That Great Idea May Not Be Worth A Story

I am sure that a lot of people out there have that same thought every now and then. You are cooking dinner, mowing the lawn, or doing some other menial task and an idea pops in your head. It might be about a scene you just saw, or a person that passed you, or a conversation you overheard. But something is triggered in your brain and you think, "That would make a great story!" 

Now, for some, that thought stays right there and you go on with your tasks not ever thinking of it again. However, there are a vast number of people out there who immediately rush to the computer and start writing. This is YOUR story. This is the one you have been waiting for all of your writing life. You may want to stop though because there is a pretty good chance you are now beginning to start the biggest waste of your life. 

Here's the thing. One scene, character or event does not make a story. It is just a part of one. Quality stories have a huge structure supporting that single part of a story. For so many authors, they are now going to try and build everything around that story and then wonder why the story is just not working.

So, should you get rid of the idea? No! Keep a journal going and jot those ideas down. You might be able to use that idea later, or at least a part of it. Just remember that the key to writing those great stories is to think about where you want to go with it BEFORE you start. It doesn't mean planning everything, but you should have a good sense of the beginning, the middle and the end.