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Plots are my biggest problem. I can create thousands of interesting, unique and attractive characters. I can whip up a nasty-good setting for any story and mood. But what do you do when you have the characters, you have the setting, you have the mood and the inspiration but you don't really.. know.. what the story is about?
What hasn't been done before? Honestly, pretty much everything has been done before. But But But! Take heart, fellow writers. The plot is morphable. You can twist and bend it to your will. How about some generic plot ideas? Here are some of my favorites:
-Revenge: You know... like Eragon. Someone kills your loved one and you're pissed; you go off to try and kill them. Or not kill them... Maybe torture would suffice... Revenge often makes a story dramatic, tense, and loaded with strong emotions. Dark emotions, of course. You might spice it up with a little romance. Think of Homer's Iliad! (The battle of Troy, for those who've never heard of it) Revenge could come from either the protaganist or the antagonist. My favorite: the antagonist is after the protagonist. I like being on the defensive. I like being the one on the run. Adds suspense, you know?
-Heroic: A true hero is a flawed one that still gets the job done despite his shortcomings. Like Harry Potter! Or that wimpy guy that plays Spiderman in the movies. These stories revolve solely around the main character, so you better make him pretty damn special. And you know there's ALWAYS some kind of romance going on. You could even make that one of the hero's weaknesses.
-Disaster: Think of earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, meteors, epidemics, alien invasions, famine, a global crisis! Any morbidly horrifying event that makes your main character's life a heart-breaking tale of loss, desperation, and survival. This is the kind of story where you really need to get your reader to bond with your main character. It makes all the sadness and relief more vivid. If your reader is starting to sniffle, that's a good sign.
-Romance: Okay...so I admit, I'm a sucker for romance...but ONLY if it's good. Like The Host. Almost every story has a bit of romance in it. Romance provokes strong emotions and bonding: a perfect set-up for a revenge plot if you ask me. Usually, I don't like romance when it stands alone. There's got to be some obstacle or some twist. Keep it interesting, romantic relationships are supposed to be complicated.
-Adventure: This is kind of a vague plot idea, but I think it's important to talk about. These are the stories that involve some sort of journey. The main character may be alone, or accompanied by others. There's some important goal at the end. The journey should be chock-full of obstacles and complications. These stories tend to be slow sometimes, especially right after a huge obstacle. Slow is good though, as long as you keep the reader interested enough to keep going. Remember, it's the journey that matters, not the goal at the end. It doesn't matter where you're going, it's the journey that makes it worth while. Make it an epic journey.
Alright, that's my five paragraphs of juicy goodness. Leave a comment or send me a message. I'd love to read your writing!
 Syle_Violet · Wed Jul 02, 2008 @ 07:31pm · 2 Comments |
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