What in the World Will I Write About? - Page 3
© Kim Kay
Once you have an interesting idea that will appeal to a large audience, you have to make it specific enough to work with. The principles of truth and justice would not make a good novel in and of themselves. The topic is too broad to formulate a coherent plot. Instead, I narrowed it down to one specific case to illustrate my theme of truth and justice.
Another consideration is originality. If your idea has been written about over and over, you must make yours better than what is available if you want to be published. This can be a difficult task, so coming up with an original idea is important. If you are writing about an often-used concept, you must present it in an unusual way. Since my novel deals with child abuse, a topic which has been written about extensively, I decided to approach it from a different angle. I am not focusing on the abuse, something I believe is best left up to the experts, those who have experienced it first-hand. Instead, I am focusing on how the court system re-victimizes those who have already been victimized and how eventually, justice can prevail.
In conclusion, to begin your search for ideas, all you need is something to write with, something to write on, and your own eyes, ears, and memories. Be alert to what is going on around you, take notes and be creative. Ideas are everywhere. It is up to you to recognize them.
In the coming weeks, we will discuss how to go from story idea to completed novel. Next week's topic is Researching Your Novel.
