REVERSE RAGS TO RICHES
Christopher Booker’s “Rags to Riches” archetype is one of the seven basic plots he identified in his book “The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories.” This archetype typically involves a protagonist starting in a lowly state and experiencing a rise in fortune or personal development.
OVERCOMING THE MONSTER
What kind of monsters are we facing in our current reality? Can you come up with a community that isn’t a small idyllic mountain village?
BAD STUFF MUST HAPPEN
If nothing bad happens to your main character you don’t have a story. For the empaths among you who have trouble giving their characters a hard time, here is a list of 30 terrible things that could happen to them!
CREATE A DYSTOPIAN SOCIETY
Imagine a society where one aspect of modern life has been taken to an extreme, leading to a dystopian world. It could be surveillance, technology, social media, environmental issues, or anything else.
SNAPSHOT MEMORIES
Think about specific moments in your life that are like snapshots in time – vivid and memorable. These could be moments of joy, sorrow, love, or personal triumph.
A LETTER TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF
Imagine writing a letter to your younger self at a crucial point in your life. It could be during a challenging time, a turning point, or a moment of great joy.
MEMORY MAPPING
Many people would love to write their memoirs or use segments or events from their own life to fuel their fiction writing. Using your own memories will give you a world of material to use during your creative process.
SAY IT WITHOUT SAYING IT
This exercise is a classic!
A woman just found out that her husband has been cheating. The husband comes home and they have a conversation. They don’t talk about the cheating. What could they be talking about?
SAVING A KITTEN
Two men hear the sound of a scared kitten coming from a pit.