The idea is the heart of your story. Knowing it keeps you on target to complete the book and succeed. Idea is not story. Being able to state your idea in one sentence is key. We often spend an entire day at our writing workshop getting the four attendees to pin this one sentence down, but that's how important it is!

1. The Original Idea
The essential
seed of your story

3. 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.
It is helpful to state itin one sentence.

4. A character (or cast of characters).
A plot.
A setting or scene.
An intent (theme).
A “What If”.
A “High Concept”.
Original Ideas
Can be Anything.

5. Character: “Who protects the sheep from the
wolves? Another wolf: Will Kane.” NEW YORK
MINUTE
Plot: “Same date, six different years, the Time
Patrol must keep the Shadow from changing our
timeline.” TIME PATROL
Setting or scene: “An international treaty bans
weapons in Antarctica: What if the US put
nuclear weapons there and lost track of them?”
ETERNITY BASE

6. Intent/Theme: “Which is more important? Honor
or Loyalty?” DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY
“What If”: “What if people going into the Witness
Protection Program really disappear?” CUT OUT
High Concept: “In a post-apocalyptic world, what
if the top .1% is delineated by length of life rather
than wealth?” BURNERS

7. Do You Actually Need One
Sentence?
The creative process makes a difference.
Are you front-loading writer vs. a back-loading writer?
Is it clear from the start or do you have to discover it?
Genre can make a difference.
Thrillers, mysteries, suspense, science fiction, fantasy:
probably better to have the idea.
Romance, literary writing: you might have to find it in the
writing.

8. The Importance of Your Original
Idea
It initiates the creative process.
Remembering it keeps you focused.
It is often the core of the pitch to sell the book.
Do you remember the moment of conception
for your book?

9. The Importance of Your Original
Idea
It is the first thing I do in a writing workshop.
We spend as much time needed to get the
author to write what their book is about in one
sentence.
Can you do that?

10. What To Write?
Mark Twain: “Write what you know.”
Write what you want to know.
What is your background?
Write what you read.
Write what you are passionate about.

11. The Character Idea
Start with a character/cast of characters
Place them in a setting= time/place
Throw obstacles in their way
Characters will determine story:
Lonesome Dove
New York Minute

12. The Character Idea

13. Focusing Your Idea
When you write your one sentence down, check to see
what the subject of the sentence is:
Character? Protagonist, antagonist?
Plot?
None are wrong. But they allow you to see what your
focus is. This might surprise you.

14. Focusing Your Idea
Check to see what the verb is.
Positive or negative?
Action or re-action verb?
Try to have inherent conflict in your idea!

15. Where The Shiver?
What excited you?
What excites the people you tell it to?
Where’s the emotion, the passion?
You are selling emotion and logic.
What does the reader relate to?
Can you communicate the shiver?

16. Intent
The why behind the what.
What do you feel?
Why are you writing this book?
What do you want readers to feel?

17. Intent
You always have an intent.
Positive versus negative: Do you need to have
the Happily Ever After?
No, but understand reader emotion.
When they finish the book, what will the
reaction be?
The Resolution (last scene)= the payoff to the
reader.

18. Study And Find Ideas
Look for the original idea in every book you
read and every movie/show you watch.
Usually a sentence or a scene will jump out at
you.
As soon as you finish a book, immediately go
back and re-read the opening chapter.
Try to figure out what the writer started with.

19. Study And Find Ideas
Where did the Ark of the Covenant end up at the end
of Indiana Jones? Warehouse 13
The Unit Meets Warehouse 13: Nightstalkers
The “anti-Western”: Unforgiven
Out of the coffin, out of the closet: True Blood

20. How Is Your Idea Different?
It isn’t: every idea has been done.
The difference comes in the transfer to story. Usually
through:
Unique character. (Alien) A 1950s movie has the
same idea. But the male protagonist was switched to
be female.
Unique setting. (A Thousand Acres) King Lear on a
farm.
Unique POV. (Wind Done Gone) Reversed point of
view.
Unique intent/theme. (High Noon) The town doesn’t

21. The Creative Process for
Writers

22. For more free slideshows on
writing, survival, history and other topics,
go to:
www.bobmayer.com/workshops

23. How to
write the book
How to
be an author
www.bobmayer.com/nonfiction
“A book to inspire, instruct and challenge the writer in everyone.”
#1 NY Times Best-Selling Author Susan Wiggs
"An invaluable resource for beginning and seasoned writers alike.
Don't miss out."
#1 NY Times Best-Selling Author Terry Brooks

24. New York Times bestselling author, is a graduate of West Point and
former Green Beret. He’s had over 80 books published, including the #1
bestselling series Green Berets, Time Patrol, Area 51, and Atlantis. He’s
sold over 5 million books. He was born in the Bronx and has traveled the
world. He’s lived on an island off the east coast, an island off the west
coast, in the Rocky Mountains, the Smoky Mountains and other places,
including time in East Asia studying martial arts.
He was an instructor and course developer/writer for years at the JFK
Special Warfare Center and School which trains Green Berets and also
runs the SERE school:
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.
www.bobmayer.com