The inspiration for a new story idea can hit you everywhere. You can be in the shower, on a walk or in the middle of a conversation with someone. What is hardest is to choose, which of your ideas you actually dedicate the time to turn it into a story. In this part of the writing guide, we talk about how you find out, which idea is the right one to focus on.
Create a List of Ideas
When inspiration hits you, the first thing to do, is writing it down as soon as possible. This can be in your phone, a notebook or even just some random papers. Make sure you take a note somewhere, so you don´t forget your brilliant idea. When you collected a couple of different ideas, it can be helpful to create an idea list.
Outline Your Ideas
Now that you got a list of ideas, I recommend you outline your idea. If you are a plotter this will be easy for you. Don´t worry if you are a pantser like me, you don´t need to outline your whole book idea! It´s enough to write down some basics and create a short story pitch.

Write A Scene
Even if you haven´t figured out the main characters or the storyline yet, it can help to write down a scene that you have in your head. This gives you an idea of the tone and mood of the story. It doesn’t need to be the first chapter, nor does the scene actually have to end up in your manuscript later. It´s just a tool to understand your story idea. It might be a conflict, a dialogue or a love scene whatever inspires you and feels right to the story idea. For me personally, those little scenes often turn into major key chapters. If your fingers are literally tingling and you don’t want to stop writing, it´s a good sign that you’ve found an idea that interests you enough to turn it into a story. At this point, you might already realize, that you sit longer on one of the ideas as it interests you the most.
Rank Your Ideas
Once you defined your ideas, created a pitch and maybe even written some short scenes, but still don’t know, which story you want to write next, it´s time for a ranking. You could rank the ideas with stars. Think about some critics by which you want to evaluate the ideas. Write down the reasons, why you want to write each of the story ideas. Is it a special topic, that you feel personally attached to? Is the genre you want to write in a mix of two existing ones and do you feel like you could create a new trend? Or can you just not stop thinking about this idea? All these and more can be indicators, that you have your special idea right in front of you. Even though in the beginning you might find all your ideas interesting, there will be one, your gut feeling leads you to.

Choose Fun Over Trends
Go for the idea that excites you the most, not the one you think you will find the most readers for. You will sit a month or maybe even yours on a writing project. You don´t want to waste your time over an idea you might lose interest in halfway through. Only when you are really enthusiastic about your idea, you will make it to the end.
Enjoy The Flow
Getting into the writing flow is the best feeling. Don´t worry, if you don´t get that feeling right away. Sometimes you will need time to get to that point. When inspiration hits you and you suddenly have a scene in front of your eye, want to write down quotes or create a storyboard and really want to start writing – then it´s a good sign that you’ve found the right idea.
Learn more about writing methods: Plotting vs. Pantsing
Check this post out: How to write a novel in 30 days
I wish you all the best with your ideas! What helps you to choose between your idea? If you have tips for the other readers, feel free to write them in the comments,

97 comments
I used to love writing fiction and constantly have new ideas – it was overwhelming trying to figure out which ones were any good haha! (Pretty much none of them were…spoiler alert lol) This post is really helpful!x
mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com/
Oh Mia I´m sure you had great ideas!! I would love to read something from you 🙂
I like writing 🙂 Great post❤
I love reading your blog posts! 🙂
I think this works for anything, not just writing, when you have too many ideas! it’s always good to write them all down so you can look at them critically and pick the best one 🙂
Hope that you are having a good weekend 🙂 Thankfully it hasn’t rained as much as predicted this weekend so we have been able to enjoy time outdoors.
Thank you so much for sharing.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for leaving a sweet comment Regine 🙂
For sure! Have an awesome weekend Mica!! 🙂
This sounds like a great way to approach writing a story. Getting your ideas and thought down on paper really helps organize them!
Eileen | yesmissy.com
Thanks Eileen, hope the tips helped you a bit and you found them useful 🙂
Hi Tiziana, your tips are great! Thank you for sharing them.
XO
Miri
https://currentlywearing.com
Oh thank you so much Miriam!! 🙂
Cool tips! Choosing fun over trend, the things that really amuses you, is important.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Oh yes for sure! By the way you looked fab in your newest blog post! I love following your fashion journey 🙂
Tiziana, these are really wonderful and helpful writing tips. I need to get better about writing down my ideas and inspirations when they hit. I do keep a running list but it has been a long while since I added to it or even referred to it for writing ideas. Thanks for sharing these valuable ideas!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Oh thank you for your kind comment Shelbee!! 🙂
Going for what excites you and not what excites at the moment is great advice! Making it more personal than trendy is oftentimes so much better.
So true! 🙂
Oh thanks for share all your tips
xx
Thanks so much!! 🙂
Liebe Tiziana, obwohl ich selbst ja keine Bücher schreibe, finde ich diese Einblicke in das Autorenleben immer ganz besonders interessant. Es freut mich daher, dass du so detailliert darüber schreibst. Vieles davon kann ich absolut sofort nachvollziehen und manches wende ich – natürlich im kleinen Ausmaß – auch beim Schreiben meiner Blogbeiträge an. Ideen für einen Beitrag finde ich gerne im Alltag, bei einer ungewohnten Situation, einem besonderen Erlebnis und es ist dann auch so, dass manchmal die Finger nur so über die Tasten fliegen und manche Themen sich einfach nicht entwickeln wollen. Dann breche ich auch schon mal ab und widme mich einem anderen Punkt.
Hab einen ganz wunderbaren Abend und alles Liebe Gesa
Liebe Gesa, du triffst das Gefühl mit deinen Worten wiedermal ganz genau! 🙂
I definitely agree that outlining your ideas is so helpful!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
So true!! It can really help you to understand your story and figures better 🙂
Thanks for sharing all your tips♡
Kisses Mary
Maryblog.it
My Instagram
Have a great day!! 🙂
That’s really inspiring! Thank you for this important post – especially for someone like me who has given up fiction writing. I really need a push.
Oh please don´t give up on your writing!! I really like your posts and I´m sure you would be a good storyteller too!
Awww this is such an inspiring post, I loveeee it Tiziana, you did it!
Ana C., http://www.adreamersland.com
http://www.facebook.com/adreamersland
http://www.instagram/anaccsa
Awwww thank you!!!!
I love this! I’m not author but love creating short stories for fun. So this is the perfect post to motivate me, thanks for sharing 🙂
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Wow so amazing Anika!
I loved your newest post about the book covers! Such a cool idea 🙂
These are wonderful writing tips! Thanks for sharing.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks a lot Kathrine!
I find writing such an amazing process. It helps me express myself and bring to life stories.
Thanks for sharing these helpful tips.
Oh yes! That´s what makes writing so amazing 🙂
Great writing tips, babe!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Thank you gorgeous!
Loved reading this post so much – it’s really inspired me to write more! Getting into the flow of writing something really is the best feeling!
Molly xx
https://volumesofbeauty.com
Oh Molly that means so much to me!
What a beautiful post. Just today I was talking to a friend that one of my biggest dreams is to write a book. Reading your post tonight was like an epiphany, and I really think I’ll start doing it. You have given some super useful and very concrete advices. So often we use to think that to write a book you have to have in mind almost the entire story, but it’s true that it’s enough to start with a small step, even just a scene. And slowly everything flows naturally. Thanks for your words, they inspired me!
xx Dasynka
Oh wow that is incredible!! Please go for it! I´m sure you will write an amazing book. When I start a new book I never have the full story in mind! Often I just start with an idea and then page by page it grows 🙂
Love this post! These are all such great tips to help with writing! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Laura! 🙂
Indeed an inspirational post for all the writers out there. This guide will surely come handy for my next writing aspiration. Great tips.
So happy you liked the newest post of the writers guide 🙂
Guten Morgen Tiziana, vielen Dank für die Tipps. Ich lasse es meist spontan auf mich zukommen. Ich wünsche Dir einen schönen Tag. Liebe Grüße Jana
Liebe Jana, hab einen schönen Tag!! 🙂
I love this post!! Especially the point about enjoying the flow, once I’m in it, I love that x
Amazing!! 🙂
Your post about writing are always so inspiring and interesting.
Thanks for sharing all theses amazing tips.
It sounds so hard to become a writer but when I read your tips it seems like everybody could do it 🙂
xx
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com
Oh thank you Margot! Yes writing can be very tough, but I hope I inspire some people with my posts to give it a try and follow their inspirations 🙂
Having an outline definitely helps so so much. That’s something I learned in school and still apply it to this day.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Thanks so much Radi! Cool that you learned a bit about writing in school 🙂
Hey Tiziana, so happy to see new content over here! Hope you’re doing good!
Oooh these great tips, and not only for storytellers but also for writers that work on articles, chronicles, essays or other kind of written information. I am not a professional writer, but I love to write so these are really useful recommendations that I can apply in my daily life.
I totally agree with you in all these tips, specially in appreciate the flow. I feel that sometimes we just want the idea to pop out perfectly and we spend so much time trying to find the right words, but lately I am writing the words as they come to my mind and then I polish the text. Also letting the work rest for a little while could help.
Oooh and thats why I always carry a small notebook with me, as you mentioned inspiration can pop up everywhere! And if not I use my cellphone and I send myself a message with the words as they come to my mind haha.
Stay safe and keep creating 🙂
PS: lovely photo to illustrate the article by the way!
Hey Pablo,
oh I´m still amazed by your beautiful drawings of the last post 🙂
have an awesome start in the new week!
I love the Choose fun over trends part, it’s important to stand for what you like, I think it makes the whole writing process much easier and enjoyable when it’s related to something you’re passionate about <3
LackaDaisy
Definitely!! 🙂
This was such an interesting read! Thank you so much for sharing your tips, I think they’re very helpful.
xoxo Simone | https://beautymone.com
Thanks Simone 🙂
Hi Tiziana,
danke für diesen schönen und inspirierenden Beitrag! Ich habe zwar eine Idee, da ich ja aktuell (mehr oder weniger, haha) an meinem Buchprojekt arbeite, aber ich finde, die Tipps können auch beim Plotten oder bestimmten Szenen/Kapitel total helfen, wie ich gerade feststelle 🙂 Wenn da bestimmte Dinge im Brainstormen auffallen, könnten das ja auch Aspekte sein, die der Story nochmal eine besondere Richtung geben.
Liebe Grüße!
Hallo Vanessa,
schön, dass ich dich ein wenig inspirieren konnte 🙂
Your tips are great!
http://www.alasdeangel.net
Thanks so much Maray!!
Great tips! I think quite a few of these can also by applied to writing blog posts too 🙂 x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Oh yes for sure!!
I struggle with writing and these tips are so helpful!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks so much Jill!! 🙂
Great tips, Tiziana! Thanks for sharing them!
Kisses, Paola.
Expressyourself
My Instagram
Thanks Paola!! 🙂
You always come up with some very helpful and smart tips, Tiziana! xx
Naya
http://www.nayatilly.com
Thanks Naya, so sweet of you! 🙂
Such a great post. Have a lovely day!
xx- Nina
http://www.stylingwithnina.com/2021/04/trench-coat-season.html
Oh thank you Nina!! 🙂
These are great tips. I remember writing short stories when I was younger, but haven’t written anything for a while. Maybe this is a sign to write down some ideas! I do write out different project/blog post ideas, so not too far away from writing.
Thanks for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
Aimsy’s Antics
Hey Aimsy, thanks so much for your kind words. Would be amazing if this little post got you back into writing stories again 🙂
Would mean so much to me!
I really enjoyed reading your creative ideas about how to best choose a story to write about. I can’t think of a better way to get started than by blending practical tips with having fun!
Oh thank you Heidi! You are always so supportive 🙂
These are amazing tips, Tiziana! Thanks so much for sharing, my friend. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Have an awesome sunday Ash!
A novel in 30 days wow. But truly this is some great advice. I think many of us get ideas but turning them in to story and bringing them to live takes planning.
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Oh yes turning an idea into a real story takes sooo much longer than just getting an idea 🙂
Hallo meine Liebe;)
Danke für den inspirierenden Beitrag, Schreiben ist etwas sehr entspannendes;)
Ganz liebe Grüße und hab einen schönen 1. Mai;)
Isa
http://www.label-love.eu
Vielen Dank liebe Isa und hab einen schönen Tag 🙂
Thank you for these useful tips, I really want to get into writing soon, as I’ve postponed it for a while and my ideas are diminishing. Thank you so much!
Lindifique
Oh that would be awesome Natalia! 🙂
Happy Sunday ❤
Have a beautiful sunday Kinga 🙂
These are really great tips! I think that writing about something that excites you is really key!
Thanks for sharing
Julia x
https://www.thevelvetrunway.com/
Oh yes so true!!!
In den Flow zu kommen ist beim Schreiben – oder bei anderen kreativen Tätigkeiten – echt immer das beste Gefühl! Aber manchmal dauert’s ganz schön, bis man dahin kommt… 😉
Oh ja das stimmt! Habe mir eben deine neue Bilderserie angesehen und bei denen spürt man richtig, dass du beim fotografieren im Flow warst! Fantastische Arbeit!! 🙂
Just stopping to say hi, Tizana!
Hope you’re enjoying spring!
Best,
Pablo
http://www.heyfungi.com
Thanks for being so supportive Pablo! 🙂
I chose this post to read because I always wondered ever since on Twitter that how people come up with stories. It was a nice and easy read and to the point. The scene to define the mood and tone, liked that point. Xx
Isa A. Blogger
https://bit.ly/39f9FN0
Thanks so much Isa! 🙂
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