Brainstorming: what is it?

Hi, wordrights!

Some people might be daunted by brainstorming. They think it's something complex, like coming up with a whole plot line in one sitting.

Actually, it's quite easy. All you need is:

1. your brain. That's simple, because you carry it around with you all the time. Right?

2. something to record information. This is for those out there who are not good at holding information in their head. I'm one of them, so I always try to have a notebook and a pen with me. Sometimes, if the ideas are interesting enough, I am able to keep them up in my head and work on them slowly. I call this chewing on a plot. 😉

3. time. When you brainstorm, make sure you have enough time to go through the process. Nothing is more aggravating than being on the verge of discovering an epic element just to be interrupted by noisy siblings or the oven timer.

Before we go any further, I should state what brainstorming actually is. It is simply the process of coming up with ideas or plans. In the writing world, that means turning over plot ideas, scenarios, or characters and putting the pieces together. It can be done anywhere! Driving, jogging, at a desk, on the treadmill. I prefer brainstorming while I exercise, unless I am counting squats or something, because I find that the more my body moves, the more my brain moves, too. C.S. Lewis always took walks to help his thought processing.

When I brainstorm, I usually get a plot idea from somewhere, and think, "Hey, that sounds pretty good. I could write a book about that." From there, I chew on it, fleshing out characters and goals and conflict. Sometimes, (well, a lot of the time) I find I am stuck. The plot isn't going anywhere. What do you do then? Ditch it or keep on?

What you do with a broken plot depends on what it's about. For example, let's say I come up with a plot that would make an amazing adventure novel. But when I start brainstorming, I cannot figure out what to do with it. With this, I would ditch it if I know I wouldn't be able to learn enough about the topic. I specialize in fiction and historical fiction, not adventure, so I would have a hard time if I kept going. If I instead came up with a plot line for a novel set during the American Revolutionary War, I would consider moving forward. I love researching all about American history, and have actually written two books set somewhere in America's history.

You decide on a plot. What next? I usually move into the characters, starting with the protagonist. What is his goal? How does that create the conflict? What are his motives? As you create the protag., don't forget about the antagonist! Your conflict is only as strong as that opposing force. My antagonist is usually a circumstance or a few minor characters, but what matters is really how strong it is. If your antag. is a person, what is HIS goal, HIS motive?

Conclusion

Despite what you may have heard, despite what people may say, brainstorming is simple and fun by nature. It can be done anytime and anywhere, as long as you have the brain and time to think. When brainstorming your first or hundredth book, remember to stick with topics that interest you, so you can happily do the research, and topics you know or understand. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to write a book about science fiction if you've never read it!

Happy writing!