The Original Idea by Bob Mayer

THE ORIGINAL IDEA: The Heart of Your StoryThis presentation is brought by former Green Beret and NY Times bestselling author of Factual Fiction... RWR article Bob Mayer For more Information: Please contact Bob Mayer at bobmayer@coolgus.com or Jen Talty at jentalty@coolgus.com

Who Dares Wins Publishing is now

“An invaluable resourcefor beginning andseasoned writers alike.Don’t miss out.” TerryBrooks. #1 NYT Bestseller.“Bob Mayer is a giftedwriter and generousteacher.” Susan Wiggs. #1NYT Bestseller.

Do You Actually Need One Sentence?• Your creative process makes a difference. • A front-loading writer vs. a back-loading writer. • Is it clear from the start or do you have to discover it?• Genre makes a difference. • Thrillers, mysteries, suspense, science ﬁction, fantasy. YES • Romance, literary writing. Maybe

What Is Your Original Idea? •Good news is you had one. •Bad news is you probably forgot it. •It is usually the ﬁrst thought you had (the spark of inspiration). •It is the foundation of your book, the seed.

Original Ideas Can be Anything.• A character.• A plot.• A setting or scene.• An intent.• A “What If”.

Original Ideas Can Be Anything.• Character: their lives in orderfemale assassin must uncover the truth of the men in “A housewife and to uncover their destiny.” BODYGUARD OF LIES• Plot: “What ifanFederalCIA operation?” CHASING THE GHOST a connected to illegal agent investigating a murder, finds out it’s• Settingifor scene: “An international treaty bans weapons inof them?” What the US put nuclear weapons there and lost track Antarctica: ETERNITY BASE• Intent/Theme: “Connection leads to a full life.” DON’T LOOK DOWN.• “What If”: “What CUT OUT into the Witness Protection Program really disappear?” if people going

The Importance of Your Original Idea•It starts your creative process.•Remembering it keeps you focused.•It is often the core of the pitch to sell the book.

Original Idea and The Pitch• Sometimes they are the same.• Sometimes they aren’t.• But they should be very close.• The Original Idea is your tool for your writing.• The Pitch is your tool to sell your writing to someone else.• Log Lines are more movie oriented.

The Kernel Idea:The Alpha and The Omega • The Idea starts the creative process • The Idea is the start point for your book (Alpha) • It is also the end point for your book (Omega) • Everything in your book must drive toward that Kernel Idea

Why Is This A Good•Why is this idea important?•What makes it necessary for you to write it?•“If you do not tell the truth about yourself, you cannot tell it about other people.” Virginia Woolf.•What makes a reader want to read it?

Focusing Your Idea•When you write your one sentence down, check to see what the subject of the sentence is: •Character? Protagonist, antagonist? •Plot?•Check to see what the verb is. •Positive or negative? •Action or re-action verb?

What If?•Start your sentence with “What if . . .”•Each word must mean something to the reader.•Don’t be a secret keeper.•“What if Judas was still alive and the only one who knew the truth about the apparent impending Apocalypse?” I, JUDAS: THE 5TH GOSPEL•“What if mankind didn’t originate the way we thought?” AREA 51

Intent• The why behind the what.• What do you feel?• Why did you write this book?• What do you want readers to feel?• You always have an intent.• Positive versus negative.• Beware of lecturing.• Resolution= the payoff to the reader.

Situational and/or Character Ideas• A situation idea is outward oriented.• A situation idea focuses on plot and problem.• A character idea is inward oriented.• A character idea focuses on character and intent.• Best case scenario: both should be strong in your book.

Idea Is Not Story• Every idea has been done.• Story is: • Who (characters) • What (plot) • Where & When (setting) • Why? (intent)• Idea can’t change, story can. (Dragon-Sim 13)• So, how are you going to do it differently?

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The Original Idea by Bob Mayer

by Bob Mayer on Oct 05, 2012

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