☀Ignite Your Creativity☀ discussion

I really want to start writing a new book. I seem to have writer's block, though. I need some ideas or something to help start an idea. I want something that is YA, dystopian, and has romance. I would like it to be out-of-the-box. Something like Hunger Games or Divergent.

The idea is to write your plot & don't base it on another book or writing a bestseller. It won't work. I hope you find your own plot as these are the guarded secrets of most among the community of readers/writers.

If you have writers block, the best thing you can do is to do excercises :) Writing simple little short stories at first, and then gradually becoming bigger and bigger and more descriptive, and when you think the writers block is gone, go ahead and see if you can start writing your plot/novel/story.

I thought you literally meant exercise :D I was like... Someone is suggesting being fit & healthy XD It doesn't work when people say it on the internet.
That is a good suggestion, as well in terms of this... Read short stories. Small plots are good for sparking ideas as your average novel has way more description, sub-plots & other devices short stories don't.
You can get many short stories as free e-books on amazon if that helps xox

xD Sorry I should've made it more clear!

That was before... You did make it clear later on XD

I've never subscribed to the idea that plots must be closely guarded secrets locked in a vault, lest someone steal your one-of-a-kind idea. The idea is not the valuable commodity in a story -- it's the execution and style that makes a winning tale.

And brainstorming is hands-down my favorite way to spark dozens of ideas.

I wouldn't go dumping copies of your first draft on the internet, of course, but tossing around general plot and character ideas is harmless, in my opinion.

Have you written a novel before, Allie?

Well people aren't going to plagarize, but they might like your idea. And if they do it better? If you could have done it better? Which is better?

Characters. I am good at them. Why, when I am not at everything else? Eee.

I have not written a novel before. I am trying to start writing because I've always wanted to be a writer. I have since I was nine. Here I am, five years later, trying to write my first story.

Allie, you've got a huge headstart on the rest of us! Congratulations for taking the big step forward. (It took me 30+ years to actually sit down at the keyboard and make it happen.)

There are hundreds of ways to find a story. You can start with a character -- just the simplest cardboard cutout of a character. Male or female? How old? How is she dressed: in fine silk or in rags? In rags of once-fine silk, maybe. Write it down on an index card and place it to your left.

Now think about a setting. Is it bleak or beautiful? Modern or ancient? What is the ground underfoot like: grass, cobblestone, asphalt, bones, sand, deck plating, wooden branches, ash, puddles, carpeting? What's strange and unique about this environment? What emotion does it conjure up? Write it down on another index card, and place it to your right.

Repeat this four, six, a dozen times. Now you have a stack of characters and a stack of worlds. Pick a random card from each, and put them together. What story do they tell? How did your character get here? Does she belong there, or is she wildly out of place? Is she trying to get in, or trying to get out, or just trying to stay right where she is?

When you wind up with an intriguing combination like a woman in rags in the middle of an opera house, then you've got the start of a tale that's begging to be told.

You can keep these cards and add to them. Then, whenever you're stuck for an idea, you can deal out a random story and bring it to life.

Amy, it doesn't matter if they like your idea; someone could copy your idea after you publish your book just as easily as they could before you publish.

And when you come down to it, the two stories *will* be different, flavored by the vision and style of the authors.

Is Romeo and Juliet identical to West Side Story? How about Harry Potter and Star Wars? Same ideas, but wildly different execution.

And...? Some plots are over-used because people use them. Depends how you look at it, so stop saying I'm wrong. It's my opinion. I would think when people have it published, and it is liked, it is more 'secure' than before, when it is admired. You may never publish your idea, it may be a roleplay etc. Roleplays are a whole different kettle o' fish. It's acceptable to roleplay about Harry Potter, but publish a novel on Harry Potter? Who has? Only J.K. Rowling would be my guess.

Actually, roleplaying does help you in writing, collaboratively doing so is a step which can help give you 'exercise'. Obviously, you haven't said you want to write a bestseller etc., so maybe roleplaying could help? When plot devices you'd want used in your RP aren't, use them in something else if appropriate. Brainstorm outside :D Do that exercise (lol).

I prefer Robert McKee's idea that story, rather than plot, is the most important thing. He argues that plot is mechanical, whereas story comes from characters and their interactions, and has an emotional, rather than a formulaic base.

On a side note, it's good to just do writing exercises before you attempt a novel. Or get a few short stories under your belt first. One way to get an idea for a story, for example, is inverting something familiar. Here's something that came into my head the other day, for example and I had to write it down, because the blasted thing wouldn't go away. I am sure you will get why it's an inversion. And I would love to see others here trying a flash fiction using the idea of inversion.

http://bonemachines.wordpress.com/201...

John, I absolutely agree with you. Plots are a bit like Alice (in Wonderland) said: "I like to imagine six impossible things before breakfast." Story ideas and plots are completely throwaway things. Give me ten minutes and I can give you ten plotlines - it is, as you say, absolutely about the execution.

John wrote: "I've never subscribed to the idea that plots must be closely guarded secrets locked in a vault, lest someone steal your one-of-a-kind idea. The idea is not the valuable commodity in a story -- it'..."

A fun thing to do is try to come up with a tagline for a book or a film that doesn't exist. Then try creating your central character and building the storyline from there.

For example:

A boy born with fur has to face a world in which difference, or a disability, is a crime punishable by death.

Or could even try variants on a single theme like that:

A teenage girl with an extraordinary musical gift must find out how to live in a world in which music is banned, and rebel musicians risk being put to death.

Ok, maybe these aren't great ideas, but you catch my drift?

Allie wrote: "I really want to start writing a new book. I seem to have writer's block, though. I need some ideas or something to help start an idea. I want something that is YA, dystopian, and has romance. I wo..."

if you put 10 authors in a room they tell you 21 ways to come up with ideas.

the only thing i say is to write about what you're interested in.

I agree with James. But we all need help sometimes, and it can be fun to share ideas, tips and strategies that can help - none of which preclude writing what you are interested in. But to write interestingly about what you are interested in needs the application of craft, time, talent and lots more. Nothing wrong with listening to 10 authors and their ideas - there might be something in there you can use.

Be open to ideas they can come at the weirdest times - I try not to go anywhere without a notebook. a scratch of dialogue, a vision of something that catches my eye - anything can pull you in and get the thoughts swirling. Make an note. and keep writing.

Go for a walk. Think about the story you want to tell and then write a 1000 words.

Hi, I need help with a major aspect of my stories plot. My story takes place during the apocalypse and my character loses everyone one she loves before the story begins. When the story starts, I want to say she's cut herself off from practically all human contact and lives by herself. How long can a person last alone without completely losing it? I said that because she's in complete survival mode she could last a few years. She wouldn't be completely okay on the head. She had a mental breakdown, she talks to herself, has PTSD, and doesn't know how interact with other people normally. Is this plausible or should I alter the timeline?

Hi Allie...I am no experienced author to suggest things to come up with plot ideas. But my problem is weird, cause I get lot of ideas (which is a curse in disguise). The issue is when a try to develop on one, I get another one...so the perpetual agony (sort of) continues. I am not proud about this. Sorry if the guys in the group feel that I am boasting.

Anyway, coming to your question, any specific reason why you are trying to get ideas in a particular genre?

I think you must keep your options very open. Look for plots in an average everyday life. You will definitely find something intriguing, then develop on it.

Add verve and all the elements you desire.


Hope this helps...I am also an aspiring writer. We can keep this thread going. We can discuss, this will spark a lot of thoughts and ideas will naturally come.

Hi Kailey...one thought here. I don't think you must question the plausibility of the character or timeline. Stick to it, if it naturally occurred to you.

I would say, feel like the character and see how much of it you can bear with.

If you feel that the timeline is too unrealistic, justify the plot of this possibility. Create a flashback or some incident that could say something about the protagonist and which could bolster the possibility of the timeline and character strength.

Hope this helps.