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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/1781
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In my creative writing, I typically am inspired by short interactions between things: An overheard conversation. A person's jealousy of a friend's talent. A humorous misinterpretation...

I tend to begin with isolated "scenes" and generate a story from them, often going to great lengths to convey emotion and detail. I am often proud of my writing, except when I realize most of it is fragmented, unfinished, and likely never to be expanded.

My problem is that I don't think of plots. I don't generally begin from "the big picture" and determine what my protagonist must accomplish, or the obstacles to be overcome. I usually fail to think of an intriguing reason for the characters to be motivated.

Sadly, my collection is primarily of isolated studies of character interaction (or character development) rather than an inviting story with a beginning, climax, and resolution.

I would very much like to put some of these detailed character sketches and snippets into the framework of a completed novel. What are some ways in which writers come up with the overarching storyline? How can I create the "outline" for my writing in a way that will bring the necessary elements to bear? Is the conception of a great story line available only to creative talent or can it be learned?

To give an example, I have a short fantasy story in which the protagonist is a group of young adults that are given unique abilities (think _Heroes_). But when attempting to devise challenges for them or conjure a nemesis...the creativity in me vanishes. I don't want to "copy" similar stories' plots, but I realize I am unlikely to think of a unique narrative.

To pose this question in a single summary sentence:

> **Is there a method to formulate the plot of a story that can be utilized when the author has only disconnected but detailed ideas for segments of the work?**

Original score: 35