Now we get to the non-prose recommendations. Things like TV shows, manga, comics, etc. The first recommendation is the Yuri series I Don’t Know Which Is Love.
About I Don’t Know Which Is Love
As usual, I’m recommending this both because it ties into the theme of the month: coming up with an idea, and because I thoroughly enjoy it. The story is about Mei Soraike, our lovely protagonist, who is looking for a girlfriend in college after being turned down by her best friend. Thing is, she ends up with five girls interested in her, each for a different reason. One for her looks, one for her smell (???), one for her voice, one weirdo who loves kissing, and one who likes Mei because she stood up for her. Yep. And the fun part? She’s attracted to all of them as well.
While the manga is careful to hide, or simply omit naughty bits, you really get the sense that all of these girls are naughty on some level. Miss Kissy is the worst, with Miss Smell being a close second (stripping your roommate naked and sleeping next to her in the buff? Seriously?) but it works. Mostly because I find it funny more than sexy, albeit with a lot of sexy in it. The funny is in a good way, don’t worry.
Anyway, after we meet all the characters, she spends time with each of them, doing various activities, like a steamy photo shoot, with Mei being the subject or ending up in the bath with her roommate. In this way, we learn more about the characters and their attitudes. Obviously, this is far from a bad thing to at least consider emulating while you’re writing, though unless your aim is fanservice, you may want to consider toning down the lewdness. Seriously, the scenes get very lewd at times.
So what does this have to do with coming up with an idea?
To get back on track, the mangaka explains how they came up with the story idea in the afterword. Basically, they were struggling with their ideas getting shot down, until they eventually settled on the idea of someone finally getting popular, which evolved into the idea of a Yuri harem. They bounced ideas off their editor, wanting the protagonist to be normal, before settling on the idea of having the characters all like different aspects of her. Yep, a winding road of bouncing ideas off their editor landing with a hilariously off the wall harem comedy. So don’t be afraid to bounce ideas off of others. It can only help.
And honestly, I love hearing about how other writers came up with their ideas. By the way, volume 2 comes out tomorrow. I can’t wait!