I already have the basic idea in my head. I've never looked at a blank and said, what type of story should I write? However, if a writer needs an idea, a good way to be inspired is to ask readers for an idea. Or consider a story that you've read and liked, and use that as inspiration. I don't mean in the way of copying it (that's obviously a big no-no), but ask yourself what you liked about, and what could you change to make it yours. Different characters, setting, time period, reverse roles. A new scenario, but with a similar outcome. A similar scenario, but with a new outcome. Did you want it to continue? What ideas did you have? But it's the writers' responsibility to make sure it their own and different enough that it won't be perceived as mimicking or copying someone else's work. Use for inspiration only.
Sometimes, I read stories, and I say to myself - I would have done this or that, instead. I would have made the ending different. That conversation would have started a fight, not lead to a kiss. - and so, you begin to build your own story.
Once I have the initial idea, anything goes from there. I've usually have a basic idea of content and an ending. But details lack. That's when I am faced with a blank page, and one broad idea. This probably won't be helpful to hear, but I just start writing one sentence at a time, and ideas just get strung together like latticework. Some of my favorite chapters came together with one broad idea, and nothing else.
Like in Save Our Souls, the chapter where Nikki and Mick go to the club together to try to find the club manager to ask about a booking. And Mick eventually shares his life problems with Nikki after Nikki was caught buying drugs from Robbin. It's one of my favorite chapters of all my stories. The only idea I had when I started writing that chapter was that Nikki was gonna score drugs at the club. I just started writing, one sentence, then the next, and before knew it a great chapter came together with details I never imagined or planned.
So all I can say, is just give it try. Find that broad idea and just write. Be open minded. Be willing erase stuff to write in a better idea. Read it over and over at every step. Try to read it from an objective viewpoint, as if you're reading someone else's work. Where does your mind take you? What do you think is going to happen next.
