Simple Ideas, Brilliant Stories: Why Less Can Be More
You don’t need complex plots to write powerful stories. Learn how simple ideas can spark unforgettable narratives—and how to start yours today.
Hey,
Reginaldo Osnildo here again!
So, let me ask you something: Have you ever thought, “I want to write, but I
don’t have any good ideas”?
Yeah… that
thought? Total myth.
Because the truth is, you don’t need a brilliant, mind-blowing idea to start
writing. You just need a simple idea with heart—and that, my friend,
is where the magic lives.
Let’s unpack this together.
🧠 Big Stories Start with Small Seeds
People
often think great stories need:
- Crazy
plot twists
- Deep
philosophical themes
- Entire fantasy worlds with
their own languages
But
actually? Some of the most powerful stories come from ordinary, relatable
moments.
- A person waiting for a call
that never comes
- A walk through an old
neighborhood
- The memory of a childhood
summer
These are
not “boring” ideas—they’re real. And real is what makes readers care.
✨ Why Simple Ideas Are So Powerful
Because
they connect.
Readers
relate to everyday emotions—loss, love, fear, hope. If your story touches just
one of those, you’ve already created something meaningful.
Think about
The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. It's just a man and a fish.
Or Forrest Gump: a guy sitting on a bench telling his life story.
Simple setups. Huge impact.
It’s not
about the idea. It’s about how you tell it.
🪄 Where to Find Your Simple Ideas
You don’t
need to wait for inspiration to strike like lightning. Just ask yourself
a few magic questions:
- What’s something ordinary I saw
today that stuck with me?
- What moment in my life changed
me, even a little?
- What if this thing had
gone differently?
Here are
some quick examples:
- A lost umbrella in a coffee shop. Who
left it? Why?
- A voicemail that wasn’t meant for you. What
did it say?
- Two strangers sharing a table in silence. What’s
the tension?
Boom—you’ve
got a story seed.
🔧 How to Turn a Simple Idea Into a Real Story
Once you
have an idea, follow this mini-framework:
1. Choose
a Character
Who is this
story happening to?
2. Find
the Emotion
What’s the
character feeling—and why?
3. Introduce
a Conflict
What’s in
their way? What’s the tension?
4. Give
It Purpose
What’s the
point of this story? A lesson? A change? A moment?
5. End
With Meaning
It doesn’t
have to be dramatic. Just… satisfying.
✍️ Try This Quick Writing Exercise
Let’s bring
it all together.
Prompt:
A woman
finds a letter tucked inside a used book at a garage sale.
Now ask yourself:
- Who
is she?
- Who
wrote the letter?
- What
does it say?
- What does she do with it?
Write just
one paragraph. Go!
🚫 Don’t Fall for These Common Traps
- Thinking your idea is too
basic. If you
care about it, it’s valid.
- Waiting for a “better” idea. Start with what you’ve got.
- Trying to force drama. Subtle can be powerful too.
Your job
isn’t to impress. Your job is to express.
✅ The Takeaway
Every story
begins with something small: a sentence, a memory, a moment. And from that, you
can build something incredible.
Simple
doesn’t mean boring. It means clear. Real. Relatable.
And that’s
exactly the kind of writing people remember.
🎁 Want Help Turning Simple Ideas Into Full
Stories?
Let’s make
it official. I wrote a full e-book that walks you through this process,
step-by-step:
👉 The Basics of Creative Writing for
Those Who Have Never Written Short Stories or Novels
Inside,
I’ll show you how to go from blank page to finished story in a single day—even
if you’ve never written creatively before.
You’ll
learn how to brainstorm, structure, and actually finish your stories
using tools that are fun, simple, and beginner-friendly.
So… what’s
your simple idea today?
See you in
the next article!
— Reginaldo Osnildo