Ever wanted to write a book but don’t know where to start? That’s where Finding Your Story comes in!

This Café Creative Writers workshop in Belfast is designed to unlock your creativity, help you brainstorm book ideas, and turn a spark into a full-fledged story. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for fresh inspiration, this session will give you the tools you need to begin your writing journey.

💡 BONUS: We’ve created a FREE downloadable worksheet to guide you through the process. Download it below and start writing!

📥 Download the 'Finding Your Story' Worksheet

🔍 Where Do Story Ideas Come From for Creative Writers?

Every great book starts with a simple idea, but where do these ideas come from?

📖 Personal Experience: Life events, childhood memories, and emotions can inspire authentic, relatable stories.

🌍 The World Around You: News stories, overheard conversations, and real-world events can become the foundation for intriguing fiction.

🧐 The ‘What If?’ Game: Ask yourself wild questions:

• What if people could time-travel through books?

• What if the last person on Earth wasn’t alone?

• What if every lie created a visible scar?

  
  

👉 Worksheet Task: Write down 5 “What If?” questions to explore potential story ideas.

🖋️ What Makes Your Story Unique?

Your story should have a reason to exist—something that makes it stand out. Consider:

💡 Why is this story important to YOU?: Passion drives creativity!

🎭 Who is your ideal reader?: Are you writing for children, sci-fi fans, or mystery lovers?

🎨 What emotions do you want to evoke?: Excitement? Nostalgia? Fear?

👉 Worksheet Task: Write a one-sentence summary of your story idea.

🌍 Choosing Your Genre & Themes

Genres shape reader expectations, while themes give depth to your story.

📌 Common Genres:

✔ Fantasy: Magical worlds, mythical creatures, epic quests.

✔ Sci-Fi: Advanced technology, space travel, futuristic societies.

✔ Mystery: Whodunnits, crime thrillers, detective stories.

✔ Romance: Love stories, emotional conflicts, happy endings.

✔ Horror: Supernatural forces, psychological terror, eerie settings.

📌 Common Themes:

✔ Redemption: A character seeking forgiveness or change.

✔ Betrayal: Exploring trust and deception.

✔ Power & Corruption: What happens when people gain control?

✔ Love & Sacrifice: What are we willing to give up for others?

👉 Worksheet Task: Choose your genre and 2-3 themes that fit your story.

📝 Mapping Out Your Story

Before you start writing, it helps to visualise your book. A mind map can organise your ideas and connect important elements.

📌 Mind Map Sections:

📖 Main Idea – What’s the central concept of your story?

👤 Characters – Who are your main players? Protagonist? Villain? Side characters?

🌍 Setting – Where does your story take place? Real world? A fantasy land? A futuristic city?

🎭 Conflict – What problem needs solving?

🎯 Resolution – How will the story end?

👉 Worksheet Task: Sketch a simple mind map using these elements.

👥 Meet Your Characters

Your characters bring your story to life. Consider:

🧐 Who is your protagonist? – Their backstory, strengths, weaknesses, and motivation.

👤 Who is the antagonist? – The person (or force) that opposes them.

🎭 Side Characters? – Friends, mentors, rivals—who else plays a role?

👉 Worksheet Task: Write a brief character profile for your main character, including their biggest goal and flaw.

🚀 Next Steps – Take Action on Your Story!

Now that you have a story idea, genre, themes, and characters, it’s time to start writing!

🖥️ Join our online writing community with live Zooms & exclusive videos!✍️