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formulating ideas - Where do you start?

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Screenwriting Bar & Lounge
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Screenwriting Competitions or Screenwriting in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=21266
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Topic: formulating ideas - Where do you start?
Posted By: ChristiLB
Subject: formulating ideas - Where do you start?
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 2:22pm
I didn't make it to round two of this competition but I wanted to try a prompt anyway and I've struggled with the same issue I did the first time around...It takes me forever to come up with, and settle on, a story idea. So, I was curious what everyone's process is for coming up with an idea once you see your prompts? Do you focus on the genre first and try to come up with a genre related story and feed the subject and character in as you go? Do you build the story around the character you're given? Do you look to other movies in your genre as inspiration? Both times I've tended to try and just link the subject and character together and make a story from that and I feel as though the idea turns out somewhat bland and unoriginal (especially after reading so many of your stories that really took the prompts and ran way out into the field with them). I'm always trying to learn and improve my skills so I would love to know your methods for creation.

I hope everyone is doing well with their stories as the deadline draws near.

Christine


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Replies:
Posted By: Joni
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 3:48pm
I typically think character first, then try to figure out how to relate it to the subject or the location. I always scratch my first idea, since I assume the easiest to think of will probably be the same place everyone else arrives at first. Then I jot down a variety of ideas until one sparks. I've had rounds where they never did, and I had to just eventually pick one and go with it. I've also had rounds where I wrote two ideas and had a beta pick which one was worth expanding on. 

For me, the genre assignment is the easiest part, because it limits my thinking. Open-genre rounds really screw me up, as my mind is all over the place. 

Once I've gotten my assignment, I put tv on in the background that fits the genre. Not really to get ideas, but it just gets me in the proper frame of mind. I got comedy this time around, and I knew I wanted some sort of misunderstanding, so I had I Love Lucy playing all weekend. 


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Posted By: JeffreyHowe
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 3:50pm
This is a hard question in some ways, and I only have a quick answer because I've thought about it before.

I get the prompts at 11 PM local time, which shapes my approach: I play around with both variable elements, usually with the most "predictable" one first, and then sleep on it to let my subconscious do the heavy creative lifting. 

Thus, when presented with a romcom that had "cannabis dispensary" as a setting and "snail" as an object--I made the main characters and the comic relief snails. Then I did some quick research whether snails were a pest for cannabis farmers, and I was off.  When I got "ghost story" and "South Pole" and "hamster"--I thought about who would haunt the South Pole, and why, and ended up with a story where the ghosts want to help the biologist who's doing an experiment with hamsters.

Which eventually became a feature script, by the way--that's one of the pulls of this contest for me, it unlocks weird creative stuff in my head like nothing else.

But if I were in Europe, getting the prompts early in the morning, I would probably want a different approach. 




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Posted By: NilesPerry
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 3:53pm
Hi CHRISTI... I too didn't move on, but I've been keeping busy beta reading this weekend. Get ready to see some really great stuff next week when the forum posts start hitting.

This is an awesome question, and there really is no set answer to it. Everyone has different approaches they use when creating their work.

I start by simply reading the prompts. I let them sink in for a few minutes, then my thoughts turn to which one is the most prominent and should be featured over the other two. Example: In SSC two years ago, I got "Shetland pony" as one prompt. Comedy was the genre, and I forget the other one now. Anyway, the pony became my main character right away, with her human owner being sidekick and second fiddle. That same year I got a credit card as a prompt (the prop) and I turned that into an offbeat murder weapon. So, I start by selecting the best prompt to take center stage, if you will.

After that, it's just a steady stream of consciousness brainstorming session as I mix and match the prompts in all kinds of situations until something clicks and it starts to gel into the beginnings of a storyline. The thing that's important to me, though, is that I write to suit myself. Not the judges. I have to be happy with my work, even though the judges may hate it and strike me down. There are other ways of winning than being handed a check or a trophy. Simply rising to the challenge and getting a piece in on deadline is a huge win all the way around. All of you out in NYCM Land who complete your scripts and turn them in on time are all winners, regardless of the judges and the feedback. So, my mantra is, "Write for me first, everyone else second."

I'm lucky in that I write with a writing partner. So, as soon as the prompts come in, we're together and brainstorming. We walk through plot and structure together, then we actually talk out the dialogue as we're writing. Sometimes, we get up and actually act out certain actions so we can capture them on paper correctly. I find it a great way to write because either of us might throw an idea on the table that has logic errors or other flaws in it, and the other is there to point them out.

There are downsides, though. In one SSC competition, we got the prompts and worked out what we thought was a good story. We got to Pg 4 and stopped. It just wasn't working. Back to the drawing board. We went on like this through three ideas, abandoning all three because they were just plain bad ideas. Sunday rolled around and we had about 6-7 hours left when we started the 4th idea... not even sure we could make it work. Luckily, in this case, 4th time's the charm. We got it in and we moved on to the next round. It's hard to look at something and admit it's not working, then throw it out and start fresh. It's even worse when the clock is ticking so loudly.

You might consider this... personal experiences are usually always your best source material. My partner and I ground our work in things we've personally experienced or things our friends have experienced. There's almost always some real life thing that happened to one or both of us to be found in all of our scripts. Sometimes it's a scene, sometimes a character. When faced with writer's block, just think a moment about what a couple close friends or family members would do with your prop, or how they would react in a given genre/setting. You might find you suddenly have an abundance of really workable ideas... so many that you might not be able to decide on one.

None of this has been very helpful, but maybe you'll find a word or two that helps.

Cheers,
SCOTT.


Posted By: T.E. Bradford
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 8:40pm
Interesting question, Christi! :)

I find my process to be very much like JeffreyHowe describes above. I stay up, find out my assignment, mull it about and then sleep on it. My creative brain works really well during falling asleep and half-awake time, so this maximizes my chance to think of a good idea.

Then, like Joni (and I'm sure others) I tend to toss out my first idea or two because others are probably thinking of the same thing. Too easy. So I use Rule of Six (or Ten, or Twenty) method and try to dig deeper into better - and less likely - combinations.

The only thing I think I do that's different from some of your other answers is that I tend to push my assignment into a genre (or genre-blend) with what I generally write, which is speculative (fantasy / sci-fi). Taking some genres, like action or thriller into a speculative place is usually pretty easy, and a good combo. Others can be more difficult. But for me, it's like thinking of what they do on Project Runway. Yes, you have to make what the client wants, but you also have to stay true to your own aesthetic.

And sometimes, you're lucky and have personal experience with the assigned subject or character, which gives lots of fodder. :)

--Tracy


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--Tracy
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic45081_post472817.html#472817" rel="nofollow - SSP: Heart of Darkness


Posted By: SisterRosetta
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 9:12pm
Hey Christine!

Since I never wake up for 5am to get the prompt, I usually get it first thing as I wake up. I'll almost never write anything down - just fall back into a half-sleep mulling it over, which as others have said, is when lots of fun things arrive in your brain. If I can, I try to brainstorm on a run, too - for some reason, the first idea that makes me want to stop running immediately and write something down before I forget it, is usually going somewhere worthwhile.

Appropriate music really does help - although I didn't really use any this time for Rom Com. But if I was trying a suspense/horror, I think it can be really valuable to sink a mood into your brain. I don't watch too many movies before I've had my full idea, but I usually try to watch a movie during a 'post-first draft' downtime that's in the right genre - more for dialogue style than anything else. It also gives your brain a rest while feeling like you're still doing something 'useful'. I watched Love, Simon this time around, and had a ball.

Everyone has their own thing - it just takes a while to figure out what makes yourself tick. :)


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Posted By: lisafox10800
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 10:21pm
After moaning and groaning about the prompts, I usually crack a joke or two about them to my husband. At least one time, the joke has led to my actual story (I had "carrot" and Rom Com in short screenplay last year and my bad puns resulted in the punchline of my script). Sometimes a word or an idea just comes to me. (Last round, with "insomnia," the "...and miles to go before I sleep" line from Robert Frost popped into my head. It became my title and my theme and it was probably one of the least stressful NYCM rounds for me).

After I'm finished laughing or crying or both, I start googling. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. Usually I have a germ of an idea in mind before I go to bed and I let it simmer while I sleep. 

The craziest set of prompts I ever had was Political Satire / Dog Biscuit / Childbirth class. I almost threw in the towel, but then started thinking about my own pregnancies, and the comfort my dog gave me during that time. (If you are interested, the piece is currently featured in The Satirist).  Often I draw from my personal experiences, the things I love, the things I fear. 

When all else fails, I do dishes.

But at the end of the day, my strategy has always been to land an idea early. Even if it's not the best idea, or the most original, I just try to make it work. 

Dividing up my time doing NYCM, I'd say it's 10% freaking out, 10% ideating, 30% writing, and 50% editing and finessing. And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.

I hope my rambling is helpful!


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lisafoxiswriting.com
My short story collection, Core Truths, is now available wherever books are sold.


Posted By: T.E. Bradford
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 10:32pm
Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

Often I draw from my personal experiences, the things I love, the things I fear. 

When all else fails, I do dishes.

But at the end of the day, my strategy has always been to land an idea early. Even if it's not the best idea, or the most original, I just try to make it work. 

Dividing up my time doing NYCM, I'd say it's 10% freaking out, 10% ideating, 30% writing, and 50% editing and finessing.

Great way to sum it up, Lisa -- and all so, SO true. :)
Well said.


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--Tracy
https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic45081_post472817.html#472817" rel="nofollow - SSP: Heart of Darkness


Posted By: NilesPerry
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 10:46pm
Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL


Posted By: JeffreyHowe
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 11:12pm
Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL

Said my two favorite beta readers. Embarrassed


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Posted By: Vernacula
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 12:04am
Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL


You're a fantastic beta reader! Wink


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Posted By: MissKeister
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 12:05am
Originally posted by Vernacula Vernacula wrote:

Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL


You're a fantastic beta reader! Wink

I second this!  :)


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Posted By: Vernacula
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 12:13am
I do a lot of work in my head. I don't sit at my computer searching or taking notes right away, unless the genre is Drama; for some reason that one's the most effortless for me.

My approach is pretty much coming up with unique setups, and matching them to a twist if I can. It doesn't even have to be a big twist or gotcha - I just like knowing what the button is going to be. The rest can all be finessed.

Eventually I'll sit down and write out loose sketches of these setups, and see if any characters spring to mind. Sometimes I get an idea of who someone is, and if they start to become firmer and more clear (and persistent) in my mind, then I know I'm probably going to be able to finish their story.

I have tons of email drafts filled with very specific setups. Sometimes I go back through them, like a scrap heap, digging to see if there's anything usable for a piece I'm working on.


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Posted By: Joni
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 12:15am
Originally posted by MissKeister MissKeister wrote:

Originally posted by Vernacula Vernacula wrote:

Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL


You're a fantastic beta reader! Wink

I second this!  :)

Fantastic beta reader/Life saver = Potayto/Potahto. 

Thanks so much for all your help with mine!


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Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 12:46am
I pick the prompt that is gong to be worst to work into whatever genre I get and try and come up with any story that could use that prompt.  Then I try and work the other prompts into one of those ideas.

What I have found is that since my first entry into short story, where I was left aghast at having to write something that I had never ventured into, each time has been easier as my mind has adapted I guess.



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Posted By: manifestlynot
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 12:52am
I tend to approach it like a puzzle. I make columns of all possibly characters and themes, then cross reference them to each other and to the selected genre. I reference genre tropes and read examples of said genre and try to do enough research that something gets hammered out.

Then I wake up in the middle of the night with a completely different idea and go with that one instead.


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Posted By: Tim G
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 2:09am
Sometimes I just think of something and know it’s ‘the one’ and away I go.

Most times I start writing out single sentence summaries (loglines minus any wit!) and then go with the one that feels most promising in that kneejerk basis.

I’m always about the plot though. Characters come after I know the story.


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Posted By: northernwriter
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 2:30am
Originally posted by Tim G Tim G wrote:


I’m always about the plot though. Characters come after I know the story.

That’s so interesting! I was just about to post the opposite! I generally have to find a character I love. Then I think about their strengths and flaws and what kind of trouble they might get themselves into, and that’s where the plot comes from.


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Posted By: Tim G
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 3:21am
Originally posted by northernwriter northernwriter wrote:

Originally posted by Tim G Tim G wrote:


I’m always about the plot though. Characters come after I know the story.

That’s so interesting! I was just about to post the opposite! I generally have to find a character I love. Then I think about their strengths and flaws and what kind of trouble they might get themselves into, and that’s where the plot comes from.

Yep, this is how you're supposed to do it. I wish I could!


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Posted By: SisterRosetta
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 5:21am
Originally posted by MissKeister MissKeister wrote:

Originally posted by Vernacula Vernacula wrote:

Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL


You're a fantastic beta reader! Wink

I second this!  :)

Thirded! Isn't this just like the final scene of It's a Wonderful Life, where he finds out just how many lives he's impacted? Wink


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Posted By: Tim G
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 5:54am
Originally posted by SisterRosetta SisterRosetta wrote:

Originally posted by MissKeister MissKeister wrote:

Originally posted by Vernacula Vernacula wrote:

Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

And I am fortunate to have amazing beta readers.
I hope the people I beta for will someday say the same of me.
LOL


You're a fantastic beta reader! Wink

I second this!  :)

Thirded! Isn't this just like the final scene of It's a Wonderful Life, where he finds out just how many lives he's impacted? Wink

Fourthed! Even if I'm too busy wrestling with the breadth and depth of your suggestions to thank you for providing them!

And big thanks to everyone who beta'd my script this time. It's now one of those scripts where if it doesn't achieve anything, it will still get filed under 'no regrets' in my own headspace.


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Posted By: JeffreyHowe
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 10:13am
Originally posted by Vernacula Vernacula wrote:

Sometimes I get an idea of who someone is, and if they start to become firmer and more clear (and persistent) in my mind, then I know I'm probably going to be able to finish their story. 

The character test for me is the first draft. I need to see them move, hear them speak, for them to become real enough to work with. And often by the end of the first draft they're different than they were at the beginning. The trick is noticing that's happening.


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Posted By: ChristiLB
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 3:53pm
WOW! Thank you all so much for so many great comments and suggestions - I'm actually blown away by how many of you commented, and how great and varied everyone's processes are. I can definitely see areas I need to work on as far as brainstorming. It sounds like a lot of you jot a number of ideas down, whereas I tend to mull several different things over in my mind, trying to mold them into one big ball that I can roll with haha. I will have to start making notes from now as I think things over.

I'm very jealous of everyone that is able to see their prompts and then fall asleep thinking about them - I tried to do that but my brain doesn't shut off...I'm so concerned with the deadline, running out of time, etc. That I actually get stuck in this wide awake state racking my brain trying to come up with something. Maybe with the new ideas you've suggested that will change. I want to respond to certain things you've all suggested but instead of making a separate post for each one (and having 10 or so posts right in a row all from me) I'm going to make the comments all in the body of this post - I hope that works for everyone, and thanks again for all the helpful ideas. I already feel at ease with so many new techniques to try for next time.

Originally posted by Joni Joni wrote:

Once I've gotten my assignment, I put tv on in the background that fits the genre. Not really to get ideas, but it just gets me in the proper frame of mind. I got comedy this time around, and I knew I wanted some sort of misunderstanding, so I had I Love Lucy playing all weekend. 


I Love Lucy is always the perfect choice for comedy - I'll have to try having something on in the background next time I'm trying to create.



Originally posted by JeffreyHowe JeffreyHowe wrote:

Thus, when presented with a romcom that had "cannabis dispensary" as a setting and "snail" as an object--I made the main characters and the comic relief snails. Then I did some quick research whether snails were a pest for cannabis farmers, and I was off.  When I got "ghost story" and "South Pole" and "hamster"--I thought about who would haunt the South Pole, and why, and ended up with a story where the ghosts want to help the biologist who's doing an experiment with hamsters


Your suggestions, and examples of how you put the pieces together, I find really helpful. I think I might be a bit too rigid in my thinking sometimes so ideas like snails as main characters wouldn't even cross my mind. Those are where the original ideas are hidden though so I will have to tap into that whimsical side of myself.



Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

I start by simply reading the prompts. I let them sink in for a few minutes, then my thoughts turn to which one is the most prominent and should be featured over the other two. Example: In SSC two years ago, I got "Shetland pony" as one prompt. Comedy was the genre, and I forget the other one now. Anyway, the pony became my main character right away, with her human owner being sidekick and second fiddle. That same year I got a credit card as a prompt (the prop) and I turned that into an offbeat murder weapon. So, I start by selecting the best prompt to take center stage, if you will.


Scott, I really like your process of picking one prompt to be featured and starting from there. I get myself stuck because I'm trying to piece everything together all at once but your idea makes a lot of sense. I love coming up with ideas to make a credit card a weapon (maybe even maxing the card out could make it a weapon if, say the husband, gets mad at the wife for maxing it out and then kills her haha).



Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

When faced with writer's block, just think a moment about what a couple close friends or family members would do with your prop, or how they would react in a given genre/setting. You might find you suddenly have an abundance of really workable ideas.


Yes, I've heard the old motto "write what you know" numerous times but it gets lost in the shuffle when I wind up with the most random concoction of prompts known to man haha. Great idea to consider people I know and place them in situations where they are interacting with the prompts. I'm getting excited to try these ideas out - Perhaps for Flash Fiction :-)



Originally posted by T.E. Bradford T.E. Bradford wrote:

I tend to toss out my first idea or two because others are probably thinking of the same thing. Too easy. So I use Rule of Six (or Ten, or Twenty) method and try to dig deeper into better - and less likely - combinations. 


Tracy, I really need to work on making a list of ideas at the beginning so I have stuff to pull from. I do struggle with the worry that my idea will be too typical and everyone else will have written a similar story.



Originally posted by SisterRosetta SisterRosetta wrote:

I try to brainstorm on a run, too - for some reason, the first idea that makes me want to stop running immediately and write something down before I forget it, is usually going somewhere worthwhile...I usually try to watch a movie during a 'post-first draft' downtime that's in the right genre - more for dialogue style than anything else. It also gives your brain a rest while feeling like you're still doing something ‘useful'.


I love that idea, that the first idea that makes you want to stop running and jot stuff down is usually worthwhile. I don't run (I'm so out of shape haha) but I'll think if there is some other activity I can do while brainstorming and maybe that'll help get my creative juices flowing.



Originally posted by lisafox10800 lisafox10800 wrote:

 After I'm finished laughing or crying or both, I start googling. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't...But at the end of the day, my strategy has always been to land an idea early. Even if it's not the best idea, or the most original, I just try to make it work.


I did a bit of googling for the first round and it did actually help a bit but then I threw out the ideas that came from it when another idea formed. I'll probably use google a lot more in the future as it does provide a lot of helpful resources and ideas to pull from.



Originally posted by Vernacula Vernacula wrote:

My approach is pretty much coming up with unique setups, and matching them to a twist if I can. It doesn't even have to be a big twist or gotcha - I just like knowing what the button is going to be. The rest can all be finessed.


Your process sounds similar to Stephen King who has said that his stories usually start off with a "what if this character encountered this scenario..?" but usually the ideas have twists to them. I'm usually trying to match everything in my head but I think getting them down on paper would be much easier to mix and match and come up with something original.



Originally posted by Suave Suave wrote:

I pick the prompt that is gong to be worst to work into whatever genre I get and try and come up with any story that could use that prompt.  Then I try and work the other prompts into one of those ideas


Oh, that's an interesting process. That makes sense though to nail down a solid idea with the prompt that is going to be the most troublesome and then feed in the other easier elements afterwards. I'll have to try that.



Originally posted by manifestlynot manifestlynot wrote:

I tend to approach it like a puzzle. I make columns of all possibly characters and themes, then cross reference them to each other and to the selected genre. I reference genre tropes and read examples of said genre and try to do enough research that something gets hammered out...Then I wake up in the middle of the night with a completely different idea and go with that one instead. 


Do you have a website or anywhere that I could find info on the different genre tropes? I've tried searches online but haven't really come up with any good websites that offer info on the different genres. Or what I come up with seems more like info for directors. I looked up horror story tropes and they talked about lighting, music, etc. I've read Robert McKee's book "Story" and he suggested looking up the different tropes as well. He mentioned one for comedy which is that nobody ever gets hurt. Even if they get hit by a car or fall off a building, they are always fine and even if someone dies it's not a dire tragic thing. That was one trope that I found very useful and would love to find more for other genres as well. That would definitely help a lot as I'm writing.



Originally posted by Tim G Tim G wrote:

Most times I start writing out single sentence summaries (loglines minus any wit!) and then go with the one that feels most promising in that kneejerk basis. I’m always about the plot though. Characters come after I know the story. 


I love this idea. As I've said, I usually don't jot anything down when I'm trying to formulate my idea but I will start from now on for sure.



Originally posted by northernwriter northernwriter wrote:

I generally have to find a character I love. Then I think about their strengths and flaws and what kind of trouble they might get themselves into, and that’s where the plot comes from.


I'll have to try that process - I usually try to come up with the scenario/plot first but probably the story would feel more organic and real if I started with a great character and let their actions move the story a bit.



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Posted By: Tim G
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 4:23pm
Now THAT is a post.

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Posted By: NilesPerry
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 4:26pm
Originally posted by Tim G Tim G wrote:

Now THAT is a post.
Yeah, what Tim G said...
LOL


Posted By: ChristiLB
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2019 at 4:48pm
Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by Tim G Tim G wrote:

Now THAT is a post.
Yeah, what Tim G said...
LOL

Haha thanks guys! I always like to try and respond to everyone that takes the time to respond to my posts but then there were so many and I didn’t know which was the best way to go LOL LOLLOLLOL


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Posted By: NilesPerry
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 12:58am
Originally posted by Suave Suave wrote:

I pick the prompt that is gong to be worst to work into whatever genre I get and try and come up with any story that could use that prompt.  Then I try and work the other prompts into one of those ideas.

What I have found is that since my first entry into short story, where I was left aghast at having to write something that I had never ventured into, each time has been easier as my mind has adapted I guess.
I think I like your approach better than the way I've been doing things. You pick the least likeliest prompt, where I've been picking the one I think works best. I think I shall apply your technique in the fall and see how it works out.


Posted By: Suave
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 1:02am
Originally posted by NilesPerry NilesPerry wrote:

Originally posted by Suave Suave wrote:

I pick the prompt that is gong to be worst to work into whatever genre I get and try and come up with any story that could use that prompt.  Then I try and work the other prompts into one of those ideas.

What I have found is that since my first entry into short story, where I was left aghast at having to write something that I had never ventured into, each time has been easier as my mind has adapted I guess.
I think I like your approach better than the way I've been doing things. You pick the least likeliest prompt, where I've been picking the one I think works best. I think I shall apply your technique in the fall and see how it works out.


Ya, sometimes those prompts can be horrendous, lol.


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