writercises | TECH: A Quick Reminder...

Original Posting Nov. 6, 2016

Over in the book Steal This Plot by William and June Noble, they suggest a set of

Plot motivators

Vengeance
Catastrophe
Love and hate
The chase
Grief and loss
Rebellion
Betrayal
Persecution
Self-sacrifice
Survival (deliverance)
Rivalry
Discovery (quest)
Ambition

Take a story idea, add a motivator, and more than likely, you've got at least the nucleus of a plot. It will need filling in, with characters, setting, and all that, but... these are good places to start your brainstorming.

Story spicers

Deception
Material well-being (increase or loss)
Authority
Making amends
Conspiracy
Rescue
Mistaken identity
Unnatural affection
Criminal action (includes murder)
Suspicion
Suicide
Searching
Honor and dishonor

So along the way, you may need to add in some seasoning to help things along. That's the role of the story spicers. Again, consider this as a list to help kick your brainstorming. This scene needs a bit more oomph. What if I added dose of suspicion, or authority, or... there you go, that adds a dash of spice!

So, for the fun of it, consider mixing in a little motivator and a bit of spice. And keep those nanowrimo words boiling!

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