A more valuable technique for seeing what’s possible in the idea is to ask yourself, “What if … ?” The “what if” question leads to two places: your story idea and your own mind. It helps you define what is allowed in the story world and what is not. It also helps you explore your mind as it plays in this make-believe landscape. The more often you ask “What if … ?” the more fully you can inhabit this landscape, flesh out its details, and make it compelling for an audience.
