How To Brainstorm A Great Story Idea \\ Great Ideas Series #1

[@HeartBreathings]

So sorry about the audio in this video. I know it's not awful throughout but I was having issues with my mic and did not have time to redo the whole thing. Hope you enjoy the content, regardless! Thanks for watching!

[@adrianadascalu5908]

It's not that bad... When the information is as great and motivating as what you're offering, no one notices/cares about the audio quality. Thank you!

[@shootingstarz6978]

The audio is fine to me

[@greeneyelia]

No need to apologise! You're a rockstar for doing all this for us ❤️

[@Puttytat9753]

One of the best things that I can do as a writer is sleep. There are times when I have all of my sessions and lists together and still feel stuck or ready to give up on a project. But after a good sleep, I come back with my mind refreshed and ready to go back, again. There are times when I am stuck on a project, I will take it to bed with me and use my sleep to stew on it. Sometimes, dreams help to navigate storylines, too. Even Mozart slept with a notepad by his bed at night.

[@oneeyewitch]

As always Sarra is not only writing amazing books for us but also sharing more than anyone could expect from her. Thank you

[@hswick100]

I just started writing the first book of a hopefully 6-8 book series, and I’m already so scared it won’t work. I needed this inspiration!

[@HeartBreathings]

Oooh, fun!! It's going to be great!

[@kristengwenwriter]

I love the top 10 lists idea. I'm going to have to try that. I have a brainstorming notebook, and often times I will set the time for 10 minutes and write down situations. I write kidlit, so it's always something like "A kid brings a puppy to school and things go crazy." "A kid goes fishing with her grandpa." Or whatever to see if anything sparks. Most of them don't, but that's okay. Sometimes there's gold. Thanks and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series :)

[@medusa3592]

How did you know I needed to know this? And a series...I'm all in. Thanks.

[@nohanabil6887]

One of my TOP MOST FAVORITE channels ever on youtube. Thank you heart breathings for all your inspiration n good vibes 💫❤️

[@ranafawaz1767]

Thank you Sarra, I took plenty of notes and ideas. My last brainstorm session was just before Nano last November. I knew I wanted to write a book that involved the sea, so I went on Pinterest and collected a collage of things, from coral reef's to fish to underwater diving, then I began to research pirates, and pirates of the Caribbean came to mind (and shipwrecks)and so the story started unfolding blending history with legend. It was so much fun!

[@VanessaDegarmo]

Did you finish the book? I want to read.

[@ranafawaz1767]

​@VanessaDegarmo Hi Vanessa, thanks for reaching out, no I haven't finished the book yet, it won me Nanowrimo in 2020 and it is still currently sitting at 50k, but the good news is that I am about to publish book #1 in the series called The Lost Emerald, it has a different vibe to this one and to be honest I'm still exploring whether or not I want to publish it as book#2 yet although it was so much fun to write. I will see how things go. However please feel free to keep in touch if you would like to learn more😊

[@VanessaDegarmo]

@@ranafawaz1767 Thanks and thats awesome congratulations!

[@krystenbennett723]

I love, love, love the book of master lists idea! I've always felt like I should keep an author journal but never really knew what to do with it. This idea is so simple yet powerful, and I'm excited to start on mine. Thank you!

[@christielrich]

Great video, Sarra! My best ideas have come when I don’t like the way another author has taken a story. It starts my mind churning with what if’s.

[@EvilGrapefruit]

Very generous to share all this. Not only can I not stick with an idea, i waver between genres and also sometimes don’t want to use my best idea for fear of messing it up and then not being able to use it ever again!

[@pamjournalcreate]

This morning i was journaling about how i want to write a new book but didn’t know exactly how to choose the next idea, and just like magic here you are giving me all the answers and inspiration i needed. Well if this is not a sign from the universe that i have to start writing again i dont know what is. 💕✨

[@jeanetteclintonridgegarden]

I hit a bump in the road with my writing the passed couple of weeks, this series has come at the perfect time. I will be trying the Pick of Real Life Events and the Bounce method . I love the idea for the Master List Book . I have started the Series Bible which has been a great help too me. Thanks for all you help, you have been a blessing to me!!

[@emmajakobsen8265]

I needed this. Wondered if you had something about this, went to your playlists and it was at the top. You're a blessing.

[@Laura_Etal]

I love when you start video series like this. They are always so encouraging. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series 😍

[@mgtogno]

I believe Neil Gaimen said, not to write down the ideas, just have them and let them rest in ur mind. He said bad ideas go away fast, but a really good idea stays with u for days...then he decides to sit down and write about it hahaha I guess both are interesting advice, maybe for a intuitive writer who does not plot that works better. But for a writter who plans every scene, its great to have everything organized hahah very interesting. I will definetelly try that out =) thank you sarrah! as always delivering great content.

[@heathermacdonald6404]

Your content is always so much fun and so useful, Sarra. Love it!

[@genealotech]

Thank you so much for this! So many of my ideas come from dreams.

[@cecilywolfe4571]

Thank you, as always - I needed a new Sarra video today, so this is perfect timing!

[@LyGamezz]

Oh this master list idea is so good. I have so so many notes laying around and in the back of my head I always say “ keep it together, get more insight” gonna work on this this weekend , thanks

[@amyofhearthridge]

Thank you! I have lists and piles of stuff, so getting everything a wee bit organized is a helpful tip!

[@natasharedmane]

Finished the video with a list of things to try for my art after being stuck in a depressed rut for months 🥺 thank you ❤️

[@pinkskiestoday]

As always, so helpful. Thank you. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@rachelrobertson7353]

Thank you, Sara! I did a bit of brainstorming tonight, so this was very helpful. I can’t wait for the rest of this series!!

[@dbklyn97]

This series may be the push I needed to start. I am excited to see how it goes!

[@shadowmoontarot3781]

Thank you for this series, Sarra! Your tips are super helpful and I am looking forward to the next videos! Much love! xx

[@JessameJase]

Great video, Sarra! And thank you for the brainstorming workbook! Super excited about this series!!!

[@delyseonduty]

This is EXACTLY what I needed today! Thank you Sarra! ♥️

[@crystalmorrison4463]

Great video! Your energy was off the chain-I’m so excited for the next video in the series. I keep my ideas in folders on Google docs but I’m liking the idea of a physical binder. Use tabs and keep all my notes for future book ideas cataloged in there. More visual fir me when it’s a physical page I can turn. Thanks for this one!

[@sunitasaldhana4491]

Today I decided to start writing again and it was really great to get this video . It is the perfect way to start .

[@maastika]

OMG Sarra!!! I'm so excited for this series!! I think it's my favorite video of yours yet and I love them all!! So inspiring; it gets me all fired up!

[@kathylittlemorecom]

So needed this right now as feeling in a rut. Thank you Sarah for an inspirational video to get me going again. I write kids picture books and brainstorm around a single word. eg I was asked to write a story about a bunyip (Australian monster) and brainstormed around the word bunyip. When swamp landed on my page, the story wrote itself. Definitely have to try "what if" for the rest of the series.

[@StarryNightenGale]

This series is coming at the perfect time for me I literally pushed my couch back this morning to get sticky notes on my wall

[@HeartBreathings]

Woohoo!

[@KinseyTaylor3]

Always an abundance of fun, great, thought-provoking content. Coming across you on Instagram was such a blessing. Thank you so so much!!

[@kristyl6201]

I loved this video you did. I feel it's going to come in handy especially where I needed some help brainstorming ideas for what I want to get started on as far as writing my book. I also like how you have made it into a workbook to write down all your ideas in and to keep them some place safe so you want ever lose them. Thank you Sarra for sharing. I will be looking for all the new videos in the future.

[@LisaZoe86]

This is exactly what I need right now. Though I am familiar with pretty much all the brainstorming methods out there I still need the reminder und the push and the enthusiasm. Thanks!

[@mr369walters7]

Great vlog as always! Thank you so much, Sarra.💕

[@catherinerichardson5958]

I love to use Notions for my Story plots, different point in the story, a mix of dialogue - then I pull it into Scrivener with different screenplay settings

[@dru_writer]

This was so useful! I'm definitely using this next time I need to come up with a new story :D

[@evelyngray9893]

Thank you so much for this new series! Love the workbooks. I think now that I have a new printer I'm going to have to print off all of your workbooks and make a dedicated book just for them.

[@marahsoore6452]

I come up with ideas randomly, but it normally happens when I watch movies or read books. Like lately I found out 'The Phantom of the Opera' is now public domain. I've always loved the books and musicals (Not 'Love Never Dies'), and I know I want to write a retelling of it with magic one day. Then I was reading 'Shadow and Bone' and found myself frustrated that the MC chooses the guy I didn't like. So I started asking myself what kind of story would I write if I had gotten the chance? And then I spend a good hour or two brain dumping everything that my mind comes up with. Most of it is me floundering around with the idea, but there will be a thread I can hold onto that's my basic plot.

[@jillbartos8893]

Another great video Sarra! I've been in a writing slump and you've motivated me to get my brain working again. Your workbook will be really helpful. It's obvious you put alot of work into this. Thanks so much!

[@deellaboe437]

Bounce is like a debate but for ideas!!

[@kasanchz]

Love love love this!

[@kalikuz]

I’m excited for this new series! I’m writing my second children’s book and I think some of these tips will help!

[@juliae.8237]

What a great idea for a series, I will definitely keep watching. I was curious, what brand notebook is your master list notebook. I love chunky notebooks! Thanks so much for this series.

[@janetomondy4366]

Thanks for this video :) I wanna get back into writing but I feel really stuck on coming up with great ideas so this video came at the right time. Love all of your suggestions :)

[@reneebarrette4514]

I ALWAYS question my ideas. Brainstorming is huge, I don't have a journal that's solely for that, I definitely need to start one!

[@jeremyfee]

I love all of your workbooks. These videos are great!

[@dinascott8815]

I love these. I would love to see more more more!! You are a great encourager!

[@karri-z2f]

Love this video. I need to group my ideas together bc I’ve lost them before and that’s an awful feeling.

[@mariadoslunas4782]

Your content is so inspiring! both practical and uplifting. Thank you!

[@nohea_robertson]

I love this! Thank you Sara! ❤️

[@ScullyPop]

Thanks for the brainstorming tips.

[@judewalsh500]

Oh, this is SO much fun, thank you!

[@jonahwhite6737]

I watch tons of movies and listen to audiobooks to gather inspiration as well as brainstorm

[@katherinedray8905]

Can’t wait for the masterlist tour! ❤️ Great series!

[@DrBlockBooksForKids]

I really like that you put an index into your video. Is this a new thing? I hope you keep doing it. Thanks again for all your content. :)

[@bluovalgal]

I do a lot of this already in my A6 Hobonichi Techo, which I keep with me so I can jot ideas/thoughts down quickly. Looking forward to seeing how you divide your pages, if you did. I did that with mine and sort of regret it.

[@angelalewis6146]

I loved this video. You don't know how much I needed this. Sometimes I come up with ideas and I lose the the paper or notebook and I will find it later. I'm working to get organized. My question to you is how do you choose which idea to work on when you have multiple ideas? Once I have the idea I often get stuck.

[@nildam.bonilla5849]

I love the bounce one, my niece and I are planning some fanfics just to start writing. And 1 idea turned into 3 hahaha started writing 1 with no real direction just because we knew how we wanted it to start. Then planned a second one by how we want the story to develop and is well on its way as every chapter is planned and played. Then just figured out a 3rd one she is itching to start. Its really fun creating all these ideas. But I promised myself that I will finish 1 before planning another lol lets see if I resist hahhahha

[@MissHolliday3110]

I have my series plot and even the resolution... now I need to finish my character arc ideas and ideas for book one.

[@HeatherSalterPurvesauthor]

I often find myself ushering the What if? Model of brainstorming. Much like your husband my wife to subjected to plotting and brainstorming with talking things out with me.

[@pattyellis5359]

Thank you for another awesome vlog. And yea, years ago, I had created 3 different books for my story, one has about mythical creatures and their small info, second notebook about the beginning part or characters of the story, and oddly enough, the third notebook is more characters in a different time in the story - along with other notes kept safely at the back of two of those notebook for that time in that story. Still debating if I shouldn't get a flip folder and other things to safely sort out or combined all my notebooks in one big notebook/folder - since I keep going back and forth to find out how I spell the lands or kingdoms names.

[@tonyamasoner8983]

I love watching your channel. Great advice and inspiration! Would these methods work for children's books? Thank you!

[@razz7810]

Yeaaa you got 42k. 👏🏽👏🏽

[@Marionc0188]

Hi Sarra! I love going through your youtube series, it's so much fun! If you are able to squeeze that in one of your series episodes, I'd love for you to talk a bit about how to decide whether a project should be one story or multiple ones in a book series for instance. For Shadow Demons for instance, did you know where the story was going to end when you first started writing it? It sometimes feel like the world of a story can expand limitlessly and it can be overwhelming to think of. Any advice would be deeply appreciated :)

[@tasteslikepurple122]

Where did you get that awesome notebook for your lists? That thing is SO COOL! It looks like an A6 size notebook but it’s like two inches thick. Please tell us where you got it-I’d love to buy one too!

[@nildam.bonilla5849]

So needed this

[@EndaliasTreasures]

I get a lot of my story idea from my dreams :)

[@HeartBreathings]

Yes! Do you keep a dream journal? Just curious! I keep feeling like I should!!

[@EndaliasTreasures]

@@HeartBreathings I integrate it with my morning pages. Sometimes, if the idea is really good, I'll open a new note on my phone and just type away all the details before I forget. I'm lucky that I can remember a lot of my dreams vividly, so writing them down later isn't a problem. I actually wrote one of my worst nightmares into my latest book haha.

[@HeartBreathings]

@@EndaliasTreasures oh such a great idea!!!

[@crystalmorrison4463]

@@EndaliasTreasures me too!! I also use my phone’s notepad before the idea escapes. I’ve used many dreams as inspiration or scenes in a story.

[@emmaleighloader1604]

When will we get more on this series?

[@siddharthrajarwal522]

T:)✨✨ Surely gonna use these tips in my school exam story. Thats always a blunder😅

[@prakashmayyak9916]

There may be n number of writers. But only small number will share their ideas. Thank you mam...

[@KayJay7000]

@HeartBreathings -- Hi Sarra! Is it too late to get the Story Idea workbook? When I click the link, I get a page saying the file is no longer available. 😞 I could just follow the great suggestions in your video (Thank you!) but I'd love to have the companion workbook!

[@HeartBreathings]

You can join my newsletter from any page and you'll find the workbook inside the resource library. Hi to HeartBreathings.com and join from there. It will auto send you a link to the library and you'll find it in the Google drive!

[@KayJay7000]

@@HeartBreathings Thank you! I'm somewhat "tech-challenged." I already had access to the resource library from way back! Found it on my drive. *blushing with embarrassment*

[@surbhirajarwal2159]

T :) for tips!!🙂🙂

[@annedonaldson45]

I know some people might not have time for this method: I like creating my plots, characters, etc in my dreams

[@maryebert3884]

This is a good idea for a gene i want to write in. so his will be s fun seis

[@PaulaScardamalia]

Dreams and tarot often do it for me. Last novel I wrote came from a dream. BTW, the link to the resource library keeps giving me an error message.

[@HeartBreathings]

Sorry for the link issue. My email provider disabled the use of short links without notifying us, so all of my links to the library got broken! Thanks for understanding. If you email me, Paula, I can send you the correct link!

[@cassiemerson7789]

Oh gosh I so badly need to know how to stick with an idea 😬

[@adrianadascalu5908]

Same here!

[@lifeafterforty007]

OMG, yes! I been a Samsung Note user since Note 5 was released because of the S-pen. I would not be able to function without my Note.

[@MSOHare1981]

I keep trying to access the link to the Heart Breathings Resource Library, but when I click it (from the recent newsletter) I get the error message; the page were looking for doesn't exist. I don't know what to do to fix it.

[@carriebartkowiak]

Try the second email she sent out today. The first one was fiddly, but the link in the second email works.

[@MSOHare1981]

@@carriebartkowiak Thanks, that link worked!

[@TurtleJulia]

I like to keep a dream journal, because sometimes those strange dreams can be worked into story ideas. Btw, I just subscribed to your newsletter, but apparently your database is down right now or the link is broken?

[@HeartBreathings]

Sorry for the link issue. My email provider disabled the use of short links without notifying us, so all of my links to the library got broken! Thanks for understanding. If you email me, I'll send you the correct link!

[@TurtleJulia]

@@HeartBreathings It's no problem, I just thought you should know. :)

[@VanessaDegarmo]

This is so hard, cus i have a toddler and dont have much time to myself😢

[@mattmallecoccio8378]

I had to throw out some ideas because they were going to go nowhere