5 Brainstorming Lists For The Perfect Plot || Novel Outlining!
It’s Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) prep season and you know what that means: TIME TO PANIC. Kidding! Sort of. It’s time to plot and strategize, but what if you haven’t decided what to write yet or you’re struggling to form a concrete idea? Here are 5 brainstorming lists to help you create your next story!
1. Subjects and themes to explore.
I feel like I mention the importance of theme in every post/video, but it is truly the backbone of how I create stories. What has been frustrating you? What message do you want to give to the world? What do you want to delve into and rip apart? Is there a thesis you want to prove? An ideology you want to dismantle? A question you want to answer? What idea(s) does your dream story explore?
Examples:
· Grief
· Addiction
· Self-sabotage
· Being a late bloomer
· The desire and effects of performing your life on social media
2. Conflicts.
What kind of drama keeps you on your toes? What makes your heart race? What could possibly go wrong?
Examples
· A mysterious killing
· Cheating in a relationship
· Natural disasters
· Being trapped in an alternate reality
3. Relationships.
I adore reading about complicated, unconventional, and dysfunctional relationships. How do relationships drive your plot forward and how can you explore your themes through these relationships?
Examples:
· A cannibal is a mentor at a non-profit organization during feeding hours
· The ins and outs of an open relationship
· Being treated like a sidekick in a codependent friendship
· The ins and outs of an open relationship
· Deadly power dynamics
· Financially supporting irresponsible parents from a young age
4. Stylistic elements.
What is a literary device you’ve always wanted to try out or you’re always gravitating towards stylistically?
Examples:
· Unreliable narrator
· Nonlinear plot structure
· Peculiar narrative voice
· A novel written in verse
· Plot twists
5. Interesting character types.
What kind of person intrigues you? Who do you want to follow around all day? Who creeps you out? What kind of personality or lifestyle do you find scandalous? Who do you want to get into the mind of?
· A serial kidnapper
· A compulsive liar
· A child born into the apocalypse
· Someone who craves affection, but pushes people away out of fear
Bonus list: Endings!
Examples:
· Plot twist
· Bittersweet
· Leave on a note of hope
· Gut punch ending
· Everyone dies
If you’re a hands on learner and you want to create 3-dimensional characters, but you don’t know where to start, click here for The Character Backstory Workbook! It’s over 100 questions and gives you plenty of space to write and brainstorm.
Alright guys, that’s all that I have for you today. I hope this was helpful and made you less panicky about what your next project is going to be. I wish you all the luck and success in your writing. Speaking of which, go write!
Read my Novella, Truth Weekend. My goal is to get 100 reviews on Amazon.
