The Guide to Keeping a List of New Book Ideas
Why is starting a new book so daunting?
I used to have a distinct system for it. A new idea would hit me, and I purposefully wouldn’t write it down. I’d let it sit in my mind for days, weeks, months. And if it lasted, then I’d know I was ready to write it. If I didn’t forget it, that must mean it’s The One.
By the time I finally started it, it had sat in my brain for so long that I wasn’t scared of it anymore. I was just so excited to dig in, I didn’t have time to be nervous that I wouldn’t do it justice. But I also was a different writer back then, too. I didn’t worry about things like marketability, or if it would be a good potential debut or follow-up. I wrote whatever punched me in the face and wouldn’t stop hitting until words spilled out. It wasn’t easy, but in a weird way, still easier.
Nothing about starting a book is easy anymore.
But, there’s a good reason for that. It’s because I’ve left my old way of one-idea-only behind. Now, if I get an idea that feels awesome, I write it down. I have a neat little list of twelve so far. And I’m adding to it all the time. Some are middle grade, one’s adult (*gasp*). I even have a couple romcoms in there that I stare longingly at. And, of course, plenty of young adult.
Here’s my process for concisely penning down new ideas when they strike:
I force myself to create a one-line sentence that sums it up. This can be SO HARD, but trust me, it’s worth it. I like to include the main character, motive, and driving action. Here’s mine for The Rosewood Hunt: When Lily’s grandmother dies and her multi-million dollar fortune disappears, she must form a reluctant alliance with three other teens to follow clues hidden throughout her town before the money ends up in the wrong hands.
Once I have my one-liner, I make a query! Susan Dennard has a great guide here. You can also check out the query that connected me with my agent by subscribing to my mailing list here!
COMPS!!! Listen, I know everyone HATES finding comps, so why would I bother doing it for something I might never even write?? Good question. Uhhh, I love pain?? But no, having comparative titles really helps me hone in on if there’s anything out there like it. In these early stages, I’m pretty lax about it and will use any form of media. For instance, the comps for TRH started as “Knives Out” meets Netflix’s “Outer Banks.” Now I say it’s The Inheritance Games meets The Cousins.
That’s usually where my process has ended. But my friend Kat Korpi (whose book I’m currently reading and LOVING) introduced me to the concept of taking it one step further and putting the query in a branded slide to make it look aesthetically pleasing. I looooove this idea, along with having all my ideas together in one cool pitch deck. I’m going to work through all my ideas and start doing that!
Kat also challenged herself to come up with at least one new book idea each month of 2022. I realized I had naturally made one for January and February so far, so I’ve decided to commit! Care to join us??
To circle back (I say this so much in emails that now it’s becoming part of my normal dialogue rip), this is why starting a new book is so daunting now. I’m no longer choosing my one golden idea and clinging to it for dear life — I have lots of ideas!! And I lose sleep wondering if the current one I’m working on at any given time is the right one as if there’s such a thing as a wrong idea (there isn't). But I still like my new way better. I know it’s exercising a new muscle, plus it’s fun knowing I could write these if I really wanted to. Maybe someday, you’ll see a few of them for real.
