: Re: How do I finish my stories although I have both ideas and titles for them? Almost every day I come up with new titles and rough ideas for new books to write. I e-mail them to myself, happy

@Steve161

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An idea is an image. Consider, for example:

The fraternity of critics, in reality a dark brethren, linked by profane rites and blood vows. To destroy an author they sacrifice a child and perform a critical mass…

This one is from Neil Gaiman's Sandman, one of many ideas that flow out of a character who has been cursed with having too many ideas. (That Neil Gaiman would posit this as a curse speaks volumes too.)

Now that you have an idea, start developing it. Ask questions: how did this situation come to pass? Why? What are its consequences? If you've got an end, what was the situation before? If you've got a beginning - what brings about the change? What sort of change? Your character - what do they need to learn?

Look at the idea above; there are many ways it could be developed into a story. Look at another one:

A boy falls in love with a girl from the enemy group.

This one has been developed into many different stories.

The key is in the development.

For myself, I do not stop at asking questions and finding an answer. I explore different answers, different ways the story could be developed, until I find something that feels right throughout.

So, to answer your question, take one of your ideas, the one that you find most interesting or appealing, sit down and develop it. Explore it. Ask questions and find answers, until you have not only an idea, but the rough shape of a story. Then you can sit down and write that story.

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