Brainstorming Post-Corona Stories

 By Debby Giusti

You’ve all heard the old adage, “When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.” I love the lemon to lemonade concept and was toying with ways we could take the negative aspects of our present situation with the coronavirus and use it in a positive way to enhance our writing.
Most of us are sheltering at home, right? So I thought it might be interesting to use the outbreak as a starting point to brainstorm future stories. For traditional publishing, the process from proposal to having a book on the shelf takes about a year. Looking ahead to April or May 2021, I anticipate most stories released from that time on will at least mention the pandemic, while others might draw more deeply from what the world is experiencing at this unique moment in history.


Are you stamping your foot and wagging your finger at me? “Books transport me away from daily problems,” you say, “and I don’t want to read about another pandemic, especially when I lived through the BIG ONE of 2020!” You’re right, of course, and I agree.
Readers won’t be enthusiastic about immersing themselves in fictional outbreaks when the actual event is still so real, but they will expect to see some of the repercussions from a near global shutdown woven into future stories.


So let’s brainstorm story ideas using the pandemic as a backdrop. Throw out some ideas—the sky’s the limit—and we’ll add to the comments and see how the various plots develop.
What about characters? How will the outbreak play into our hero or heroine’s backstory? Perhaps they’ll struggle with the loss of a loved one from the virus or a hesitation to “get close” to people or interact or fall in love. Some characters might carry guilt for the mistakes they made during the actual outbreak. It’s plausible that nurses and doctors might leave the healthcare profession or deal with emotional problems akin to PTSD after the suffering and loss of life they were exposed to day after day.
Let’s also brainstorm ideas about our new normal after the outbreak subsides. How will life change and how will those changes play into future stories? Will we continue to wear face masks when we’re ill or in crowded situations? What about handshakes and hugs? How will we greet one another post-corona? Will more people work from home, will distance learning be the norm for our schools, will more church services be live-streamed? Share your thoughts about life after corona and how writers can anticipate those changes now. If you’re currently working on a book, how do you plan to include the outbreak in your WIP?

Brainstorming works on the premise that two heads are better than one. Articulating ideas without a censor overrides the negative voices within and allows creativity free rein. So let’s throw out story ideas or facets of a story that relate to the outbreak. We’ll take the lemons of this time of social distancing and make some refreshing lemonade to curb our thirst and spur on our imaginations.
Along with lemonade, there's also coffee and hot tea. Pour something to drink and help yourself to the breakfast bar. You’ll find blueberry muffins and orange scones, fruit and grits! 


Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered in a drawing for a copy of my latest Love Inspired Suspense, DANGEROUS AMISH INHERITANCE.
Now, let’s Brainstorm Post-Corona Stories!
Wishing you abundant blessings,Debby Giustiwww.DebbyGiusti.com


Dangerous Amish InheritanceBy Debby Giusti
“Move off the mountain. No one wants you here.”

Can this Amish widow survive her dangerous stalker?

Someone wants Ruthie Eicher off Amish Mountain…enough to terrorize the widow and her boys. Now Ruthie must rely on her former sweetheart, Noah Schlabach—the secret father of her eldest son—as they figure out why. But Noah has turned his back on love and the Amish way of life. Can he shield Ruthie…without breaking her heart again?
Pre-order HERE!


The Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award of Excellence 2020is looking for submissions! Don't miss a great opportunity for feedback and the chance to win the prestigious Maggie!Submission deadline is April 24, 2020.