Generating Story Ideas

Longtime readers know my opinion on this subject: “A spec script will not sell unless it has a strong story concept”:

If you write a spec script based upon the first story idea that comes into your mind, that script likely won’t sell.

Why? Because almost assuredly, it is not a strong story concept.

It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of a story idea to the eventual success of a spec script.

A good story concept enables producers and studio execs to ‘see’ the movie.

A good story concept provides ammo for marketing departments to advertise the film.

A good story concept emboldens managers and agents to sell the crap out of your script.

Although I have no way of proving it, I believe the story concept may represent up to half of the value of a screenplay to a potential buyer. That’s right, half.

Here are some quotes from a pair of established screenwriters about the importance of story concepts:

“Most aspiring screenwriters simply don’t spend enough time choosing their concept. It’s by far the most common mistake I see in spec scripts. The writer has lost the race right from the gate. Months — sometimes years — are lost trying to elevate a film idea that by its nature probably had no hope of ever becoming a movie.” — Terry Rossio (Aladdin, The Mask of Zorro, Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)

“Ideas cost NOTHING and require ZERO risk. And yet, oddly, the LEAST amount of time’s usually spent in the idea stage before a small fortune is dumped on a whimsy that’s still half-baked… Ideas cost nothing yet have the potential to yield inexplicably long careers and happy lives.” — Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Zak and Miri Make a Porno)

Are you thinking of story ideas every day? Do you have a master list of story ideas that is… growing? Is one part of your brain on auto-pilot, always sifting through the daily data that comes your way in search of possible story ideas?

To help your process, here is a nifty list tweeted yesterday by screenwriter Carter Blanchard (@CartBlanch):

Whatever you do, keep coming up with story concepts. Your goal: Only write specs using the strongest story idea possible.

By the way in April, I will be reprising my annual series: A Story Idea Each Day for a Month. 30 days. 30 story ideas. Each of them yours to use.