots outlined, with more coming every week. If you have trouble thinking up storylines, find a safe, creative space, then open yourself to the universe. If you’re stuck, take a walk and let your mind wander. Talk to people. Live life. Read everything. You’ll find the seeds of stories in conversation and newspapers. I see plots everywhere because I always ask, “What if?”

Don’t chase the market. Instead, choose a story that excites you, one you’d want to read. Brainstorm ideas, and when you land on something fun, go write it!

Painting of Jeffrey James Higgins by Alfa Tate-O’Neil