Ways to Brainstorm Your Story

One of the most important tasks for a writer is to find the optimal way to develop a story. Because if they don’t brainstorm the story in a way that works for them, the story will probably not work.

Brainstorming Methods

Here are some ways to brainstorm your story. If one, or a combination, work for you, go for it! If you realize what you’re doing doesn’t work, stop and try something else to find what does.

Susan May Warren

https://novel.academy

Warren recommends to begin with a specific, poignant, human-relatable, traumatic event that made the character who they are when the story begins. The trauma caused a wound, and the character believes a lie because of that wound. The external plot events trigger struggles that, little by little, help the character see the truth and heal from the wound. The character can do something at the end of the story that they could not do at the beginning.

Randy Ingermanson

https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com

Ingermanson developed what he calls the “Snowflake Method” to grow your story.

• Write a one-sentence summary (based on your big idea)
• Expand your sentence summary into a paragraph
• Create character one-pagers
• Expand your paragraph summary
• Create character-based story synopses
• Create scene and event summaries
• Create character charts

James Scott Bell

https://www.jamesscottbell.com

Bell’s suggestion is to determine the moment (in the middle of the story) when the character faces who he is, and realizes he can’t win the battle unless he changes (some old habit or belief has to die). Once you figure out that “man in the mirror” moment, you can track back to write the beginning of the story to reach that point. And also write the story forward from that mid-point to its logical conclusion.

C.S. Lakin

https://www.livewritethrive.com

Lakin recommends you begin with the four essential pillars: story concept, protagonist, conflict with high stakes, and the theme at the heart of your story. And then establish the other eight pillars, which deal with subjects such as subplots, secondary characters, and setting.

K.M. Weiland

https://kmweiland.com
https://helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com

Weiland’s method is to outline at least the major points of your story. That saves you from wasting time on a story that may not work. Her book gives information about different types and methods of outlining. It also includes statements from different authors about their process.

Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a visual, non-linear chart of spatial relationships between a central theme and related ideas. For more information, search the internet for “mind mapping providers”.

Pictorial image (storyboarding)

This method is to create a board of images for the characters, settings, and events. Then you can put the events in order on the board to help you see your story, and more easily spot continuity gaps.

Find What Works

As you work through finding the best way for you, please remember:

Don’t keep trying to use a method that doesn’t work for you just because it works for someone else. As I mentioned in Turn Ideas Into Reality, don’t spend your finite years on earth trying to use a method that keeps you from writing the story you were created to write.

Life is the same way. I encourage you that if something isn’t working, try a different way. And don’t give up. Each of us is too valuable to the rest of the world to spend our finite years not living the story we were created to live.

What helps you grow your story — in writing and in life?

Ways to Brainstorm Your Story – In writing and in life? Share on X

Joni Vance is an award-winning author of fiction, essay, and poetry. She loves mystery, history, and how God reveals Himself every day.

May God reveal the mystery of His love in your life story.