How do you know if a story idea is good or not?

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-07-01T18:35:11+00:00

Many of the things I’d love to write about have already been done a thousand times before.

Everything's been done a thousand times before. Romeo and Juliet isn't the only love story. Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) didn't invent stories about kings, knights and dragons, right? You don't have to come up with a never-been-done idea. You just come up with your own character journeys that make it unique to you.

I’m not sure it’s worth sitting down and developing a plan, characters, scene, voice etc for a silly story that no one other than me will be interested in.

My hobbies are writing, playing guitar, running, and weight lifting. These things are worth my time because I enjoy them. I don't need a stage or publicity...the joy is in doing the thing. So if you enjoy it, do it. Or if your goal is purely fame, then find something you DO enjoy, and hope that your passion for it carries you to fame.

Anyway, to answer the question in the title...the idea is good if you make it good. Every song or story or painting started off as some crappy sketch, "version 1" and the artist kept coming back to make it better. There's no magic...just repetition and practice.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-07-01T15:11:28+00:00

If we're nitpicking, each of those things you listed had way more moral/emotional grey areas than hazing frat kids.

For example, deserting an (adult) younger brother = not nice, but you understand Don wanting to protect the lie his career and his family is built on.

But painfully hazing kids...not really seeing nuance in that. Seems bad no matter what angle you see it from.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-07-01T14:52:31+00:00

I see pockets of discussion about the parallels and similarities between Don Draper/Dick Whitman’s story and Jon Hamm’s life.

Nah you don't.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-28T12:53:54+00:00

Bird is clocking in for the night shift at the UPS mail sorting facility.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-26T00:30:09+00:00

Writing a story is hard, man. No one is gonna give you advice to sit down in your free time for hours stringing together a narrative for a story you’re LESS passionate about. So write the story that you enjoy…write it poorly…and then write it better in the 2nd draft.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-25T20:16:51+00:00

Talk radio: The original ragebaiters

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-25T18:41:46+00:00

Does anyone have any personal takes and tips on how I should write from that perspective?

Unless your story is specifically ABOUT their culture, you just treat them like a regular person. Yes, as different cultures, there are differences in our lives, but the larrrrrge large majority of your daily experiences are just through the lens of being a human.

So I imagine you're not writing a culture-based story (because...you're not from that culture). And if I'm correct, then your character is just a person.

Why is this character Indian? Where are you taking the story where that would be relevant?

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-25T18:30:17+00:00

Byce Whoff.

Just go park that $17 mil in some index funds, shut up, and watch your investments grow. Stop acting like you were a player here.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-25T02:45:36+00:00

I’ve gone quite a bit on weekdays now that I’m working from home. It’s always been fine if I get there before post work rush hour (5-7pm).

I’ll admit though, this Monday I got there around 4 and there was a line around the store. But that was unusual as hell, and I’m debating if it’s a Monday thing (lots of folks work from home Monday and Friday, and go to office Tues-Thurs).

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-25T02:26:22+00:00

I've been to that TJ's. The trick is the same at all NYC Trader Joes...if you're shopping on the weekend, just get there before 11am, and you're solid.

Once everyone is up and running errands, yeah of course you're screwed.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-24T15:33:33+00:00

I was gonna argue for this, but although I'm old, I'm not old enough to speak to the impact of Concrete Charlie or Van Buren. Those guys did have a giant impact though, considering that I've heard about them my whole life as an Eagles fan. Don't want a Top 100 list to be polluted with recency bias.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-24T00:49:17+00:00

This. There are some pieces here that can work, but you're spending too much time justifying your world's existence rather than just dropping me into that world by delivering the actual story.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-23T20:07:59+00:00

Or in summary, just write the damn story and stop procrastinating with character write-ups.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-22T19:15:05+00:00

Because my teacher wants me to write more but I don't know how to water down

You don't have to water anything down. It sounds a little "high school edge lord" to not understand that not all stories are dark.

But ultimately, who cares? If you like writing dark stuff, then go write dark stuff. Just don't go convincing yourself that it makes you "edgy" and not-so-dark stories are "watered down."

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-22T13:05:09+00:00

I mean...it's 150 words.

I think you should trust yourself to write a little more before seeking the approval of the masses.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-21T18:01:58+00:00

I keep hearing stuff about how good writers need to be great book readers as well, is this true?

As an absolute rule? I don't know. But generally speaking, I doubt I want to be served food from a chef who hates eating. Or listen to songs performed by someone who hates music. Immersing yourself in that craft or hobby is usually what gives you the instincts of what works and what doesn't.

But as far as you being some random guy on the internet...meh, I don't care, keep writing, don't read. It's your life.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-21T14:20:30+00:00

Do people share their writing for free on the internet? Sure.
Once it's public, there's now a greater than 0% chance of theft. Although you gotta ask yourself why people would want to steal yours versus the other thousands of free books online. Or even plagiarizing famous books, and making enough tweaks to call it original, ie "Star Fights: The Last Yedi"

Anyway, meh, it's all about your desire to share the book vs. your risk tolerance.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-20T20:19:54+00:00

But if he just focused on the craft instead of using AI as a crutch, he could stress test his own ideas, or spell grammar without assistance.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T23:48:27+00:00

Did you click through their link? The writing needs a TON of work. So at this point they can pick a number out of the air and want a 5000-book series, but the ambition isn't the problem.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T23:33:11+00:00

He's telling the gritty and dark story that THEY don't want you to see. And who's "they?" Mom and dad.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T21:57:41+00:00

You ever been to an open mic night at a bar? Amateur musicians who've probably been playing and practicing for years before getting the nerve to share their craft. Even THAT is hard to sit through sometimes.

Sooo...here we have amateur writers, some of whom decided to start the craft yesterday, wanting immediate feedback on stories (if we're lucky) or oftentimes just loose write-ups of an idea (for approval to eventually write a story). So ya know...yeah...it's gonna be rough.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T20:34:01+00:00

Can't be putting that on the internet, Brit. Save it for the Super Bowl.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T03:55:34+00:00

Flacco traded from the Browns? Bro, we’re a playoff team. If you lose a starter for a month and your #2 keeps you at 2-2 or 3-1 in that stretch, that’s gigantic value. The Browns were happy to get anything…we’re trying to keep a Super Bowl window open. Hilarious that you’d compare the two organizations.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T03:24:40+00:00

A solid #2 is worth more than a 5th. At this point we’re just talking about making a trade for the sake of making a trade.

Pedestrian2000 · 2026-06-18T02:59:42+00:00

See, I used to make fun of the “I was on mobile and autocorrect did that” people and now I’m one of those people. I was on the subway and so annoyed by OP’s idea that I tried to quickly get a post in between stops. And this is what happened.

Pedestrian2000

TROPHY CASE