How to come up with original ideas for stories?
I seem to have several ideas for fanfiction novels. I'm working on a long fanfiction at the moment that's quite complex and I'm trying to practice editing.
I would like to write some original short stories because novels take years of work. I write just for me, mainly because nobody really likes my writing. I'm not really looking to write as a profession but I still would like to write original stories.
The problem is I can't seem to think of anything beyond fanfiction and writing prompts don't really help. I can't write unless I have the whole story from beginning to end.
What should I do?
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3 answers
One suggestion:
Go at it differently. Create two characters, completely made up or composites of friends and acquaintances. Then just start having them talk to each other. Don't worry what the story is. Make them talk to each other. Do that with a few different made up characters. See what comes out of it. When they come up with something you like, see if you can develop it into a short story by adding in the other elements like narrative and so on.
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To begin with; This is an expansion of @DPT's answer to this question.
A dialogue between two fleshed-out (or quickly sketched-out) characters can possibly develop into something "bigger" by having them talk about something that you choose in advance - be it something (1) ordinary or something (2) extraordinary. There's a potential (3) bonus too.
In the case of (1) you could then choose to give them opposing views/perspectives/experiences on/of something we can all relate to. Their differences can then lead to personal developments in them both. This is the basis for many realistic stories, but a part of almost any story at some point.
In the case of (2) they needn't be as different as I would suggest them to be in (1), and the 'stranger' subject (the extraordinary) would be the basis of their mutual development, and they would more likely go on "the journey of the shorter/longer story" together or 'on the same side'.
In either case, you could stumble upon 'a great idea for a/your story', simply by having characters react naturally or unnaturally to each-other or a third party (the extraordinary).
In the case of (3) If you do this exercise with semi-known or yet-unknown characters (to you or an established fanbase) you will most likely get to know them very well - perhaps very quickly too - since interaction and communication tell A LOT about a character.
Notes/Tips
- You could know early on what the relation is between the 2 characters, as this would change the behavior of the two in both situations (1) / (2). You could also 'learn this' as you go. The same goes for the following:
- The exact location of their interaction, e.g. "The café of a Prince Hotel on 5th Avenue" (real or fictional).
- The broader location (real or fictional)
- The era/time/dimension of the interaction (real or fictional)
- Their age, background, skills, etc.
- I think you get the point: You can learn a lot as you go and then edit the already written when you know more.
- In either case, they should differ in some ways, though personal differences are probably more crucial in (1).
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An unusual/odd interaction between the characters could raise many questions in the reader (and the writer seeking a bigger story) as to what might cause this behavior in the character(s)
- For (1) it would potentially create a sense of mystery.
- For (2) the reader would perhaps assume that the extraordinary had a connection to the unusual/odd behavior.
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A story (of any length) consists of a beginning, a middle, and an end. Google for the "Three Act Structure", here is a link to an example worksheet, it applies to all stories, even one page stories (although the segments might be only a paragraph long, in that case).
First you must learn how to structure a story. Once you do that, your original ideas are just characters with problems or issues to solve, and they pursue them. An "original idea" is a problem you think is interesting, or a character you think is interesting. Then you find the opposite (a good character to have that problem, or a good problem for your interesting character to have).
In Breaking Bad, it looks to me like somebody came up with a problem: An older adult that is a complete novice in crime embarks upon a life of it. That is the problem. So, what kind of crime would they choose? Making drugs, perhaps:
Now refined to an expert chemist, older, that is a novice in crime but nevertheless embarks upon the world of manufacturing and selling illicit drugs. Pretty cool. But WHY? What could compel a lifelong law abiding citizen to do this? They found a good reason: He is a low paid chemistry teacher that discovers he has Stage III lung cancer and only two years to live. His compelling reason is that he has a disabled son with cerebral palsy, and he needs to leave him enough money to support him. Or die trying, he's got nothing to lose. So ... here we go.
That is technically a "fish out of water" kind of story, but obviously that kind of dismissive summary doesn't do justice to a billion dollar story.
We can provide these kind of paragraph-long descriptions for most books and stories, and it is a good exercise for you to try and write some for books you know.
You will find that the main ideas are pretty straightforward, and if you generalize them (e.g. "a fish out of water" story) then you have examples, and can then come up with your own ideas.
Use the Three Act Structure to expand that paragraph into many and outline each major piece of the story. Then you will know the beginning, middle and end, and can write your story.
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