![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarker posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
writercises Original Posting Dec. 20, 2018
Just another chunk of Super Structure by James Scott Bell.
Next, James Scott Bell offers an array of ways to brainstorm stories. As he says, none of these is the right way. Try them out, then mix-and-match to your own tastes. Here are his suggestions with my notes.
1. The White-Hot Document
Just write. Jot down whatever ideas you have. Then set it aside, and come back tomorrow to go over it. Add to it, pick out pieces, and write some more. Ask yourself questions, and answer them. (Basic pantsing 101)
2. Scene cards
James says he takes 50 or so index cards, and then starts imagining scenes. When something is vivid or cool, he writes it down on a card. Use prompts, random words, or whatever to help make the soup bubble. Then, when you have a bunch, shuffle and pick two. Look at them and see what connects, what do they make you think about? Go ahead and add more scenes if you need to. Then take the stack, and organize it into acts. The natural order, so to speak. And poof – you have an outline!
3. The elevator pitch
Write an elevator pitch. You can use the framework that James suggests, of three sentences.
1. Describe the character, vocation, and initial circumstances.
2. What is the doorway of no return?
3. What are the death stakes?
4. Try the LOCK approach
Lead: what will bond your readers to the lead?
Objective: What is the fight with death?
Confrontation: What is the opposition?
Knockout Ending: what is the battle at the end? Inner/outer, mental/physical?
5. Start with a concept
First, what is your concept? Typically what if… Then flesh out the character of the lead. Add some scenes. Think about the mirror moment. And now what is the transformation that the lead will undergo?
6. Flesh out the basic five beats
Act I
1. Disturbance
2. The door of no return #1
Act II
3. The mirror moment
4. The door of no return #2
Act III
5. The final battle
There you go, six different ways to tackle brainstorming your story. Not sure which one you want to try? Get out your die and roll. As the game players will tell you, one D6 can help you make that decision!
All right? So we have our death stakes, and some brainstorming to fill out the story. Next James is going to talk about keeping up your creativity while you write.
Just another chunk of Super Structure by James Scott Bell.
Next, James Scott Bell offers an array of ways to brainstorm stories. As he says, none of these is the right way. Try them out, then mix-and-match to your own tastes. Here are his suggestions with my notes.
1. The White-Hot Document
Just write. Jot down whatever ideas you have. Then set it aside, and come back tomorrow to go over it. Add to it, pick out pieces, and write some more. Ask yourself questions, and answer them. (Basic pantsing 101)
2. Scene cards
James says he takes 50 or so index cards, and then starts imagining scenes. When something is vivid or cool, he writes it down on a card. Use prompts, random words, or whatever to help make the soup bubble. Then, when you have a bunch, shuffle and pick two. Look at them and see what connects, what do they make you think about? Go ahead and add more scenes if you need to. Then take the stack, and organize it into acts. The natural order, so to speak. And poof – you have an outline!
3. The elevator pitch
Write an elevator pitch. You can use the framework that James suggests, of three sentences.
1. Describe the character, vocation, and initial circumstances.
2. What is the doorway of no return?
3. What are the death stakes?
4. Try the LOCK approach
Lead: what will bond your readers to the lead?
Objective: What is the fight with death?
Confrontation: What is the opposition?
Knockout Ending: what is the battle at the end? Inner/outer, mental/physical?
5. Start with a concept
First, what is your concept? Typically what if… Then flesh out the character of the lead. Add some scenes. Think about the mirror moment. And now what is the transformation that the lead will undergo?
6. Flesh out the basic five beats
Act I
1. Disturbance
2. The door of no return #1
Act II
3. The mirror moment
4. The door of no return #2
Act III
5. The final battle
There you go, six different ways to tackle brainstorming your story. Not sure which one you want to try? Get out your die and roll. As the game players will tell you, one D6 can help you make that decision!
All right? So we have our death stakes, and some brainstorming to fill out the story. Next James is going to talk about keeping up your creativity while you write.