Spark to Story: How to Turn an Idea into a Page-Turning Concept for Your Novel

Workshop, Week 1. Choose Your Idea

Image generated by ChatGPT with lots of input from me.

Welcome to Week 1 of From Spark to Story!

If you’re starting from scratch, this week’s lesson will help you uncover an idea.

If you have an idea but haven’t made much progress, this lesson will help you rethink it and decide whether to move forward, change, or tweak it.

Here’s your summary for this week–

• My essay on uncovering an idea for your novel.

• Your weekly assignment.

• A PDF worksheet for your assignments.

Week 1 Essay

All novels start with a raw seed of an idea. This is your concept in its most basic form—the seed from which everything else will grow.

Where can you find this seed? Everywhere! You might start by examining your personal life and the lives of your family and friends. Many first-time authors do this. I did it for my first three novels.

When I wrote Sisters and Lovers, I was single as were many of my girlfriends. The novel explores life for women seeking true love yet struggling to find it. It went on to sell more than 500,000 copies.

My second novel, Big Girls Don’t Cry, was about a young girl coming of age in the 1960s and 70s, a time of social and political turbulence. It’s based on my early life growing up in Washington, DC. That novel hit the New York Times bestsellers list.

My third novel, A Long Way From Home, is a historical novel based on my matrilineal heritage. I spent a lot of time doing research and talking to my grandmother. It was very fulfilling to write and hit several bestseller lists.

As you can see, all three novels were based on my life or heritage. I encourage you to reflect on your personal life or family history. This is where you, as a beginning writer, will feel most comfortable and knowledgeable. That can go a long way in building your confidence, which is important for emerging authors.

You're searching for something special that makes you pause, stirs your imagination, and whispers, "There's more to this story." It could be an event or events, a time period, or a family dynamic. You may find it uncomfortable, mysterious, or simply fascinating—but it should pique your interest enough to make you want to explore and develop further.

And that’s what we’ll do in the coming lessons. For now, all you need is a basic idea that feels special and promising.

Below is a comprehensive list of 12 sources and activities to spark your creativity in finding the right idea, along with suggestions for their use.

1. Personal memories and experiences. Often our own lives contain the seeds of fascinating stories when examined through a fictional lens.

2. A quirky or unusual character in your life (we all have that one relative or friend!).

3. A setting that captivates, haunts, or inspires. Think isolated mansion, deserted small town.

4. An object that intrigues you (heirlooms often hold the best secrets and stories).

5. Historical events, especially lesser-known incidents that you feel warrant exploration.

6. Family stories and legends passed down through generations often have novel-worthy elements.