It's extremely common for writers to read or watch something and feel inspired to create an original story. You just had an intermediate step.
fiction
#123: Writer’s Mind, Beginner’s Mind
Hello Story Nurse,I want to write a novel. But I'm stuck. I have previously published non-fiction work in thesis, publication, monograph and script format. To me this kind of writing is, if not easy, intuitive. Pitching what I'm writing to the right audience is my particular strength. I've written for experts in my field and … Continue reading #123: Writer’s Mind, Beginner’s Mind
#115: Getting Started Writing Original Fiction
You're asking me about how, but my questions back to you are about why. If you can grab hold of why you're focusing on writing original fiction and confirm that you really do want to be doing it, a lot of these pieces will fall into place.
#78: How Much Should Your Research Show?
When you incorporate your research into your story, do it with a light touch. Keep your protagonist's or narrator's perspective at the front of your mind; don't harp on the things that they will find unremarkable or irrelevant.
#43: Describing Your Viewpoint Character
In first-person POV, it's challenging to convey who's speaking without a clunky or clichéd paragraph of self-description.
#40: When to Kill a Character
Adding or subtracting a character in the middle of creating a lengthy work is nearly as challenging as breaking up with a longtime life-entangled partner.
#31: The Myth of the Everyperson
We're swimming in the narrative conceit that what makes extraordinary characters interesting is their extraordinariness and what makes protagonists interesting is that they're protagonists.
#30: Whose Story Is It Anyway?
Lots of things happen that characters don't know about, or only hear about. That's part of life, and is perfectly fine to include in fiction. Instead of trying to fix it, have your characters react to it.
#28: “Am I Busy or Avoidant?”
Today is the fifth Tuesday of the month, which means that my answer to this heartfelt letter is available exclusively to my Patreon patrons.
#27: Ethics in Fiction Writing
Let go of any inclination you have to identify with your work and interpret critiques of your work as critiques of you. Critiques of your work are critiques of your work. Your job is to use them to make your future work better.
