It all starts with an idea. Which is not story. The two are different.

Story can change. Idea can’t.

Every idea has been done; but not every story.

Confused? After three decades writing, over 75 books, and having taught hundreds of workshops, I believe locking down a writer’s idea is the number one problem most have. If we can’t succinctly say what our book is about, the writing tends to be all over the place.

So what is the original idea?