You’re going to write a BOOK & here’s *exactly* how to start | BRAINSTORM TO BOOK SERIES, ep. 01
If what I’m about to say makes you uncomfortable, you probably needed to hear it: daydreaming about that book idea is NOT going to get your novel written.
Welcome to Episode 1 of Brainstorm to Book—a new series where I take you through the REAL process of turning a vibe, an aesthetic, or a single spark… into a fully developed novel.
In this episode, I’m breaking down my entire brainstorming process using my new WIP, Project Loner / The Distance Between Skin, and showing you exactly how I go from “I have a feeling” → “this is the foundation of a book.”
✨ WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 - Intro
00:16 - What is the "BRAINSTORM TO BOOK" series?
01:04 - STEP ONE & TWO: Gathering inspiration and how to do it
02:04 - My WIP, Project Loner, and what inspired it
05:07 - STEP THREE: The pinterest scroll
05:37 - Project Loner coded things ✨
06:26 - The RIGHT way to use pinterest
06:55 - Meet my main characters!
08:16 - Quick tips for creating character mood boards!
09:05 - Project Loner FULL pinterest tour
10:31 - I have a book title !!
11:32 - Quick tips for coming up with a book title!
12:07 - Finding your theme is so important, here's why!
13:39 - Project Loner's theme
15:08 - Outro
• Why writing is a personal process (and why your method matters)
• How to create a “Project-coded” list that shapes tone + theme
• The literary influences behind Project Loner
• A Pinterest board tour + how I use visuals to build character depth
• A first look at my main characters: Justine & Silas
• How I brainstorm book titles (and why theme comes first)
• Finding the “heart” of your story before you ever write a word
✨ WHO THIS VIDEO IS FOR:
• New writers who feel stuck in the “idea phase”
• Authors who want a more intuitive, aesthetic approach to brainstorming
• Creatives searching for their next book idea
• Writers struggling to develop theme, tone, or character depth
• Anyone who loves literary fiction, romance, or character-driven stories
💋 SOCIALS:
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bygenevahol...
substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/genevah...
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