Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Whether you're stuck on your book or just starting to write it, structured brainstorming is an amazing tool to generate high quality story ideas!

In this video, we discuss the 5 Why framework and how it can help you troubleshoot your novel, discuss how to ideate when you're facing off with a blank page, and give some general tips for a successful brainstorming session.

This is Part 1 of FOUR videos on using ideation to plan out your novel. I will put links to the other parts here as they're published:
Part 2: Brainstorming techniques
Part 3: Making creative choices
Part 4: Develop a story idea with me: A worked example!


I'm Nicole Wilbur and I'm a writer and "story nerd", which basically means I love analyzing books, movies, and shows to understand how and why they work. I make videos about becoming a better writer, editing books, and writing resources. If this sounds good to you, hit the subscribe button! :)

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