The Writer's Idea Thesaurus

1. Unlock Your Storytelling Potential with an Idea Thesaurus.

This is why writers also need an idea thesaurus, a central clearinghouse for ideas, you might say—not unlike that imaginary clearinghouse in Schenectady that Harlan Ellison once humorously referred to in response to the question, “Where do you get your ideas?”

Ideas are essential. Just as a word thesaurus helps you find the precise word, an idea thesaurus serves as a vital tool for writers seeking story concepts. It acts as a central hub, a clearinghouse, where potential narratives reside, waiting to be discovered and explored. This resource is designed to overcome the common writer's block of "Where do I get my ideas?"

Beyond simple prompts. Unlike basic writing prompts, this thesaurus provides structured story situations. These are more developed concepts that offer a starting point for plot, character, and conflict, giving you a solid foundation upon which to build your unique narrative world. It moves beyond single words or phrases to offer dynamic scenarios.

A necessary reference. Having a dedicated reference for story ideas is crucial for both aspiring and veteran writers. It ensures that you never feel completely devoid of inspiration, providing a wealth of possibilities to explore whenever your creative well feels dry. Think of it as an indispensable companion on your writing journey.

2. Ideas Are Abundant, But Need Structure and Development.

Ideas are all around us too, ideas with the potential to become stories and novels, gazillions of ideas—more than enough for every aspiring and veteran writer on the planet.

Ideas are everywhere. The world is teeming with potential stories, far more than any single writer could ever transform into finished works. However, the challenge lies not in the scarcity of ideas, but in the ability to identify, understand, and develop them into compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

Identifying potential. Raw notions need to be recognized for their story potential. A fleeting thought, an overheard conversation, a news headline – these are the seeds of stories. The skill is in spotting these seeds and understanding how they might grow into a plot, characters, and themes.

Development is key. An idea, in its raw form, is rarely a complete story. It requires nurturing, shaping, and expanding. This thesaurus provides the initial structure, but it is the writer's imagination and craft that transform the embryonic idea into a fully realized novel or short story.

3. Explore 2000 Unique Story Situations Organized by Theme.

two thousand story situations in all, enough to keep you swimming in story or novel ideas for a very long time.

A vast reservoir. The thesaurus offers an extensive collection of two thousand distinct story situations. This immense volume ensures a continuous source of inspiration, providing ample material for countless writing projects, from short stories to full-length novels.

Structured for discovery. The ideas are not presented randomly but are systematically organized for ease of use. They are categorized hierarchically:

• 20 broad subjects (Chapters)
• 10 specific categories within each subject
• 10 unique situations within each category

Diverse themes. The subjects cover a wide range of genres and human experiences, ensuring something for every writer's interest. Examples include:

• Adventures
• Clashes/Competitions
• Confessions
• Conquests
• Escapes
• Mysteries
• Searches
• Threats
• Transformations

This organization allows you to browse by theme or delve into specific types of conflicts, characters, or events.

4. Use a Situation as a Launchpad for Your Imagination.

This method uses the situation you settle on as point A and relies upon your imagination to propel the idea into a full-fledged story.

Starting point method. One effective way to utilize the thesaurus is to select a situation that sparks your interest and use it as a basic premise. This situation serves as your initial point, and your creativity takes over to build the entire story around it.

Propel the narrative. Once you have the core situation, allow your imagination to explore different directions the story could take. Consider alternative plot developments, character motivations, and outcomes. The provided situation is merely the beginning, not the entire story.

Infinite possibilities. Even a single situation can lead to numerous unique stories depending on how you develop it. For example, a situation about a vanishing scientist and a CIA agent could be:

• A double-agent thriller
• A story of former lovers reunited
• A tale where the "secret weapon" doesn't exist

Your creative intuition is the engine that drives the idea forward into a complete narrative.

5. Transform Ideas by Modifying Key Details.

Instead of making major plot changes, you can simply set the situation we noted in a specific decade.

Digging into details. Beyond altering the main plot, you can personalize a story situation by changing specific elements within it. This method focuses on modifying the smaller components that make up the scenario, leading to a fresh perspective without necessarily overhauling the core premise.

Changing context. Altering the setting is a powerful way to transform a story. Consider:

• Shifting the time period (e.g., a spy story in the 1950s vs. today)
• Changing the geographical location (e.g., Eastern Europe vs. Antarctica)
• Modifying the genre (e.g., a thriller as a romance or a western)

Character variations. You can also play with character details. Swap genders, change relationships (e.g., lovers to siblings or parent/child), or alter their professions or backgrounds. These changes can introduce new dynamics and conflicts.

By manipulating these specific details, you can take a general situation and make it entirely your own, exploring how different contexts and characters would interact within the given premise.

6. Create Complex Narratives by Combining Situations.

It is also possible to combine two or more situations in the same chapter.

Intra-chapter synergy. The thesaurus encourages combining multiple situations to create more intricate stories. A simple way to do this is by selecting two or more situations from the same chapter, which share a common overarching theme.

Building complexity. Combining situations allows you to weave together different plot threads or character arcs. For instance, taking two aviation adventure scenarios – a barnstormer trying to impress a woman and a female aviator being sabotaged by a rival – can lead to a new story where the barnstormer is both intimidated by and attracted to the female aviator, leading to a dangerous contest.

Suitable for longer works. This method is particularly useful when developing ideas for novels, as the combination of situations provides a richer foundation and more potential for subplots and character development than a single situation might offer. However, it can also enrich short stories.

By merging related ideas, you create a more layered and compelling narrative structure, offering greater depth and potential for conflict and resolution within a shared thematic space.

7. Build Deeper Stories by Blending Ideas Across Themes.

If you find one situation you like, you can also take another situation from a different chapter altogether to create a deeper story, or one with a powerful subplot.

Inter-chapter fusion. A more advanced technique involves combining situations from entirely different chapters. This allows you to introduce diverse themes and conflicts into a single narrative, creating a story with multiple layers and unexpected connections.

Adding subplots and depth. Blending ideas across subjects can introduce powerful subplots or add thematic depth. For example, combining a situation about a prisoner transforming into a healer (Transformation chapter) with a situation about a natural disaster threatening a hospital (Threat chapter) creates a dramatic scenario where the character's internal struggle plays out against an external crisis.

Unexpected juxtapositions. This method can lead to highly original concepts by juxtaposing seemingly unrelated ideas. A love story could involve characters from a mysterious society, or an escape narrative could be driven by a curse.

By drawing from different sections of the thesaurus, you can create narratives that are not only complex but also explore the intersections of various aspects of the human condition and fictional possibilities.

8. Ideas are Embryonic, Awaiting Your Creative Touch.

The ideas are here, in embryonic form, waiting for your creative vision to transform them into exciting short stories or novels.

Raw potential. The situations presented in the thesaurus are not finished stories but rather the foundational elements. They are like seeds or embryos, containing the potential for life, but requiring the writer's energy, skill, and imagination to grow into fully formed narratives.

The writer's role. Your creative vision is the essential ingredient. It is your unique perspective, experiences, and voice that will breathe life into these concepts. The thesaurus provides the spark, but you provide the fire that shapes the story.

Transformation process. Taking an embryonic idea involves:

• Developing characters
• Building the world
• Crafting plot points
• Exploring themes
• Writing the prose

This process is where the true magic of writing happens, turning a simple premise into a captivating reading experience.

Remember that the power lies not just in the idea itself, but in what you, the writer, do with it. The thesaurus is a tool, and your creativity is the force that makes it valuable.

9. Cultivate the Habit of Capturing Ideas in a Notebook.

By the way, I encourage you to develop this notebook habit too!

Ideas are fleeting. The author emphasizes the importance of constantly capturing ideas as they arise, noting that they come at unexpected times – while driving, cooking, or even trying to sleep. Ideas can be elusive and easily forgotten if not immediately recorded.

Author's practice. The author himself maintains numerous notebooks filled with ideas gathered over the years. This personal practice underscores the value of having a system for collecting these creative sparks, ensuring that potential stories are not lost.

Begetting more ideas. The act of jotting down ideas can itself stimulate further creativity. Ideas have a way of connecting and generating new ones, making the notebook a fertile ground for ongoing inspiration.

Make keeping a notebook or digital note-taking system a regular habit. Be ready to capture thoughts whenever and wherever they strike, ensuring you build your own personal reservoir of story potential alongside the thesaurus.

10. Navigate the Thesaurus Systematically or Randomly.

In addition to flicking randomly through The Writer’s Idea Thesaurus and chancing upon one story situation or another (which can be fun), you might try the following systematic approach.

Two paths to discovery. The book offers flexibility in how you approach finding ideas. You can simply browse through the pages, allowing chance to guide you to a situation that catches your eye. This can be a fun and serendipitous way to stumble upon unexpected inspiration.

A structured approach. Alternatively, you can use the systematic method outlined in the introduction. This involves reviewing the Table of Contents, identifying chapters and categories that align with your interests or current project needs, and then exploring the specific situations listed within those sections.

Combining methods. You can also blend these approaches. Start with a systematic search for a general theme, and then allow yourself to browse randomly within that chapter or category.

Whether you prefer a structured search or a more freeform exploration, the key is to engage with the material in a way that stimulates your imagination and helps you find the ideas that resonate most strongly with you.

Last updated: May 19, 2025