Story Ideas, By Everyone

[Andy]

Here's another guide to which everyone can contribute! Basically, everyone contributes one to a few sentences, and at the end we have one big guide with everyone's thoughts in it.

If someone is having a hard time thinking of a plot, what advice would you give them?

[jordanisonfire]

Go for a walk. Especially if you're in the countryside. It helps a lot! Most of the ideas I've thought of I've got from walking around. As your walking, think of your story and ideas will come to fruition, hopefully.

[Crocolyle]

If you can't think of a plot, maybe try to think of some interesting characters. Sometimes a plot can develop from them.

[Nyx]

Go for a walk. Especially if you're in the countryside. It helps a lot! Most of the ideas I've thought of I've got from walking around. As your walking, think of your story and ideas will come to fruition, hopefully.


Yep that always works for me. Even walking around my block a few times helps alot.

[GeorgeMichael]

depending on what genre you want to write (assuming that you have one in mind) then you can do what I did. I like to write comedy so I walked on over to afi.com and looked up their top 100 funniest movies (they have top lists for several genres.) basically you should pick some random films from the genre you're interested in and try watching them. They might inspire you to write some scenes, or write a cooky character that's a mix of several that you've seen. From that you might be better on track to an easier discovery of a plot.

[Carraka]

From what I've observed, there are two basic ways I develop stories. (I've only lived for fourteen years, so I don't exactly understand how I do it yet.)

Starting with a character. This goes back to those golden roleplaying days. I would create a profile for my character, make up a random history, and then the history would be a possible storyline. Or I would roleplay with myself, and the interaction between two characters would give me another idea.

Starting with a system. Since I mostly write fantasy, this especially works for me because you need to come up with a system for magic. (Or a system for flesh-eating horses, heh.) For example, if I wanted to make a system of magic based on emotion, I would have to know who could use the magic when, how the non-users would protect themselves, what the limits were, what people thought of magic, etc.

Then, I would create a loophole. Someone that isn't supposed to have magic does have magic. Or the other way around. -glares- Might be cliche, but I could play with it.

Maybe a certain type of magic suddenly starts failing, and no one knows why.

A long lost artifact is found and begins to change the magic system in a way that threatens the ideals of those who use it.

Yeah, that's it, I guess.

[Rafael Domination]

If you can't think of a plot...

STEAL! STEAL! STEAL!!! (Do NOT plaigiarize, but take from others and mash the plot, have some fun with it, turn it into something completely unrecognizable, take the characters, add your own voice and twists, ANYTHING...and you'll come up with your own masterpeice...)

[AWritersFantasy]

If you can't think of a plot...

STEAL! STEAL! STEAL!!! (Do NOT plaigiarize, but take from others and mash the plot, have some fun with it, turn it into something completely unrecognizable, take the characters, add your own voice and twists, ANYTHING...and you'll come up with your own masterpeice...)

What happens if you can't find anything to steal from that's worthy of it? Which is pretty much what I'm going through. :|

[Eve]

Hear compliments. That's the best I have and it worked superbly!

Imagine yourself as the character and think of how he/she would respond

Relax. Hear some music. Let your imagination run wild.

[Rafael Domination]

What happens if you can't find anything to steal from that's worthy of it? Which is pretty much what I'm going through. :|


Then keep reading, watching TV, read magazines of games, books, real-life events, anything. Something is bound to impress you and make you say "I can use that!" No one's life is that boring...look to nature, look at the city. Think of scenes you could set up there, fighting, dialogue, disasters, etc.

[Alex]

First off see if you can write something from scratch of an entirely different nature. I find that writing in extreme opposites helps me find ideas for the other opposite ((not sure if that made sense but...))

If I'm writing about love and am stuck I will try writing something about death and hate and for me it seems to open up a wider range of thought which can help in your writing, even if you're confined to one genre in your current work.

[ScottyMcGee]

Someone already said music, but I say SPECIFICALLY listen to movie soundtracks.
Harry Potter. Indiana Jones. James Bond. Lord of the Rings.
The thing about movie soundtracks is, unlike regular pop culture music, you can have a story go along in your head like a film. When the violins are tense, you think of something suspenseful, when the theme is bold and brassy you think of something heroic.

And another thing: Play Final Fantasy games.

Just do it.

I was just inspired by Final Fantasy XII last night and I started writing this short story.

Listen to other people's conversations. Realistic dialogue is a big inspiration.

Record your dreams. Dreams are a fantastic way to be inspired.

Travel. When one travels one gets an open mind of the world and something new comes inside.

Play an online game. Unlike regular games, online battles in Halo, Battlefield 1942, Star Wars, whatever, can all be unpredictable. Maybe a certain scenario happens that would be a good plot line. I remember once I was playing Halo and I was the only guy on my team. I was stuck inside a base that was being bombarded constantly. I was thinking that would be a good opening to an action movie or something.

[asian-fanatic]

Go for a walk/ride in a place more busy and/or crowded.. someplace where numerous activities are taking place... that's when things get interesting and perhaps ideas will begin to dawn from there [=

[lango]

What I usually do is, I think up a character, I usualy already have the genre in my mind. Then I kill the character :D What would be his last words? How would he make the readers cry?
Other then that, I read/watch movies. Heroic scenes always inspire me. The geeky nerd who against all odds fights the bullies to save the girl he loves. Sure, he still gets pounded, but thats realism for you :D Thats why Ive recently been watching a lot of naruto. Although it gets repetitive, everytime naruto stands up after getting a real beating, just because he needs to win so as to save his friends, it moves me :D

[sXe_Jinxeh]

I think the best (most fun) thing to do is to live your life. No matter what goes on, something will happen. Make it a challenge to yourself to put soemthing that happened to you into the story, it will cause a funny little twist that someday you can reread and laugh about.

Real life is the greatest inspiration. I can't think of how many times I've had something happen to me and put it into a story when I'm blocked, and then that leads me into various other events starting from it.

It works. Brilliantly. Some of the greatest authors in the world base things on real life, like Harper Lee's characters in To Kill A Mockingbird were based on real people.

[Chie'N'Kadath]

Honestly I can't think of much to say other than to get feedback from people you trust. Although I've written it all, I've shared all the drafts and idea sheets for my novel series The Forgotten Hollows with Chie, and she's given me honest input whenever I've gotten stuck on plot points or I was just plain dissatisfied with what I came up with.
-Kadath

[Starry]

Always be open to new ideas. You never know when inspiration might hit. Watching tv, talking with friends, just spacing out, anything, and then just go with it. You can start out with a character, a world, an event, an object, anything and expand from there.

If you're really stuck, there are some really good writing prompts or dares out there to work from. My current project, Estara, started with the lines "Do you want to find out what 'or else' means?" "Dear God, yes!" and the assumption of fantasy, and now it's 25,000 words!

[Guessed]

The reason I'll never make a good writer is that despite the fact that I have some creativity /somewhere/ in my li'l brain, I refuse to follow through with ANY ideas unless I think they are the epitome of brilliance. Of course, they never are.

I need instruction. I need my english teacher to tell us to write an essay about just one page of Fahrenheit 451, because otherwise I'll go insane (He did, thank gods.) I really need some guy to shout at me, "NOW: Write a story about a PIG being pursued by a rogue BIOLOGY STUDENT." I'd immediately type up some drivel about it. But... there is no such guy. And my foetal pig practical is in twenty minutes and I can't for the life of me remember what the pericardium is called (I'll have forgotten it by then). Life is bad.

[Snappy Penguine]

This may sound stupid, but try doing some chores. I've noticed that when I'm doing the dishes--or especially when mowing the lawn--my mind is free and empty and ideas just start running into my head.

[random_writer]

Here's one. Read a book and listen to music. I know a few authors that post playlists of music that inspired them. When I find one of those, I immediately go download some of it.
But, about the book:
Once, I was reading a historical fiction called "Copper Sun" (Really good book by Sharon Draper.), and it got me thinking about discrimination because it was about slavery, which of course, brings up African-American and Caucasian relations, and such. It got me thinking, "What would happen if an African girl woke up in a white girl's skin? What would she think of everyone treating her differently?" and so on. Now I have all sorts of random scenes in my head that I need to get down on paper/computer screen.
So think analytically when you read. Think about the way society relates to one another; our problems that we deny and ignore, our common courtesies.
In other words, look for a sign. From God, or whoever else. Or just a random sign.

[sXe_Jinxeh]

I recently tried something where I wrote a scene from a different character's perspective. One scene in the novel that I'm working on I wrote from Austin's perspective first before putting it to Jordan, and found it made the scene stronger then if I would have written it from Jordan's in the first place.

[Phantom]

I've done that, with a story I haven't posted yet...

[mrfusspot]

Usually, if I can't think of the plot (and I'm not already writing it) I'll just start writing the first chapter. If it seems like a winner after that, I'll dig deeper into the ideas of the chapter and look around my head for something that could possibly come from that. Then I'll go write a quick summary and dissect that for a while before I continue writing.

[Charnell]

I find sitting and thinking about getting a plot never works for me

It'll come when you least expect it from the most random places and creating the most odd train of thoughts. I find simply watching tv might spawn the most simple idea that you can start working on, without it being at all similar to what you saw on tv

Two ideas I'm working on came from two cartoons actually, yet they have nothing to them that would ever remind you of those two cartoons

I find looking for inspiration is often fruitless. Just taking the day as it may works the best for me

[Bowie20049]

Charnell, there's a date on each post. The post before you was from September 2008...and what's the date today? June 2009!

[Knowvella]

Listen to random conversations in a public place.

Often I look for people who are doing something weird or are acting angry or distressed; then I wonder why they're acting weird or look anxious and that can lead me to a character and/or a story.

Asking yourself "What if" questions.

And its been said before, but I definitely agree with listening to music.

Oh, and if you have artistic talent, draw something! Or look at other famous pieces of art--Van Gogh, Vermeer, Picasso, etc, or even lesser known pieces of art.

[Simmi]

I get ideas for stories, character traits, characters, sub-plots by analyzing. I got an idea for a story by looking at how a person who was nervous kept spinning their wedding band around with their thumb.

[Iridescence]

Charnell, there's a date on each post. The post before you was from September 2008...and what's the date today? June 2009!

*wipes dust off of ancient thread* Ooh, lookie what I found! Where did these new posts come from? O_o

Anywhoo, this thread seems to have been revived for the moment, so I may as well contribute. I find that watching nature helps inspire many of my story ideas, as corny as that sounds...>.<
For example, a very powerful entity in my story is based off of the Aurora Borealis, with which I became fascinated some months ago...one of my goals in life is to see it in person.

[Nepthys]

Pictures can often inspire me. Special areas in the nature can sometimes too, which is mostly when I drive around somewhere I've never been, and suddenly an idea pops up in my mind unexpected.
It feels very nice, and if it's good, I'll hurry up and write it down, so that this place and idea can be awaken in my mind again later.
Movies can aswell, but that is again, mostly if they're somewhere particular special.

[Some Day...]

A good way to get inspiration for writing is reading. The best plots are a combination of several elements. Often times I'll read a book and particularly be drawn to one element within the book. Then I'll start going off on that but also combine it with other things I've read. You do have to make sure you are only taken the essence of a story for example: vampires versus the actual story: vampire who's in love with a human, they go out, other evil vampires are thrown in... you get the picture. Also, the news and other events going on around you can be inspiring. Keep your eyes and ears open. The other day I discovered a news story about two girls one dead and the other fighting for her life. They were both in the same accident and their identities were screwed up for nearly two months before the families realized. Switched identities an interesting plot twist? Maybe... Also the world around you has enough drama to be created into a soap opera, reality tv show, and seven book series. Believe me, if you're watching for it it's there.

[buttonbit]

I think it's easier to get past writer's block is to remember that your character doesn't have to react how you do. I've found that when I used to give my characters every choice I would have made, I quickly developed Mary Sue's- which, of course, I denied for a considerable amount of time.
Anyway, for ideas, I think music is a great inspiration.
Also, people watching is very helpful, and I have created several characters this way, though many are still only potential ones.
I think it is also important to try hard but not push yourself to the point where you need to cry. Take a break when you need it. Just don't be lazy. This is how I learnt self-discipline... :o

[miss_smiley]

Well, this thread's worth doing, I think. :P

My tip for plots: go take a look at other material. The number of times I've found quotes or even questions that inspire stories is pretty gnarly, if I do say so myself. Just find something that you find interesting and turn it over in your head a few times.
For example, sitting in Chemistry, learning the law of conservation of mass (basically, nothing is ever lost, for those who don't know) - what if you could change that law? What /could/ change that law, theoretically? What would happen if you did? If some matter just...disappears, what would happen to the matter around it? Or, alternatively, if that didn't get rid of that particular patch of matter, maybe just turned it into something that could destroy other areas of matter, what would be the result?

But that could just be me and my garbled brain. But really think about the things around you. You'll find interesting little clicks everywhere around you.
Also, if you're getting bored with your plotline... do the irrational thing and bring up an anomaly. Ok, rather than saving the princess from that warlock, now you and the princess are stuck in the same godforsaken tower. How come the magic didn't work? And how are you going to get free?

A clichee example in itself, but try it out. And try to add rules in for magic, or biology in for special gifts, like telepathy or other mutant powers (or what have you).

And I've rambled long enough.

[Cricket99]

Here's a great exercise for building characters that me and my friend found:
Take a writer friend with you and go to a coffee shop or somewhere where you can just sit outside with pencils and paper, then take turns choosing random people in the crowd and having your friend write a paragraph on them based on what they look like or what they are doing. Just make sure that person doesn't see you pointing!

[MetallicGryffon]

I would tell them think about what your characters are like and what you like. For example, if the villain is like lord Voldemort, and the hero was a chosen one like Eragon, and you hate chosen ones, you shold have the chosen one die, or go over to the " Dark Side ". See where I'm coming from?

[lalodragon]

Watch everything and everyone and read whatever you can get your hands on.
everybody says that, but I mean it, really. Observe your family-- that's a last resort, usually. Still, if you really pay attention you can learn stuff: character formation, or you might even hear them talking about an experience or a person that sets you off.
Read the back of a cereal box.
Read articles/sections in the newspaper you don't usually bother with. If your most recent newspaper is five years old, read it. Read the classifieds if you're really bored/stuck!
Go on line. Get on Wikipedia or Wikihow and open up a random article-- and read it.
And run around the YWO site for a while. ;) It seriously can help.
While you're doing all this, try to start yourself up again. Half the time when I'm stuck in a writing rut it's because I'm too lazy to think and in denial about it. =P

[Syn]

I don't think I have a recipe for getting ideas. Sometimes they come by watching a movie, tv show, reading a book or playing a videogame, and having my take on some of the elements (it can be a part of the world, a part of the story, or anything, really). Sometimes I can get ideas by watching or reading news, sometimes by talking to people, and sometimes they just come out of the blue. You can also take some hallucinogenic drugs to get ideas too.
OR you can do what I did for writing practice: go to http://www.seventhsanctum.com/
They have generators for pretty much anything, from characters to story ideas to magic names and such. It's actually quite fun. I don't think I'd use it for some real lengthy story, but I think it works great as a writing practice. For instance, I wrote a few short stories based on their generated suggestions, and it worked as a great practice to write different scenes and different settings.
And who knows, maybe in all that you'll find some true ideas.

In my experience, the best ideas come during the very process of writing, so just write, practice, and I'm sure you'll come up with something!!

[Julian]

And another thing: Play Final Fantasy games.
Just do it.
I was just inspired by Final Fantasy XII last night and I started writing this short story.


This... is a foolproof way.

Go for a walk. Especially if you're in the countryside. It helps a lot! Most of the ideas I've thought of I've got from walking around. As your walking, think of your story and ideas will come to fruition, hopefully.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. As much as old fashioned and boring this sounds, it will give you this self-reflective moment that you really need. And from self-reflection comes a great story to be told.


Otherwise, creating a character is a good start. Just dump your favourite traits in a human being and develop it from there on.This might make your character pretentious and self-indulgent, but meh. If a character is developed well enough, then he should be likeable.

Also, you can start on describing the setting, it's really easy to find a plot after you've pictured a clear image of the setting in your mind.

Or, you can also look at images, then develop a story from these images. This is self-explanatory. A picture's worth a thousand words as they say.

Finally, freewrite. As simple as that. Freewrite. Famous authors such as Murakami do this and while you may come off as rambling, at least you're writing.

[FayGee]

I just ask my dad. He has great ideas, all the time! :)

[ahlaj77]

For me taking a walking and listening to music can help me! Lyrics of a song can possibly put ideas in your head!
I know I can't control this but I seem to base a lot of my stories from dreams I have.

[Dabs]

Read something. Nothing gets my creative juices flowing like tearing through 20-50 pages before heading to my keyboard. Either that or take a shower. I know many, myself included, who do their best thinking in the shower.