Brainstorming

While at the ACFW Conference, I attended Rachel Hauck's workshops on brainstorming, and learned so much. For me, brainstorming is very difficult because I am such a perfectionist. I have an easier time writing seat-of-the-pants because it feels like less pressure. When I write an outline beforehand, I feel nervous and almost panicky as the editing side of my brain and the creative side try to work together at once. I'm actually even in the process of doing this right now, and it's making me crazy! Can you relate?

Today I want to share several things Rachel said that stood out to me because they're so helpful in overcoming these problems.

1) Brainstorming in groups can be a great exercise. I'd never thought about this before! Sure, I've talked to my husband, mom, friends, etc. about my books, but I've never sat down to chat strictly for the purpose of brainstorming. Rachel recommended even considering finding a brainstorming buddy, like a critique partner, who can know your story inside and out and really help you craft the essential elements of it. If you meet in person, have someone keep track of time so you can be sure you get to everyone's projects.

2) Keep asking "why." On the plane flight home from ACFW, I practiced this... and boy, it really works! Brainstorming often feels overwhelming to me because I'll just have snipbits of ideas I'm trying to piece together into something coherent. Asking"why" helps deepen these snipbits and connect them. For instance, maybe all you know about a character is that she's scared of stairs. Well, why? Maybe because when she was a kid, she tripped and fell down them. Why does that matter? Maybe she cracked her two front teeth and the other kids made fun of her. Why does that matter? Maybe she still has self-confidence issues today. That's a really quirky example for the sake of illustration, but it really is amazing how your brain will fill in the specifics if you keep digging deeper.

3) Turn off your inner editor. This is the thing I most struggle with when brainstorming. Every time I come up with an idea, part of me says, "That doesn't work with the rest of your story," or "That's ridiculous. No one will believe that." But I loved that Rachel said during her workshop. Imagine if Tolkein had sat down to write Lord of the Rings and thought to himself, "I think I'll invent a place called Middle Earth and invent a fictional language for its inhabitants... no, on second thought, that would never work." How often do we stifle brilliant ideas because they are only in the beginning stages? Rachel said you should never give up an idea until you've considered it from every angle. You may find a way to make it work.

What do you think? Do you enjoy brainstorming? What tricks do you have to make the process effective?