Obtaining the Idea

The first part of any story comes with the idea. But how does the idea end up on the screen, or how does one get an idea in the first place? One thing that many people do not realize is that almost everyone has creative abilities. Sure, there is some people whose creative mind goes farther than others, but there is a part of everyone that has the ability to be creative.

The What-If Game

So many people spend their lives not knowing the creative potential they possess. But how does someone unlock their creative potential. For some creativity is second nature, but for others it is hard for them to see outside the real world. Whatever the case may be, there is still the question of how you use this creative potential. The idea of creating a story usually starts with a what-if-question. This is a good way to exercise your creative potential, or a good place to start when learning how to unlock your creative potential. Many people will go around saying 'don't play the what if game' but if you think about it many good movies could have started with a what if. What if a 15-year-old found out she was next in line to rule a small kingdom overseas (Princess Diaries). What if a man was able to build a suit that allowed him to become a superhero (Iron Man). Playing the what if game is a way to jump start creative potential. Even if you feel that you have no creativity, this is a way for you to think about things in a different way, that can later help you become more aware of the creativity inside you.

Letting the Mind Wander

While many people do not like the feeling of being bored, this is another way to get creative ideas. When there is nothing for someone to do often their brains have the freedom to wander off. This is where you can take the what ifs a step further. If there is nothing else on the mind, then you can focus on just the idea. If you feel that you are not the creative type, just think about the what if, and you will be surprised at where your brain can go from there. A lot of the times this is where you start seeing parts to what could be later an idea that could actually be the starting point for writing the screenplay.

Logically Thinking

For some people this will help, but for others this might not. For some letting their brain wander is begging for distractions and for some logically thinking limits what they are able to create. This can work with people with creative minds, but this is something that helps people who don't feel they have a creative mind more. Take the what if and think logically about what would have to happen in order for this what if to become the idea. What if someone was able to create a suit that allowed him to become a superhero? What would need to happen in order for him to be able to build this suit. He would probably need to be smart and have some idea of what he's doing. This is a place where you can think about how something can work out. This is some place to start to help jumpstart your creative mind if you feel like just letting your mind wander is not working. This can also be something to help give you something to think about if you find yourself losing track of your what if.

Getting Ready for the Next Step

This is just the start and there is a long way to go from here. The idea is the steppingstone for the story, and if there is no idea then there is no story in the end. The creative process is something that some people find easy and that others find hard, but it is something that everyone is capable of as long as you try. Keep trying different idea to make sure that you understand your idea before moving on to the next step. This step takes as long as you need it too. The next step is to create a logline. In order to create a logline, you should make sure that your idea is firm. Learn more about loglines in the next post.