Write With Me: From Wild Idea to Recharge
Ever wondered if your big story idea can make it beyond a week of messy brainstorms, plot twists, and creative curveballs? Same here. That's what makes this not a class, but a shared quest.
This isn't about turning you into a lone writing hero—it's a team effort, side by side. I'm tackling my own book right alongside you, each day in real time. We celebrate the wins, laugh off the flops, and yes, even give ourselves permission to set down our pens and rest when the week is done.
Welcome—Pull Up a (Comfy) Chair
You did it! Six days deep into the labyrinth of story seeds, world-building, stakes, genres, and wild "what ifs." Not every page was a masterpiece (same here), but every page was progress.
This week, you:
Found your story seed and survived magical mishaps and rogue ideas
Juggled plot twists, staked out what really matters, and discovered your book's heartbeat
Saw that sometimes you nail it; sometimes you make a delightful mess
Proved you don't need expertise—just snacks and a bit of imagination
Today? It's our official pause. Pretentious teacher voice: off. Companion-in-the-trenches mode: on.
Today's Gently Audacious Assignment
Review your week. (Not with a red pen, but "hey look how far I got" curiosity.)
Refine your core idea, stakes, and premise. Take a peek back—has anything changed?
Rest and recharge. Put on fuzzy socks, light a candle, stretch, nap, wander.
Reconnect with the why behind your story. Is it shifting? Good. That's the magic brewing.
Refer to Week 1 Reflection Worksheet, the Week 1 Progress Tracker, and the Week 1 Story Foundation Checklist
Not a Class, But a Check-In: Your Story Foundation Checklist
These questions aren't a test—more like a group huddle at the end of an epic week. Go through each element with curiosity, not critique.
Day 1: Story Seeds - What Makes Fantasy Compelling?
Your Core Story Idea:
Can you describe your story in one sentence without over-explaining?
Does it still make your brain light up after a week of development?
What changed from your first fuzzy idea to now?
Reflection Questions:
What scene or "aha!" moment are you still thinking about?
Did your concept survive contact with reality, or did it evolve into something weirder/better?
Day 2: Concept vs. Premise - The Ultimate Guide
Concept vs. Premise Clarity:
Do you know the difference now? (If not, no judgment—it's slippery!)
Concept = The big "what if?" or cool idea
Premise = The story you're actually telling (with character, goal, obstacle, stakes) Check-In:
Can you state both your concept AND your premise?
Has your premise gotten clearer or murkier? (Both are valid!)
Day 3: Stakes & Conflict - What's at Risk? Why Does This Matter? Personal Stakes:
What does your protagonist stand to lose?
What do they desperately want or need?
Local/Community Stakes:
How does the conflict ripple out to those around them?
Who else pays the price?
Global/World Stakes:
What are the broader implications?
Why should readers care beyond "cool magic system"?
Core Conflict:
What's the central problem that drives everything?
Is it clear enough to sustain a whole book?
Real Talk Check:
Which level of stakes felt easiest to identify?
Which made you go "umm... I'll figure that out later"?
Day 4: Genre Blending - Mixing Fantasy, Mystery, Romance & Thriller Elements Your Genre Mix:
What's your primary fantasy subgenre? (Epic, urban, dark, cozy, YA, etc.) What other genres are you blending in? (Romance? Mystery? Thriller? Horror?) Does this blend feel authentic to YOUR story, or are you just throwing in cool stuff? Honest Assessment:
Are you excited about this mix, or does it feel forced?
Did genre blending clarify your story or complicate it?
Day 5: Voice & Style - Find Your Voice, Flex Your Style
Your Narrative Voice:
How would you describe your story's voice? (Snarky? Lyrical? Gritty? Whimsical?) Does it match the story you're trying to tell?
Has your voice shifted as you've developed the story?
Style Considerations:
Prose style: Sparse or lush? Fast-paced or contemplative?
Tone: Serious? Funny? Dark? Hopeful?
Does your style serve your story or fight against it?
Vulnerability Moment:
Are you writing in a voice that feels natural, or one you think you "should" use?
️ Day 6: Point of View - Whose Story Is This?
POV Choice:
First person? Third person limited? Third omniscient? Multiple POVs?
Whose eyes are we seeing this story through?
Why did you choose this POV?
POV Reality Check:
Does this POV actually serve your story, or did you just pick it because it's familiar? Are you sticking with one POV or juggling multiple characters?
If multiple: Do you NEED all those perspectives, or are you avoiding going deep with one?
Your Distilled Premise
The 2-Sentence Premise Test:
Can you boil your story down to 2 compelling sentences that include:
Your protagonist (who they are)
Their goal (what they want)
The obstacle (what's in the way)
The stakes (why it matters)
Example Format:
[Character] must [goal] or else [stakes]. But [obstacle/complication] stands in their way. Write yours here (or admit it's still cooking):
Hook/Opening Feel
Your Story's First Impression:
Do you have a sense of how your story begins?
What's the opening mood/tone/energy?
Does it grab attention and establish the voice you discovered in Day 5?
No Pressure:
If this is still fuzzy, that's fine. Sometimes the opening reveals itself AFTER you know your characters (that's next week!).
Team "Let's Just Go For It" Weekly Reflection
Set aside 15-20 minutes with your journal, your laptop, or just your brain. Be honest, be kind, be messy.
Looking Back at the Week
1. What was your biggest "wait, THAT'S my story?" moment this week?
Which lesson or exercise sparked the most clarity or surprise?
2. Which day felt like magic? Which felt like a plot hole?
Not every day lands the same. What resonated? What made you go "huh?"
3. Did your story mutate into something weirder/better/funnier?
Did it evolve in unexpected ways from Day 1 to now?
4. What part of the process felt easiest? (Besides snacks)
This might reveal your natural strengths as a storyteller.
5. What tripped you up the most? (No judgment—me too)
Stakes? Voice? POV? Genre? We all have different creative muscles.
Moving Forward
6. How has your story evolved from Day 1 fuzzy idea to now?
Compare your notes from Monday to today. Notice the growth—or the beautiful chaos.
7. Characters are storming in next week—what are you most jazzed about?
Protagonists? Antagonists? Side characters who steal scenes?
8. What's one self-care ritual you're committing to this week?
Writing is a marathon. How will you keep showing up without burning out?
Gratitude & Reality Checks
9. Energy check (1-10, honestly):
Be real. If you're at a 3, that's valuable data. Rest accordingly.
10. One victory lap moment from this week: Even if it's just "I showed up every day" or "I admitted my genre blend is weird and I love it"—that counts!
© 2025 Lisa A. Moore. All rights reserved.