Finding a Special Idea For Your Novel

10 Inspiring Sources

Authors often discover ideas from the world around them, from the mundane to the extraordinary—a headline, a world-shattering event, a memory of something personal from long ago, a recent encounter.

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This first glimmer is the idea in its raw, most basic form. But where do you find a basic idea, one that will become something really special? The short answer is, everywhere! Indeed, this first glimmer of an idea for a novel is often discovered in the most unusual places and at the most unexpected moments.

Case in point. The source for the idea for my upcoming novel, now in production, might surprise you—it was another novel, later a film, written  in the early twentieth century by an English writer. I give it my own spin by creating new settings, characters, and variations in the plot. 

Ideas for other novels have come to me from snippets of my own life and the lives of people around me. My historical novel, A Long Way From Home, is based on stories told to me about our family history by my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Another novel, PG County, was inspired by a well-known and fascinating gated community near where I once lived.

I simply took these basic ideas and dug deeper, searching for something unusual or special that intrigued me enough to want to explore further. The best ideas are both commonplace yet different at the same time. In other words, they stem from something that many other people could relate to yet also have an angle that is uniquely your own. 

Once I’ve gotten this far with my idea I then simply expand on it until I have some kind of premise or concept that I believe is deep and rich enough to fill a 60-thousand word (or longer) story.

I guess I shouldn’t have said “simply,” because there’s really nothing simple or easy about any of this. 

Developing the idea for a novel can get extremely complex and involved. This may actually be one of the most challenging tasks or periods in writing a novel because you’re creating something from absolutely nothing. It takes imagination, initiative, planning, and the patience to see it through. Once you get it right though—and reach that aha! moment—it’s exciting to realize that you may have the beginning of what could become a magnificent tale.

But first things first—finding that raw, basic idea that you can turn into something really special. Here are 10 well-known (and not so well-known) sources that should inspire some great ideas for your next novel.

Your personal life. Look at your own relationships with family, friends, and lovers. Explore the conflicts, triumphs, and turning points. Anything exciting or unusual that others could relate to? I used this method to develop the idea for my bestselling novel, Sisters and Lovers.

An unusual character in your life. How about that eccentric neighbor or quirky relative? Ask yourself something like, what if this person had a big secret or some special powers? Let your imagination wander from there.

Books, movies, television shows. Reimagine your favorite story or film and add your own touch to it. I came up with an idea by taking a classic novel and recreating it with a contemporary twist.

A setting that captivates you. Imagine a bustling metropolis or an isolated cabin in the woods and create a destination murder mystery.

An object that fascinates you. Think of (or imagine) a family antique buried away in a trunk, a dusty old diary, or a long forgotten childhood toy. Weave a narrative around the people and places that may have surrounded or interacted with the object.

A slice of history. Explore past social issues or larger-than-life figures and create a fictionalized account. One of my novels was based on the many stories about family ancestors that I heard while growing up.

Travel and intriguing destinations. Capture the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of one of your favorite locations. Add characters and conflict. Set a thriller on an isolated estate or a romance novel on an exotic island.

Current events or news stories that move you. Use these as a jump-off point, then add your own details and creative spin. Create a fictional world and characters grappling with similar issues.

Your dreams and imagination. Dig into the symbolism and emotions in your dreams to create stories. Explore your wildest fantasies. 

Writing prompts and exercises. Use writing prompts or exercises to get your creative juices flowing. These can center around anything from specific settings to character descriptions or even just a few evocative words. Check out my previous post on how to create your own writing prompts titled: Writers, Release Your Creativity.

Taking the time to uncover an idea for your novel that really captures your imagination will pay off in the long run. Don't hesitate to delve into your personal experiences, explore unfamiliar territory, or even to tap into the subconscious world of dreams. 

Whether it takes a couple of hours or several days or even weeks, just remember that a well-thought-out glimmer of an idea just might blossom into a literary bestseller.