I think each idea is different. R.L. Stevenson got the idea for Treasure Island from a treasure map he drew for his step-son Lloyd and his Dr. Jykll & Mr. Hyde was in part at least based on a nightmare that he had (and on the real life story of a criminal who masterminded his crimes at night and presented a respectable front to the pubic during the day). And stories aren't written, they're re-written, so you can be writing (and think you have your plot worked out) only to find that a new idea comes up along the way. That happened to Herman Melville when he wrote Moby Dick. A character in that work seemed to be important and then out of the blue he's washed overboard. Melville had met a new, more interesting character named Ahab. I think the author has to start with his/her idea and build on it. Clay doesn't shape itself, nor does raw marble become a statue on its own. The sculptor has to do his/her part whatever the medium of creation.
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Originally Posted by bthrowsnaill
I have a story idea floating around in my head. I am a little anxious to work on this story because it will be about a topic that greatly interests me. But the overall idea still feels like it's in a formative stage. I don't want to rush the idea, but at the same time I am not sure if a well developed idea is going to emerge from my subconscious, or whether I should start trying to write something and see what happens. I imagine that "full time" writers must have to write at times when their ideas haven't fully matured "organically". I've been thinking that that may be one thing that separates a "professional" writer from a part time writer: the ability to produce good stories "on demand". Any thoughts?
I have the luxury of not being on a writing timetable, so I tend to let ideas sit in my head like it's a giant Crock-Pot. I typically don't write until I feel like I have a good stew on my hands. But dang, sometimes it takes a while...
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