It's easy to get lost in uncertainty, anxiety and self doubt when creating something. I often find myself spinning my wheels when working on a story, character, or what have you.
An interesting technique that I use all the time is the TEN BAD IDEAS list.
It goes like this: for whatever you're stuck with, write a list of ten BAD ideas. What are ten bad ideas for an ending? What are ten bad ways to resolve a scene? What are ten bad ideas for a monster or villain?
As someone who often starts doubting and prejudging everything I want to do, I find myself using this approach several times a week.
Clearly, the idea is to let you off the hook for coming up with bad ideas. To put that internal inner editor aside, take the pressure off, and let yourself play around a little bit.
The ideas are to be written without too much detail, in point form, and they don't HAVE to be good. The whole point is for them to be bad!
Of course, in writing down ten ideas, there's a strong chance there will be something GOOD in there!
I'm not sure how often I've used the ideas from my many, many Bad Idea lists, but it's a fantastic exercise, lots of fun, and most importantly, keeps me writing!
Sort of.
Hope you have a good Thursday!
-Banes
Bad Ideas
Banes at 12:00AM, March 29, 2018
7 likes!
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AmeliaP at 5:39PM, March 29, 2018
Hahaha love it! I always start with the bad ideas and try to figure out if a good execution can save them XD If Sharknado can hit its 6th entry... why not?
Zaptoid56 at 12:01PM, March 29, 2018
I have over 2 dozen toons I follow on here and each one no longer ...well..there are 3 who still try...but..the rest are gone. Very sad. Few comments means the artist leaves. I leave a comment for every toon I like. More people need to do this.
Zaptoid56 at 11:53AM, March 29, 2018
$29.61 for an interview? Every other Thursday?
Ozoneocean at 7:22AM, March 29, 2018
@Kim, that's true. The stories where things go right aren't as interesting to tell are they? 😂
KimLuster at 6:41AM, March 29, 2018
Hehe I've never tried this! But as someone who agonizes over things like this, I think I will try...!! Speaking of bad ideas... Related to that is when things go wrong (often because of a bad idea) and you just make the most of it. A common saying we have when things really go wrong (often when canoeing on the river), we say, "this is gonna be a story we tell our grandkids!" The bad ones, not the good ones, are the ones you most remember and laugh about!
Tantz_Aerine at 3:54AM, March 29, 2018
Very neat trick!
MOrgan at 3:29AM, March 29, 2018
"Oh, no! We have to disable a bomb in ten seconds! What do we do???" "Hold mah beer and watch this!" ;-)
PaulEberhardt at 2:46AM, March 29, 2018
I forgot who said: The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas." But it's totally true.
Ozoneocean at 1:15AM, March 29, 2018
Well that's one GOOD idea :D
Emma_Clare at 1:08AM, March 29, 2018
I love bad ideas! It's so much fun going through them all to get to that intoxicating "AHA!" moment. That's really good advice, particularly if you're prone to dismissing yourself.