Story ripening

We might get an idea for a story or a novel that we're all excited about and want to get on with writing it there and then.  But, like growing fruit, it pays to let the story ripen into full juiciness.   

Perhaps you might plan to write about one idea, then see something on the news or in a magazine that gives you a second idea.  Perhaps you can see how to combine the ideas in a way which will give you a much richer story.  If you'd steamed ahead with your original idea you would have missed this chance for extra richness.

An idea is an abstract concept, but stories are filled with people.  So who are the people who will take your idea and lIve it?  What's their history, and why are they in that place at that time and about to become part of your story?  If we don't know enough about their history we won't understand why they are motivated to act in our tale.  And if we don't know their motivation it's hard to write about their actions at a deep enough level.  

These days, I spend quite some time producing a detailed chapter outline for each book, but even with that the process of ripening brings new insights.  When I come to write those scenes I see connections to other events that Ives missed, and I'll often spot an opportunity for a chapter-end cliffhanger that I haven't anticipated.

Story ripening is about examining the answers to the questions Why? how does this happen? And What's the next thing?  And just like letting fruit ripen, letting our stories ripen produces something with  much more depth and flavour.