I’ve encouraged you to overcome overwhelm about the idea of writing a book by taking time to imagine what that book might look like. But… how? How can you picture your book idea as real, when you don’t even know what it should be yet? When it feels timid and confused and fuzzy around the edges. Where do you start with your book idea?

Simple. You play.

Playing with an idea

I want you to play with your book idea.

You’ve already got something in mind, right? The something might be small, fuzzy, and timid, but there is a little idea lurking in the back of your mind.

Bring it out of the shadows and play with it.

 

Make it HUGE.
Imagine what it would be like as a best seller. Which talk shows would you appear on to be interviewed about its success? Who would star in the movie adaptation? How would the BBC News correspondent describe the global phenomenon of your book?

Make it quiet.
Think about who is sitting in the corner of a quiet living room, reading the book alone on a Tuesday evening with a cup of tea in hand. What do they whisper to themselves as they have their “ah-ha!” moment?

Make it crappy.
What would be the WORST review your book could get on Amazon? What would embarrass you? What would make you burn with shame? (Don’t spend too long on this one!)

Make it weird.
Let’s play with the strangest incarnation of this idea. Can you imagine it as a broadway stage show? A pop song? A hardcore rap by Snoop Dog featuring Martha Stewart? A documentary? A mockumentary? A State of the Union speech? How would it go?

Note your reactions

You might have some strong reactions to the ideas above.

“My yoga journey of enlightenment told as a gritty rap song? I don’t think so, Sir.” That’s good. It’s helpful to know what you don’t want. Gritty = nope. Let’s keep it PG-13, please.

Or you might say, “Ha, that would be funny. Snoop could write some sick lyrics about my toxic mother.” Interesting. You like funny. You like weird and gritty. Maybe your memoir should have some of that style?

If you daydream of being interviewed in a hail of glory on BBC News, perhaps you want to write something accessible that everyday folks can understand and implement in their lives.

If you’d rather geek out with a university creative writing class specializing in obscure Greek mythology, maybe you ditch mainstream styles and embrace the esoteric.

Let the insights guide you

Note your reactions—good and bad, strong and “meh”—and use those insights to form your idea.

Take a scenario you had a strong reaction to (for me, it’s Kerry Washington auditioning to play the lead role in the Netflix adaptation of my book), then imagine how you can infuse your book idea with that vibe (like making my main character more like Kerry Washington’s character in Scandal).

Imagine big. Imagine wild. And have FUN figuring out what you want to write. Whether you love the ideas or ridicule them all, your playtime will provide clarity on what this idea could be.

I’m sure Snoop Dogg would approve.

 

Thanks,

Liz “Fun Times” Green
Editor, Book Coach, and Ghostwriter
Green Goose Writing


P.S. Be sure to send this to someone who needs to hear this message! Let's spread the fun vibes.

 
 

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