if you need a story idea

AmaranthMuse and I were discussing how to get a story idea this morning and thought this might make a good forum post.

If you have no idea what to write for November, you might find it helpful. If you already have an idea and characters, then don't worry if they don't fit in this exercise. I only use this exercise when I'm searching for an idea.

This is based on How I are Becomed A Very Much Gooder Writer by Sevastian Winters. (With some modifications.)

Create a series of possible answers for your Main Character, Best Friend and Enemy. It's important to have at least two or three answers to most of the questions so you have something to choose later, but don't get stuck because you can't think of four answers to every question.

Then pick answers at random, or choose the combination you like the most. Play with the answers until you have something that generates a number of questions that you are curious about. (The story comes about as you try to answer those questions.) If some of the questions don't fit the story, then drop them. The idea is to get started, not have a complete picture of everything.

1) What is the main characteristic of the main character?

a)

b)

c)

d)


2) What one thing does the main character want more than anything else?

a)

b)

c)

d)

3) What prevents the main character from getting what she or he or it most wants?

a)

b)

c)

d)

4) What quirk does the main character have?

a)

b)

c)

d)


5) Where does the story take place?

a)

b)

c)

d)

6) What is the main characteristic of the main character's best friend?

a)

b)

c)

d)

7) What does the best friend want?

a)

b)

c)

d)


8) What prevents the best friend from getting what she or he wants?

a)

b)

c)

d)




9) What is the best friend's quirk?

a)

b)

c)

d)

10) What is the main characteristic of the main char's worst enemy?

a)

b)

c)

d)

11) What does the enemy want?

a)

b)

c)

d)

12) What stops the enemy from getting what he or she wants?

a)

b)

c)

d)

13) What is the enemy's quirk?

a)

b)

c)

d)

14) What else do you know about these characters?

a)

b)

c)

d)



Now, you can try taking some combination of abcd answers for each question, and see what you come up with. Play around until you're happy with the combination. Then try writing the story.

Very interesting! Thanks for posting this. It looks like I'm going to need a couple of packs of index cards after all. Oh wait...maybe I can kanbanpad these. *makes a note to self*