1. Marius Av

    Marius Av Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    14

    Some great ideas might not work?

    Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by Marius Av, Aug 31, 2017.

    I heard this saying and I can't get it out of my head. It came with the fact that if my novels are not gonna be appreciated by my audience, the "great" ideas are not so great after all.

    So how could I avoid this, beside the beta-readers solution? I am working on an adventure novel which happens in the Middle Ages (the years and the periods of time are not mentioned in the book, though). I'm going to tell you what I know so far about my novel. What worries me if my audience would find this interesting (teenagers and young adults, because the majority of main characters are so, too). And by interesting, I mean if they would stick to the story until the end, or if they wouldn't find it boring. Perhaps that depends on my writing, but I'm still going to tell you my outline.

    The main plot is about an abduction. A daughter from a royal family is abducted by some fool thieves, but all the evidence my MCs have found led them to another kingdom, so they accused it and started a war. The two kingdoms brought allies from around the globe, making a world war.

    Of course, the daughter is found shortly after this big mistake, but the war does not end so easily. In the meantime, a scholar girl is studying the most dangerous substance, the mutagenic toxin, which is the reason for why all the monsters exist in the world. To study it, she needs some powerful artifacts (or parts of some device she needs - I don't know what's the best option and which seems little cliche - I'll work on it). Those artifacts, or whatever they are, need to be brought to the girl, so she can combine them and discover the toxin's misteries. In order to get them, the MCs have to travel to different parts of the world, knowing they have to be careful not just about monsters, but the war, too.

    This was my outline for some time and I'm almost certain I'll stick to it. I can gather other ideas after I begin writing, so I got all figured out for the moment.
     
  2. Walking Dog

    Walking Dog Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2017
    Messages:
    151
    Likes Received:
    105
    Location:
    Texas
    I believe all ideas will work. If the prose is strong and the story-telling lucid and engaging, I'll be with you to the end. One time I read a book by Jim Brown on multihull sailboats, because I'm interested in sailing. There can't be anything more boring than reading about sailboats. I wound-up reading all of Jim's books because I enjoyed his writing style. He was heavy on the purple prose, but he did it so poetically it worked. Write your story, then spend some time strengthening the writing.
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2017
    Marius Av likes this.
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 19, 2007
    Messages:
    36,161
    Likes Received:
    2,827
    Location:
    Massachusetts, USA
    It's not the idea, It's how you develop it and present it. Some ideas will be out of your reach until you find a good way to write them. That's partly a matter of experience, and partly a matter of developing your vision and voice.
     
  4. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,141
    Likes Received:
    19,770
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    Yeah, this. Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is hard.
     
  5. Laurin Kelly

    Laurin Kelly Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2016
    Messages:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    4,054
    3rd-ing. I've read plenty of books with extremely similar premises; some I love, some are just okay and others I can't even finish. It's all in the execution.
     
  6. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,141
    Likes Received:
    19,770
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    Haha.. I read "premises" as "penises" the first time. Probably because it was you.
     
  7. Laurin Kelly

    Laurin Kelly Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2016
    Messages:
    2,521
    Likes Received:
    4,054
    [​IMG]
     
    Mumble Bee and Homer Potvin like this.
  8. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,141
    Likes Received:
    19,770
    Location:
    Rhode Island
    If I had to pick, I'd be the one rolling slowly down her nose.
     
  9. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2015
    Messages:
    17,922
    Likes Received:
    27,173
    Location:
    Where cushions are comfy, and straps hold firm.
    Well that is something to see first thing in the morning.
    I think in one version of reality Slayer has has a song
    Raining Cocks, as well as the album of the same name. :D

    So yeah there are some great ideas that just don't transfer
    well to the page. Just cause it sounds good, doesn't mean
    it will be good for a story. Though I am sure there are plenty
    of stories that exist on great concepts that just don't come
    off as all that great in delivery.

    Though I am sure the two above me would write the
    Phrase: How dare you bump me in the ass with a mushroom.:p
     
  10. 123456789

    123456789 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2012
    Messages:
    8,102
    Likes Received:
    4,605
    It's probably not just in the execution, if you can't get an agent to even open your book because he doesn't find your idea appealing. What else can you do but write what you are enthusiastic about to the best of your ability and hope?
     
    Last edited: Aug 31, 2017
  11. Mumble Bee

    Mumble Bee Keep writing. Contributor

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    Messages:
    1,256
    Likes Received:
    2,111
    I've seen a 3 minute clip in the movie Up that hit more emotional strings than nearly any other Pixar movie.

    I saw a 30 minute episode of Breaking Bad where they dropped all the intrigue, story, and I followed Walter White as he tried to catch a fly.

    Guess I'm 4thing the execution camp.
    Great ideas should be a multiplier to great execution, not the draw to your product.
     
  12. Trish

    Trish Damned if I do and damned if I don't Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2011
    Messages:
    3,421
    Likes Received:
    2,083
    Location:
    New York
    I'm 5th for execution. There's really no way for us to say that readers will or won't find it interesting enough to stick with, since you could have a fantastic idea and then use the word 'that' twice in every sentence and, well, that's going to be something that gets annoying. see what I did there? Almost anything can be interesting under the right circumstances.
     
    Marius Av likes this.
  13. Marius Av

    Marius Av Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2017
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    14
    I'll pay attention from now on. Maybe I've became a little too pessimistic. :p
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice