Coming up with New Ideas Part 1

Looking for a dose of inspiration? Try thinking of the worst thing that can happen. That’s right, we’re going dark this week.

In fiction, you’ll ratchet up the tension in your story by coming up with awful situations. Every good character overcomes something insurmountable, and many comedies have increasingly awkward situations.

Don’t just have someone lose their phone. Have them lose a phone, unlocked, with compromising photos from the office Christmas party. The phone then ends up with someone who wants to blackmail your protagonist.

In any strategic work, thinking of impact, consequences, and unforeseen problems can save you and your organization trouble down the line. Think about what risks are out there, then extrapolate them. Having a plan in place for potential oil spills if you work at BP is prudent, not paranoid.

Next, if you’re writing non-fiction, finding the impact of your story is crucial. Who is hurt when, say, a semitrailer crashes on the only bridge out of a small town? Find the people most affected and hear their story. Think about the short- and long-term consequences for the community. Follow up on the most likely scenarios.

It can be difficult to imagine that coming up with awful scenarios can help you lead a better life, but when you do so for a purpose, it can help you as a writer.