Everyone’s mind is wired differently. Some are visionary savants that have too many ideas to keep up with while others have to spin the wheels until they find traction. Nevertheless, no one lacks the mental capacity to come up with an interesting and unique plot. What I’m about to share isn’t the de facto method to putting forth a Hugo-worthy space opera. This is simply my system to come up with story ideas, but it’s very well a system that could work for you, too.
It Starts with a Scene
This beginning stage is convenient; you don’t need to carve time out of your busy schedule. We all daydream, whether it be in the shower, during your commute, or while being subjected to a slide deck of your company’s finances. During these creative reveries, you may recall times where you’ve envisioned a compelling scene or concept, big or small, that played over in your head: A city devolving into chaos following a town crier’s grim news. A high-stakes showdown between adversaries. A talking shield that wishes to become a weapon. Have you figured out your scene? If so, you’re ready to move onto the next step.
Dissect Your Scene
There were two scenes that ignited the idea for Bleeding Iris (mild spoilers): A man with the power of always knowing the right thing to say, and a warrior who has a deadly sword residing inside his stomach. Of course, I’d envisioned more elements to these scenes, but these are the broad strokes. Speaking of being broad, that’s how you’re going to begin dissecting your scenes: by asking broad questions. Using my examples, some of the questions I asked myself included:
How did both these characters inherit these powers/afflictions?
In what way might these characters interact with one another, and will their meeting be amicable? Are they enemies?
What goals might they have/share?
What kind of world do they reside in? How might the laws of nature in this setting permit/limit such powers?
I knew that I wanted these scenes present in a story together, so I built the world around their concepts. The scene doesn’t even need to involve your main character. The scenes I built my world off of involve supporting characters.
Develop Your World
Dissecting your scene gives you a foundation to build off of. Now, it’s time to find out where your scene belongs in your world. Once you determine your setting, it’s helpful to discover the major conflict. Has a war erupted due to a simple miscommunication between the world’s superpowers? Your scene may very well be the catalyst for the war. However, in most cases, your scene will fall somewhere within the meat of the story. If you know where and when your scene takes place, you can begin developing the stepping stones one must take to arrive at that scene or move forward from it. Doing so, your story will start to take shape.
When it comes down to it, most of what it takes to come up with story ideas is imagination, a trait all of us possess. Some might not need a roadmap to develop a story, but for many of us, it’s helpful to have a method that stimulates creativity. We’ve all played out fictional scenes in our minds at one point or another, and several times, those scenes have had the potential to weave incredible stories. Don’t spurn your ideas; build upon them.
If you wish to inquire more about my thoughts or wish to seek any of my writing services, feel free to reach out.