How to come up with NEW and UNIQUE story ideas

DO YOU NEED A NEW, UNIQUE STORY IDEA? Do you feel like it’s missing some magic ingredient that makes you addicted to writing it? If so, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Lots of writers feel this way, even if they really LOVE their book and have "done everything right." If the thrill is gone… it’s time to brainstorm new ideas! In this video, I’m sharing my favorite prompts for brainstorming NEW IDEAS, guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing and give you a springboard to explore new possibilities for your book. Grab a notebook and let's brainstorm together!

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✨ T I M E S T A M P S ✨
00:00 Are you bored with your story?
02:32 Think like a 5 year old
05:32 Add tropes you love
07:59 Add/change POVs
08:51 Spin-offs and sequels
09:54 Turn it upside-down
11:31 Make it a retelling
12:50 Change the genre
13:37 Combining story ideas
14:46 Change the theme
15:44 Still stuck? Don’t worry.
16:46 Download the free template below!
17:20 Subscribe for writing videos every week :)
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Subscribe for weekly episodes of #WritersLifeWednesdays! Make Your Story Matter™ and make your author dreams come true… new videos every Wednesday.

✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ THE SIMPLEST WAY TO OUTLINE YOUR NOVEL

→ MY "STORY SMOOTHIE" METHOD FOR BRAINSTORM NEW STORY IDEAS

→ HOW TO BRAINSTORM A STORY IDEA

→ A PANTSER'S GUIDE TO PLOTTING

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[markf]

That research explains a lot to me. When I was 5 years old I was told I had the intelligence of a 10 year old. When I was 10 I was told I had the intelligence of a 10 year old. Thirty years on, I still have the intelligence of a 10 year old. Some things never change...

[OBO]

Some other things I think sometimes that could help:

⭐ "Remember that story you enjoyed so much but that specific part could've been so much better?" Do it for your story;
⭐ Think of a character you love, the best things about them and how fun it would be if you could put this character in your story. Change the character's name and appearance and now you can put them in your story;
⭐ Brainstorm for something outside of your story and then imagine bringing it to your story. Ex: As a Pokémon fan I made a creativity exercise of creating titles for Pokémon movies for not so special pokémon. There are Pokémon movies called "Zoroark: Master of Illusions" and "Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel". There's a pokémon family that seems to be kinda slow-thinking and oblivious, they're not considered special enough for a movie, but if they were, there could be a movie called "Slowbro and the Oblivion Island". If I ever bring the concept of an oblivion island to my story, part of my joy for pokémon would come along.

[CraigJones]

One brainstorming technique I’ve been using my whole life is “20 Answers.” You basically pose a question and then brainstorm around 10 answers to start. They can range from straightforward and logical to utterly silly and ridiculous. (If you easily get over 10 without breaking a sweat, then maybe the question is too open-ended. OTOH, if you find it impossible to come up with 5-6, even after sleeping on it, then the question might be too specific.) Once you get to around 10, review those answers and twist/distort them to make new answers, even to the point of being completely contrarian. Somewhere along the line, the perfect answer is bound to jump out. This has gotten me out of many a jam, from debugging computer code, to social relationships, to writing.
Here’s a recent question I posed to myself: “To illustrate just how evil the Big Bad Enchantress is, an early scene could show her torturing a good guy. Why?”
1. He done her wrong in the past and she wants revenge, torturing him to death.
2. Actually, killing is too good for him; she means to break him, instead.
3. It’s an interrogation for strategic or tactical info.
4. She thinks he’s an impostor, a shapeshifter, or some other kind of doppelganger, and she is trying to get him to reveal himself.
5. She respects him in a creepy sort of way and she desperately needs confirmation of his approval to justify her actions.
6. Committing torture is just to prove a point to her associates (peers or underlings) to keep them in line.
7. She wants to test his resolve, and perhaps turn him to the dark side.
8. It’s a ritual sacrifice to a demon.
9. No reason at all, just a purely random act of violence. It’s what evil enchantresses do.
And then the permutations kick in…​
10. He done her wrong in the past, but it was by proxy and he is unaware that it happened.
11. She mistakenly believes that he done her wrong in the past, but it wasn’t him at all.
12. She’s committing the torture reluctantly. A partner, peer, or superior is putting her up to it.
13. Her need to torture is the result of a self-inflicted curse.
14. Her need to torture is the only way she can release pent-up negative energies that would otherwise eat her alive.
15. Her need to torture is a Dorian Gray fountain-of-youth ritual.
16. It’s a reverse interrogation. She’s actually spilling the beans to the "victim" by the questions she asks. (Maybe this variation shows up in a future scene, once we’ve established her penchant for interrogation through torture.)
17. She needs to break him for a tactical reason other than intelligence gathering such as to brainwash him.
18. …​ or to ruin his psychic powers.
19. …​ or to burden his loved ones and take them out of the game.
I’m liking how that last one — taking his loved ones out of the game – might fit in to my story. The reverse interrogation also looks like fun, but that necessitates establishing the first scene as a standard interrogation. OTOH, the loved one aspect could be thrown in at the end of the first scene as an afterthought. Hmmm, definitely enough to work with.
I first learned of this technique as a software engineering student. I was helping a family friend generate some reports for his photography business. He wanted a summary on page one, but the report generator program I had available couldn’t do two passes. It could only print a summary at the end. So I posed my question, “How do I print the summary page first?” I brainstormed a good 15 possible answers, all of which seemed inelegant and overkill. Then I got contrarian and my 16th answer was “I don’t.” My ultimate solution, therefore, was to print the summary page at the end as usual and tell my friend to simply move the last sheet to the front before mailing it off. Doh! Sometimes that blinding flash of the obvious takes a while to arrive.

[elizabethgrace]

Abbie!! I know everyone says this but HOW do you have the most perfect timing??? 😭 I’ve been so frustrated with writing lately because I’m just so bored with all the old ideas I had. I’ve been a subscriber for years and you have been one of my main inspirations and teachers all along! I recommend you to every writer I talk with. You’re a blessing, and a lovely soul. Thank you! 🥹💕 (btw I love your background! always so clean, tidy, and colorful.)

[ree]

Having a child-like mindset is so beneficial in so many creative practices. When I'm feeling like this, I love listening to music that reminds me of my story or characters and just thinking deeply about it to get some ideas out. The music helps me to be less judgemental of my ideas and lets my mind truly wander (and I allow myself to get distracted) because it feels like I'm just having fun rather than strictly writing - not that the writing isn't fun, rather it adds an extra layer of excitement.

[nikkinewbie]

At the risk of George Lucas coming after me, I now refer to you as Abbie-Wan! You truly are that mentor that beginners like me need! Thank you for all you do. Your success is much deserved.

Something I’ve been exploring recently is “summoning” my story the very second I start to wake up in the morning. I find that for about half an hour while in that barely awake state, my creativity feeds me ideas, solutions to plotting and even dialogue.

It’s tricky to remember it all without coming awake enough to write it down. But as I inevitably shift more and more into the waking brain wave state, I go ahead and reach for my pad and pen.

I’m happy to say I’m nowhere near bored. This is all still so brand new and exciting for me. Your guidance and the way you approach story has made a huge impression on me. I’ve always loved writing but never actually tried to write a comprehensive work before - only random “pants-ed” stand- alone scenes 😂😂

I’m not sure if I’ll ever try to publish. I’m writing for ME first. Then we’ll see. I lost my Dad a year and almost five months ago. Maybe I’m writing now a little for him too. It will be the realization of a long neglected dream to complete a novel. He was always my biggest cheerleader for anything I did.

It’s amazing how I’ll write something for my protagonist but then I’ll realize a parallel with my own life’s journey. I’ve found that the ability to write creatively is the gift that keeps on giving every time I sit down to unwrap it and put fingertips to keys.

Focusing on writing a full blown “proper” novel has been a healing process. The structure along with the detailed explanations you give made it all suddenly seem possible for ME to achieve! I guess the saying is true that when the student is ready, the master will appear. That would be you, Abbie-Wan 😂.

Please don’t ever stop sharing yourself with the world. YOU MATTER to a whole lot of people like me who needed that inspirational spark to get them off the sidelines and realize it’s never too late to humor your dreams.

Continued success to you AND your sister! You both rock!

[Al-rnqy]

Interesting research and it makes so much sense. When I was 10 years old, I could write a whole story without much thought. Now at 41, I struggle just writing a story outline. Therefore, great advice Abbie. So basically, I should go back (mentally) about 30-35 years! 😂😂

[authoreyes]

For me, sometimes a story idea can come about by messing with words and their meanings.
Example: I got stuck on the word "origins" so much that "oranges" didn't sound normal anymore.

I ended up with a poem 😊

[DawnMK]

Yes! Release your inner child. We've been taught to lock up the child inside. It also helps with self healing, releasing that inner child. It reminds us to stop and look at the world with wonder; ya know, instead of focusing on all the negative and problems all the time.

[GrumpaBaggins]

The spinoff idea is excellent, and something that I decided to do around two years ago. It resulted in a trilogy. The first book (prequel) ended up being from the POV of my original protagonist's mother. The 2nd and 3rd books are the original series. Turning out really interesting that way.

[EyeBallMonster]

My favorite why to brainstorm ideas is to watch shows and movies. Sometimes when I watch a show or movie and I love the trip or plot point so much I get a spark of Genius asking myself, “What if I put something like that into my story?”

Abbie once again thanks for your help! Due to life and college I felt a bit unmoderated and down to write my fan-fiction. I always think of ideas but noticed myself say, “That been done before that not original!!!” And it make me feel kinda down. But thanks to you and your writing genius I go it back! I Hugh of ideas I never though before and plots i never even concerned.

Thanks for your help! I hope you have a great day writing friend! 😁

[Dragontalon]

Some of these points are things I'm trying right now, (Combining story Ideas, add different characters). One thing I love to do to get ideas is listen to music from my favorite movies and games that I grew up with and use them to think of scenarios that would happen in my story and when I was younger I could come up with some crazy things while doing that. (I.e. I came up with a disasterous battle/planetary invasion sequence that takes place in my story with music from the soundtrack from Titanic of all things.) I really miss those days sometimes.

[ViEdits]

I'm a teen writer and I have been having trouble with my writing. I'm just not feeling the spark when I write it, but I have recently subscribed to your channel and I have been improving a lot! You are the best Abbie! Thank you so much!

[DaveLH]

My favorite "5-year-old" thinkers who knew how to be truly unique and out-of-the-box:
-- L. Frank Baum (The Oz Books)
-- Sid Krofft (various really wildly imaginative children's TV shows)
-- Roald Dahl (Willy Wonka, Matilda, et. al.)
-- Lee Minoff and Al Brodax (Chief Screenwriters for "Yellow Submarine")
-- Norton Juster (The Phantom Tollbooth)

What wouldn't I give to be as free and uninhibited in my creativity as they are!

[toji]

I once mixed an idea of a fantasy world from middle ages with scenes from a draft I've written that took place in the modern world, and boom it couldn't be better, they fitted together way more than I could have imagined and each one of them became essential for the progress of the other one, this was one of my favorite story ideas that I've came up with

[scottscrookedjawline]

i’m so excited to get back into my book, this is gonna be so helpful!

[aanchaljangir]

I've another video suggestion.

But firstly, Abbie this was really helpful. Thank you so much for going beyond conventional video ideas and helping us with questions we can't really describe.

So, the suggestion is, please make a video regarding how to stay organized in the initial process. I've had many ideas come to me as I start working, sometimes it's a scene, sometimes a charcter, sometimes I think I want to add another POV.

As I move ahead in process. I start rewriting these scenes. Changing the dialogues and settings etc. And sometimes I'll have 4 versions of the same scene. And then it gets overwhelming. The thing is I can't think linearly for a story, and I've observed most writers don't. And so, I don't use one document to write but use notes to write bits and pieces of ideas as they come to me. The problem is I can't find a way to organize them.

I know you're a master organizer. Please guide us how we can stay organised with just systems, like tagging or labeling on Google Notes. Something that everyone can use and not just a software like Scrivener. Something purely on strategic planning and management that can save our lives.

Hope you'll make a video on it. And thanks always for making us Rock on.🤘

[silaee]

Abbie, thank you for everything you have taught us over the years <3

[grondhero]

*Change/add a POV:* My book I'm writing started off with 53 named characters chasing one demon, and I've added POVs from all of them (some much more than others). Currently, 22 are still alive, three of which definitely won't make it to the end.

*Spin-off:* I am hoping that I can make a spin-off with the surviving characters (both good and bad).

*Turn it upside-down:* The MC dies and the villain lives.

*Make it a retelling:* I have future plans to do that with a story or two by the Brothers Grimm.

*Changing the genre:* I have had ideas for that with 'Disney Classic' stories.

*Combining stories:* I would like to; however, my current story is a division of the story I originally wanted to tell. (A world & pantheon origins, a Romanesque civilization collapse, and pursing a demon. The demon was originally going to be involved in all three aspects.)

*Changing the theme:* The current book's theme is 'Actions have Consequences, ' both good and bad.

*Favorite brainstorming:* Reading older books (Phantom of the Opera, The Three Musketeers, Great Expectations, H.P. Lovecraft, Elric of Melnibone) and historical books (military history, slavery world-wide, tribal and individuals).

[forevercatholic]

THANK YOU!

Abbie, this was amazing! I love seeing how this all plays out. I can get way too critical of my ideas and scold myself "Don't do it, it's a trope" "You can't have the MC be in pain, ppl won't like it" "No one likes reading a sensitive character voice" etc. This opened my eyes to see that I can actually ENJOY my story. I can write the parts that I would want to read over and over again just for the sensation of reading them!

Thanks! I used these ideas to actually start with creating a story idea, and I am STOKED for this project! I've fallen in love with the ideas I have! You're a lifesaver!!!