Testing a New Novel or Short Story Idea

Robert McKee, in his book, Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting, has this tip for testing out a new plot.

Next time you're out with a friend, ask him or her if you can tell them your new story idea. Halfway through, make an excuse to leave the table. When you come back, start talking about something else, as though you've forgotten all about the story. If your friend interrupts to ask you to finish, you know you have a winner. If your friend instead seems relieved, definitely think twice about your story idea.

This strategy is especially important for novelists, who can spend several years on a single novel, but it can be effective with stories, too.

For more tips on the subject especially for novelists, see "Is Your Idea Novel-Worthy?". And for more on what we can learn from screenwriters, see this exercise on back story.