A book is so much more than an idea. An idea does not make a book. I’m sure if you look back at some of my other posts, I will have rambled about this before. Apologies for that in advance; my short-term memory is very limited. Although, I believe my previous rambles have been more focused on the mechanics of outlining. When we look at the struggle of story vs idea, we start to see where the real work of a writer begins.
The Intersection of Creativity and Problem Solving
I love ideas; I have them all the time. I was chatting to a good friend the other night about this, as they have the exact opposite problem. They never have ideas. But they are excellent problem solvers. Give them a list of things that need to happen with little to no direction in how to do it, and they will find a way to make it work.
I am also a little like this. I am in no way a master crafts person, but if the house needs some storage, or the van needs a shelf, or the garden needs some flair, I will find a solution. This to me is the essence of the story vs idea debate. Creativity is often just finding the solutions to narrative gaps.
It was interesting getting my friend’s perspective, though. They strongly think, “No, this is problem solving.” To them, creativity would be making something from nothing, specifically something that intrinsically solves no problem. We disagree, let’s leave it at that, but I do understand the sentiment. It’s probably why I sit firmly in the middle when it comes to writing styles. I’m not a full-blown “gardener” who lets the story grow wild, but I’m also not a precise “architect” of it either. You can read more about these writing styles on MasterClass to see where you land. All this to say it really, at least for me, reinforces how an idea is not a story.
Daydreaming and the Reality of Story vs Idea
I love to daydream, and to a fault at points. I grew up a long way from the school I went to, so I had to get a bus early in the morning. Having to cross the rolling hills of grey down mist every morning for an hour or so, if traffic was good, provided a lot of mental space. I would sit there in my head, dreaming up stories, or at least short snippets and one or two scenes.
I do it less now, but I still enjoy it on the rare occasion I get to sit in a car for an extended period and do not have to drive. It is a form of escapism to let the mind wander as the countryside slides by. However, for a long time, I always thought these would make good stories. Eventually, I guess that led me to writing Whispers from the Machine.
But the truth is that so many of these daydreams, these simple concepts, just don’t stand up to the requirements of a full narrative. When you weigh the story vs idea balance, you realise a scene is not a plot. You can have the most beautiful imagery in the world, but without the structural weight of a story, it remains a fleeting thought. Understanding the story vs idea dynamic is crucial for any aspiring author.
The Challenge of Expanding an Idea
I’m not going to talk too much about Whispers here, but even that grew from an initial idea that was nearly all world building. It didn’t help with the story itself beyond creating the backdrop. The core concept for Whispers actually had to change for this very reason: to make the idea work for a story.
Once you expand the idea out beyond the scene or that specific moment, it is hard to find the depth that creates engagement. You need that connection between characters, the world, the environment, and events beyond that singular flash of inspiration.
I have this fun idea currently, which, let’s be honest, I’m not claiming is original. It’s for a fantasy or dystopian world that has taken the concept of Humanitarianism to the extreme. One in which neutrality, impartiality, and helping others is at its core. But in this world, where things are more base and primal, it also means to save you must protect. The Humanitarians are split between those who save and those who fight to protect: Swords and Shields.
Why Problem Solving is Part of the Process
It is a fun idea, at least for me. But expanding it beyond that concept, beyond maybe a fun scene or two, is the real challenge. What is the story? Is it about someone joining one of those factions, their journey through the ranks of the Swords or the Shields? Or is it about the duality of that world, saving on one hand and killing on the other?
Even those questions are still just ideas or messages. Expanding that to the characters and the world so it satisfies a reader without being “on the nose” or convoluted is the true test of story vs idea. It requires more than that initial spark.
I’m focused on the Stapledon Series for now, and it’ll keep me busy for years. Maybe one day I’ll explore the Sword and Shield concept and it will become something. Or maybe it’ll just be another fun idea to visit on long drives. In the end, I don’t think you have to be “creative” in the way my friend suggests. There are many approaches to the craft. The story vs idea conflict proves that for me, at least, writing a story is largely about problem solving.
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