JoHoTo #1 Fleshing Out the Great Idea
First, we have the great idea!!!
Sometimes, it's not even a whole idea...just an inkling.
Where do you take it?
You need to expand on the idea, and that's where the questions begin.
Think of it as meeting a person for the first time. You have an inkling of who they are, but to find out more about them, you have to ask questions.
If necessary, start with Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
Take notes on anything that sparks an interest as a result of your questioning.
Sample Idea: Two identical girls live in the same town but have completely different upbringings.
Sample Q&A:
Q1: What's the funniest thing that could happen?
A1: They accidentally get mistaken for one another and are forced to function as the other person. Wackiness ensues.
Q2: What's the worst thing that could happen?
A2: One of the girls is a hardened criminal and her identical self gets wrongfully accused of a crime she committed. Police chase ensues.
Q3: What's the strangest thing that could happen?
A3: The girls are the SAME person but have come together as a result of two parallel worlds crossing. Quantum mechanics ensue.
Q4: What's the creepiest thing that could happen?
A4: The girls are clones from the same brain matter, set into the world by an eeeevil corporation to find out how the same person would survive
in different situations.
NOTE: Every single one of these answers focuses on both the fact that the girls are identical AND that their lives are completely different. This does
NOT always happen, and that's okay. Sometimes, your questioning will lead you to a slightly different idea than the original (or a TOTALLY different idea
than the original). If it intrigues you, don't be afraid to go down that path. Your first great idea will always be waiting for you.
Move on to JoHoTo #2!
For JoHoTos (Step-By-Steps on the Writing Process), click here
For Writers Wonder, click here
For Writing Resources, click here
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