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Story Idea Generator – Create Your Own
By Deb Gallardo
Push-button easy story idea generators are becoming commonplace online. But when you realize how brain-dead simple their structure is, they won’t seem nearly so much like magic as they may appear at first. The truth is, you can create your own story idea generator with a little imagination and a bit of brainstorming.
First, decide what kind of idea you want to generate. Do you want to produce quirky characters, plot complications, scenarios, goof-ball settings or a story starter with good detail?
Next, choose which categories you wish to comprise your outcome.
Finally, make a list of elements within each category.
Excel is ideal for this.
Using column headings, make your lists of elements ( think generic with minimal description). You can add to the list over time.
When your lists are all complete, randomly pick one item from each column and start writing.
Here is a possible list of categories for coming up with a story scenario:
- protagonist description
- problem/object of conflict
- antagonist description
- setting
- time
- complication
Add to or modify these categories until you have the details you’re interested in. For example, you may want to make a list of adjectives or modifying phrases as a separate category.
|
Gender |
Age |
Nationality/Species/Race |
Personality Trait |
Profession |
|
Female |
55 |
Betazoid |
Eccentric |
Philanthropist |
|
Neuter |
9 |
Ferret |
Telepathic |
Bard |
|
Male |
32 |
Ferengi |
Extremely Intelligent |
Engineer |
|
Female |
86 |
Bejoran |
Lusty |
Physicist |
You get the idea. You’re only limited by your imagination. You could also enlist your friends’ help. Have them each email you a list of 20 personality traits or brainstorm with a group of like-minded people as many possible categories and elements for each category as you can come up with. The main rule is, no answer is wrong!
When you have your lists compiled, pick one item from each column at random (perhaps using the old “close your eyes and point” method) and type it out in your word processor. Voilà! You’ve just generated a character description.
For examples of script-based story idea generators, visit these articles on this blog:
Writing Resources – Using a Conflict Generator Effectively
Creative Writing Resources – Another Set of Tools
Idea Generators for Non-Fiction Writing
Online Story Idea Generators
Story Ideas – Online Story Idea Generators
Story Ideas – Online Idea Generators
Story Ideas – Short Fiction Idea Generators
Writing Resources – Story Idea Generators Revisited
Related Posts
- Writing Resources – Story Idea Generators Revisited
- Writing Resource – Using a Conflict Generator Effectively
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