I am currently searching for a new story to work on. Story hunting is not easy. Just because you are a writer doesn’t mean you have a queue of ideas, all waiting patiently for you to do something with them. No, you have to spend ages feeling glum about not having anything to write about and then force yourself to go out and find new story ideas.
Things don’t run smoothly either when you do stumble upon a new story and get excited about it. You can quickly lose that ‘loving feeling’ for a story and it doesn’t take much for this to happen.
After a few creative dalliances with a couple of new story ideas, I can see some interesting similarities with dating.
Let me explain:
- When you start dating you have a rough idea about the type of person you are looking for; gender, hair colour, personality, clothes, humour etc. When you start story hunting you have a vague idea about what it is you are looking for; in my case a romantic comedy, must be light & fluffy, needs to include a devilishly handsome male character and an interesting and relatable female character who find herself over the course of the tale.
- When you start dating someone you might have a head full of unrealistic romantic expectations; your date will definitely be ‘the one’, they are perfect in every way (after date 1) and you will be whisked up that church aisle within a few months! When you start work on a new story idea you might have a head full of unrealistic expectations too; you will write it in a matter of weeks, literary agents will be fighting each other to get their hands on it and your book signing event will definitely need some form of crowd control.
- When you start dating someone you will at first ignore niggling issues; your date’s love of bad jokes, your date’s secret nose picks when they think you aren’t looking, your date’s decision to give themselves a severe side hair parting on date 3 (without any prior warning to you) and your date’s insistence on talking about themselves for more than ten minutes. At first you dismiss these niggles, but after a few dates you can’t stop feeling irritated at the mere sight of that side hair parting and you find yourself seriously considering buying them a joke book. It’s at this point you ask yourself – can I carry on dating in view of these niggling issues? When you start a new story you also ignore niggling issues; the male character is a bit of a drip, the opening chapter start sounds a bit dark and your plot has a moon crater sized plot hole which is getting harder to ignore. At first you also dismiss these niggles but after a few writing sessions you can’t stop shouting at your drippy male character, you wonder whether you should do a promotional link up with an emotional help line to help your readers get through the first chapter and you can’t get to sleep at night without thinking about that plot hole. It’s at this stage you ask yourself – can I carry on writing this story in view of these issues?
- When you start dating you might decide to play the field and see a couple of people at the same time. When you start story hunting you might also decide to play the literary field and work on a few ideas at the same time. Sigh!
- When you start dating things can get intense very quickly and then fizzle out. After date 2 you could both be considering booking a spring mini break together and by date 4 you could not think of anything worse than spending a long weekend in the other’s company. When you begin a new story idea things can also get intense very quickly and then fizzle out. After laying down 4k words you could find yourself tweeting about how this will be a #literarygamechanger and by 10k words you could find yourself wishing you’d never even started it (deleting all your earlier tweets).
- Whilst dating someone you might struggle to stop checking out other dating candidates. Whilst writing a new story you might struggle to stop eyeing up other story ideas.
- People will feel the need to give you dating advice and some people will feel the need to give you writing advice.
- Not every date you go on will be successful and not every story you start will be successful.
- You might make up some excuses not to go on a date; washing your hair, cleaning out the fridge or keeping your promise about playing scrabble with the cat. You might make up some excuses about not writing some more of that new story; need to tweet random stuff, pick fluff out of a jumper or keep your promise about turning the cat into a star on Instagram.
- New dates and new story ideas can give you a buzz and make your heart gallop.
Have a fabulous day!
Speaking of dating, check out my podcast where Roxy has some interesting comedy issues on a blind date.
Good morning Lucy! All totally valid points!!! I need to start story dating again…!
Would like to read one of your stories. 😊
If you ever have time… on my blog menu check out Wedded Stress or Just Friends. There are two I have started and part serialised on the blog… bit by no means completed. One is the start of my Chick-pea curry lit. The other started as I answered Weekly prompts and really developed! I’d love your feedback!!! Xxx
I will make time and let you know my thoughts 😊
Thank you my dear xxx
Haha, great comparison although I hope your dating fire hasn’t run out on S&S?
Nope was working on it last night – sigh! 💝
From a man’s perspective, when a woman starts secret nose picks it’s definitely time to get outta there!
Lol! Nothing like a satisfying private nose pick😉
Post came at just the right time. I am also looking out for a new story idea. I’m writing verses while I am waiting. I need to find something that makes me feel…..( oh dear, even more like a date!)
Julie – you need to get on the story pull!
I wouldn’t know about dating. Ha ha. Haven’t gone down that road in– let’s just say a l.o.n.g. while and don’t want to even start. 😀 My dating crowd is way too old for me. 😛
Your comparisons work on pitch here, though.
Thx Tess, in the story world – are you dating any stories or are you in a long term relationship with one?
LOL! Excellent comparison, Lucy! I’ve been “dating” a story idea for some time now, and our relationship status can currently be described as, “It’s complicated.” Thanks for the grins!
Yes! I am on the 4th date with my new story. Things are going well so far 😊 Hope your new relationship works out and you head into the ‘long term commitment phase’ – sigh!
this is pretty accurate!
Thank you for reading 🤗
I suffer from too many ideas so I’m never searching. I’m not sure how that leaves me in this comparison.
(#8 is spot-on for too many ideas…)
Wow so you have too many story dates then? Popular writer lady! 🤗
I’m a story slut?
You sound exciting…
Playing scrabble with the cat… that’s a good one! LOL… 🙂
Oh Lucy, I could tell you horror stories about dating!!!
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
Thank you 🙋🏼
My pleasure! 😀
I haven’t dated for so long, but this has just reminded me what it’s like! As for writing a story, I agree it can be terrifying and exhilarating. I’m just starting a new book and the thought of those 80,000 words makes me tremble and want to hide beneath the mountain of ironing I should also be doing!
Hey Lizzie, best of luck with your new book! Thx for reading 🙋🏼
Reblogged this on When Angels Fly.
While I’ve yet to run out of ideas, I tend to have the exact opposite issue, this did make me smile!
And what in the sam hill is wrong with side parts?
Lol! I just think a drastic side part (without warning) can be annoying during the early dating stages.
Fair enough, wouldn’t wanna be drastic. LOL
Thank you 💁🏼