HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN AN IDEA IS STUPID? (Simmons Says #174)


Welcome to my newsletter!

"How do you know when an idea is just too stupid?"

You ever wondered about that Reader?

Many students have asked me, how do you determine what's a stupid idea? How do you know when an idea is really, really dumb, crazy, pointless, and worthless?

One of my favorite answers goes like this: Try to imagine now that someone comes to you with a jar, a glass jar.

You can see in the jar that there's this sort of milky gelatos-like fluid sitting in there. It's not pretty in any way, shape, or form because it could be dirty for all you know, and it's sitting in this jar. And this person who brings this to you is so excited.

"It's like, look what I've made; look what I've discovered here."

And you say, "Well, what is it?"

And they say, "It's gelatin, kind of. It's, it's, it pours into your hand, but it's kind of solid. It's not water. It's not like, Um, it's not like mud, but it's plastic. But you know, you can kind of it will drip between your fingers, but it's not really spilling.

It's sort of like dripping. And it's not quite molasses—it's thicker than molasses."

You're trying to be patient so you say, "And well, okay, okay, great. So you're telling me it's kind of this and that. What can you do with it?"

"Well, you can let it drip from your hand, pour it into different shapes, and squeeze it, you know. Squeeze it until it, you know, gushes between your fingers."

"Yeah, but what, what can we do with it? What is it good for?"

"I don't know yet, but it's really cool, don't you think? Huh?"

When your patience finally runs out, you're probably going to send this person from the office, possibly from the building, definitely off the payroll.

Because your company makes action figures, it also makes ray guns, things that go bang, and that's what you can sell.

What are you supposed to do with some stupid stuff that drips?

Then, at some point, someone figures out, you call it ooze, put it in some sort of a plastic tub, put it on the market, and tell the kids, this is fun because it can drip, and it's nasty, and it's goopy, and the kids will play with it.

And suddenly, you have a million-dollar product.

Later, someone realizes it's like a substance or character in a popular kids' cartoon show. You connect with them, give your ooze another name like Slime, and you have a multi-million dollar product.

So what's stupid? What is crazy?

Stupid is how we might think of something until we actually find a real purpose, market, or audience for it. And how do you do that? You give it time to develop.

It's the same thing with stories.

Best,

Alex Simmons

PS. For more of my insight on this matter, check out this short Simmons Says #11 video, "When Is An Idea Too Crazy?"

*Would you like to add links to my recorded writers' tips to this newsletter?
If so, please
Click This Link.

*If you do not want to continue to receive this newsletter, please feel free to unsubscribe.

If you need any help telling it, let me know.

3959 Saxon Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Simmons Says

Hi, Alex Simmons here. I've taught 100s of aspiring and struggling writers how to overcome their fears and frustrations and create compelling plots, characters, and stories that appeal to a broader audience. Over the years, I've been honored to be a professional author (award-winner), writing coach/teacher, and consultant. I’ve written for many mainstream publishers, Marvel/DC/Archie Comics, and penned plays, interactive games, and video and animation scripts. And I’ve been a global speaker on empowering people through the arts. I have much to share, starting with my Simmons Says Newsletter.

Read more from Simmons Says

Welcome to my newsletter! Hi Reader, I've got another question for you... What makes a solid story structure? There are several answers to that question. But here is the one I live by, and I share it with my students. To start, a story structure is a framework. It's a way of telling a tale, and it can be personal, professional, or instructional. The same basic rules apply whether it’s a screenplay, novel, cartoon, or comic book. Every story has three basic components. B.M.E.; Beginning,...

Welcome to my newsletter! Why the hell should we keep trying? Can you answer that Reader? What do we do when we face writer's block and other creative challenges? Why should we keep writing or creating when we're worried that it won't be good enough? Why should we do it when we fear what other people might say? Why should we even write stories with comedic throughlines or happy endings when the world is going through so much hell in a handbasket? And if we are supposed to do that, how do we...

Welcome to my newsletter! One year, I determined to write a short story every month. I didn't promise to write a publishable short story, just a short story. Some people do this once a week, some every two weeks, and some every day. I challenged myself to write a short story once a month. With everything else I was working on, I would write one short story. How I set that up and met the challenge is another story. I'll tell you bits of it as we go along, but I now challenge you to write a...