I have often wondered when you should make the decision to pursue an idea you have for a story. I assume that this is probably one of those questions that there is no definitive answer to, and it is probably down to personal choice. Does the idea sound good to you, can you run with the idea and develop this into the bones of a story. But then you spend hours and hours tapping away at the keyboard only to decide its not going anywhere. This is where the frustration sets in and this is where I struggle in deciding whether to pursue the idea knowing I might waste time and energy. But then there is the idea you have for a story and after asking a few selected friends decide to pursue this story. I suppose the question I am trying to get an answer to is can you get feed back on an idea without the risk of somebody stealing it. which would help you by testing the field before taking the leap. Can you copy write an idea for a story.
There seem to be several different questions -
Starting with the alst first - yes you can ask people what they think - all you have to do then is interpret their answer.
Can you stop anyone using your idea? How can you prove ownership of the idea?
Do you give up when you run out of steam? That's up to you. It can be useful to put a work down and give yourself a rest from it for a time. This may help you to see where to go next - or - where you wandered off at some point - you might then go back to that point and take the story forward in a different way - with a bit of luck and a tail wind this might lead you to the end of the work.
Waste of time? How do you define a waste of time?
Do you expect to write a complete and perfect story in one hit at the first try? If you don't then every bit of writing you do can teach you, develop how you write - and not be a waste of time - even if you never finally use it.
And the 1st question... You decide that you want to write something - that is all. You may need to add a decision that you accept that you might later decide that it doesn't work - but that you will make an effort to learn from the experience.
Let us know how you get on please.
David
I agree with . Write it down, as much as you can, and put it somewhere safe unless you feel you can go with the idea then and there. I have started ideas either on the keyboard or writing with a pen in a notepad and come back to those ideas from time to time over the following months just to see if they are still valid. I have one idea in a note book that I take with me if I go away for a few days break I get it out and write a bit more. I have not yet decided whether I will complete it. But I still like the idea and feel there is some mileage in it, although it's not the main project I am currently working on.
I don't think it matters.
If you think it's good enough to put it on paper, then that's all that counts. Writing is a long and dedicated process. You should do it for the love of it, because you have something that deserves to be put into words.
You can't write for the opinion of others, you'll never please everyone.
Equally, you should trust your own judgement.