Cheep and easy ways to find a basis for your plot.
When you have characters:
What does your character aspire to do or become? Making that aspiration really hard for them to reach.
What does your character love? Take it away from them and make them earn it back.
What does your character hate? Bind them too it and make them work to get rid of it.
When you have a world:
What is the most chaotic thing that can happen to this world’s politics? Find the character this chaos would effect the most and see what they do about it.
What is the most dangerous thing that can happen within this magic system? Figure out who would come to stop or reverse it and see what they do.
Who is the most damaging person in this world and what are they doing? Figure out who of those they hurt might rise up and defeat them.
When you have only spite:
What story do you absolutely hate the execution of? Take the very basic concept of its plot and build it into the story you wish it produced.
What plot structure do you enjoy but wish writers would be more original with? Take it and then throw a dozen spins on it.
** Remember to mix and match for more elaborate plot structures. Carry on this format with your own tricks to digging up basic plot structures!
You should feel awful! Poor Slim has really been put through hell with this game. (Okay, I can’t place all the blame on you, anon. I did a very bad thing here. A very bad thing.)
Razz thrummed his fingers against the coffee table impatiently, watching his brother. “Well, mutt? What’s it going to be?”
Slim’s hands were clasped in front of him to stop them from shaking, and his head was ducked. “i-i…”
“Spit it out,” Razz snapped, his fingers stilling and curling into fists.
Slim shook his head, his sockets squeezed shut. “s-sans–lieutenant–i don’t…”
“Dog,” Razz snarled.
“Razz,” Blue said, his voice quiet but firm. “Stop it. You’re clearly upsetting him.”
“Blue is right, Razzberry,” Papyrus chipped in, placing a hand delicately on Razz’s arm. “It’s only a game. And I don’t think Small-me wants to play anymore.”
Razz barely spared Blue or Papyrus a glance. Shaking off Papyrus’ touch, he stood, gripping Slim by the jaw and yanking him down so that they were at eye-level. “Answer me.” His voice had dropped to a whisper, but it still stung like venom.
A small whine built in Slim’s throat, and he shook his head. “aw, c’mon, bud,” Sans said. “it’s just a game.”
“i don’t want to play,” Slim muttered, staring at his feet.
Sans, Red, and Stretch glanced at each other doubtfully. Turning to Slim, Red offered him an encouraging smile. “i’ll make it easy fer ya, kid–kill me. ya’d be sparin’ me a lot a’ grief.”
Sans snickered. “well if that’s how we’re playing, then i think i deserve a little killing too.”
“i volunteer to die and be fucked,” Stretch supplied, winking at Slim.
Slim regarded them all, deadpan. “well, since you’re all just horny and suicidal–i think i’ll just have to marry you.”
There was collective groaning from the other three.
Pro-tip: don’t play fuck, marry, kill with a bunch of depressed assholes. From this F/M/K ask meme.
Dragon Blog 