SFN: Sci-fi News Generator

Sci-Fi News Generator - 24-Hour Mirror-Universe News From Around the Galaxy

A wealth of science fiction conflict ideas written as news blurbs. There's a new edition each day. For more you can also mine the archives (which go back to December 2005).

Here's a sampling from the 20.1.3907 edition:

Today's Top Story

LOSEEJOM, Necros - The Phogon territories military said Saturday that three Phogon warbots were deactivated, including a warbot whose patrol was struck by a roadside bomb on Loseejom.

Phogon Territories

HOVUS NYDUAP - Ejil charged in a letter to Peacedrone Tzar-General Dagak Modifareux on Friday that the Phogon territories illegally attacked its consulate in the northern Necrosi dome of Cyahudaw last week and demanded the immediate release of five detained Ejilians.

Terran Sector

PUL (FZP) - Atlantis and Vipaliwap utility back Dudaek Mebusuikens has signed to play for Pul Lypyocylyjs next season, it was reported.

Mokron Sphere

POGUT KODEZ, Mupos - The Phogon territories is again battling leftists on Dun Nizouxopienes's Mupos. This time, the fight is being waged not with phasers and guerrilla warfare, but with free tractors, health clinics and donated electrical plants.

Neutral Zone

DYXE, Luomipid - Unidentified gunmen ambushed a convoy of Nullian warbots on Dyxe Saturday morning, leaving four bystanders dead and three short-circuited, just hours after government warbots repelled an attack on the Tuuhejemuoxe Commander's palace.

Nanosystem

SUV (FZP) - The Lusors military was bracing for possible revenge attacks after DNA testing confirmed the leader of the Wugid Dulidod Thoughtcloud extremist group had been deactivated in a clash with warbots.

Tritian Colonies

ZUM (Ded) - Denny Wid, a member of the 3860s folk-rock group, the Kilops and the Letyutapurs, which was known for such hits as "Vexityf Toseimanit's and "Monday, Monday," has died at age 66.

Ice Nebula Four

CYKUL, Phyzassia - A radical Phyzassian cleric who sparked outrage by encouraging offspring to sacrifice their lives for Psych has claimed his remarks were misinterpreted, as Thoughtcloud leaders were divided Friday in their reaction.

Tomorrow's News
(SFN's unbroken news events use the Future Semi-Conditionally Modified Subinverted Plagal Past Subjunctive Intentional.)

LOGUARUW, Hydrexia - A lifeform who will emerg from the jungles of Hydrexia a week ago, burbling, grunting and walking bent over, will be still giving up none of her secrets, even to the family that will have taken her in as their will presum long-lost daughter.

Weekend 3: The sleuth enters

This weekend is the sleuth.

Rather than starting with a stock sleuth build someone you want to know more about. That seems obvious but you do need someone who interests you enough to carry you through the book: a female vampire hunter, a lizard scaled ex-mecha mechanic, a dragon groomer for the queen, a rumpled Harvard grad with a penchant for the afternoon soaps ... :-)

There are 4 parts:

1. Back story
2. Character sketch
3. Scene cards
4. The sleuth speaks

1. Back story

Write a couple of pages on the back story of your sleuth. You may want to start with the events that connect the sleuth to the mystery if there is personal involvement: how did your sleuth meet the killer or victim or others connected to the crime? What pieces of her history brought her to being a sleuth? Who is her family and what was her relationship with them like? Where are they now? What was her upbringing (wealthy? poor? constantly on the move?) Education? Special relationships in the past that shaped who she is?

2. Character sketch

Do this quickly. Describe the sleuth's physical characteristics, personal habits, daily routines, quirks, daily delights and irritations. Wardrobe (comfortable, business, stylish, athletic, artistic ... which should reflect (or perhaps attempt to disguise!) who the character is inside.) Loves? Enemies? Favorite books, TV shows, food. Small details -- like saving playbills in a shoebox -- can bring a character to life.

3. Scene cards

Flesh out some of the previous scene cards with anything new you've discovered about your sleuth. (Perhaps you wrote the scene cards based on a professional sleuth and now realize he's an amateur for example.) And add more such as: Recreation of the crime scene, Killer confrontation, Sleuth's reward (the piece that makes the outcome satisfying for the sleuth, eg, being able to turn down dirty money offered, bringing a killer like the one who slew the sleuth's sister to justice.)

Make notes of what the sleuth is feeling, seeing, thinking.

4. The sleuth speaks

Get some dialog for your sleuth flowing. It can be a bit of the crime scene, or something that stirs the characters emotions. Whatever it is, get her talking about it so you hear her voice.

Next week is The Catalyst. A catalyst is something that remains unchanged but causes changes in what it contacts.

Here's the history ...

Here's what happened in the past 10 years. Use it as the backdrop of a story. Or use it to prompt an overview on the history of the country. Doing a free flowing write on a history you're making up as you go along can be one technique to get the ideas flowing for a new story.

A Historical Timeline of the Nation of Imagi

In the year 1000, it is written that...
..a horrible earthquake shook the land

In the year 1001, it is written that...
..there was an epidemic/disease with an infection rate of 41% - 50% and a mortality rate of 20% - 29%

In the year 1002, it is written that...
..the Powers of 'Neutrality' made their presence known

In the year 1003, it is written that...
..a Major Noble House was destroyed

In the year 1004, it is written that...
..there was an advance in food production technology

In the year 1005, it is written that...
..an assassination occured

In the year 1006, it is written that...
..terrible monsters walked the land

In the year 1007, it is written that...
..a Religious Order fell into disgrace

In the year 1008, it is written that...
..there was a military campaign launched to regain lost territory

In the year 1009, it is written that...
..there was active spying

So it is written...

This time line was automatically generated at Timeline Generator. You can choose the starting year, the time span and the number of events per year. It automatically supplies a kingdom name but you can change that to a name of your own choosing.

Illuminated dreams

A race of creatures I created for the last NaNo project, ox dragons, had what they called "Illuminated Dreams". These were dreams of specific images -- that is dreaming of not just mittens but peanut butter mittens -- that gave clues to the future. Each of the images were described in a massive book called The Book of Illuminated Dreams.

Pretend you are an illuminated dream interpreter who has been given the following list of images by a client. Take a few minutes and quickly (no editing) write down words and phrases that each dream image brings to mind. Then tell the client what the future holds for him or her.

bone crown
cheese clouds
spider weasel
abducted fog
snow dagger
fox genitals
altar of locks
tattooed robe
vulture whirlwind

"It's never too late ..."

A Way With Worlds

I must admit I basically let my worlds grow around my characters to fit their needs and give them only enough thought to make everything I'm adding work together and make sense.

Steven Savage had a bi-weekly column (perhaps at Seventh Sanctum, at least that's where they're archived) on world building. He suggests that though the characters are the main characters the world is the most important "character". It's the lens the story is seen through.

Even if you're like me and the characters drive the story, taking a break in the middle of the story to flesh out the world and fill in some details could bring in fresh ideas.

Here's a bit from his first column:

WHY WORLDBUILD

I always advise some solid world-building before beginning an original-setting story in detail. Why do this? This may seem an obvious question with an obvious answer, but I've found that's not always the case, even for myself.

Good reasons to worldbuild in detail before you start writing:

1. It prevents error. Let's face it - its easy to start running with an idea then forget you need to know where it takes place. However, when you're in the middle of a really good story and you suddenly realize you're not sure where the Dark Overlord's power comes from, and your best idea conflicts with chapter 2's moving occult sequence.
   
   Quite simply, good worldbuilding makes writing a great deal easier. You have an idea of why and how things work, and its less likely you'll come up with a continuity-breaking concept (and when you do, hopefully its in the design phase so you can get it out of your system).
   
   
2. Provide ideas. A well-designed world takes on a life of its own. In my experiences, a world, just like and as a character, can start writing itself. One idea leads to another, one question leads to an answer that begs another question, and soon the world is running itself.
   
   
3. A bulwark against contrivance and accidental plagiarism. When your world is developed, uniquely yours and alive, it prevents those moments where you want to contrive something or worry where an idea came from. Even if some ideas in your world don't seem original, a well-build worlt helps ensure a unique and believable handling of such ideas.
   
   
4. Stops favoritism. When your world's continuity is primary, its harder to play favorites with a character and thus avoid leaps of logic and contriving. When you know there's no way to stop a deadly plague in your story except technology the heroes don't have, you have to think of a good way for them to deal with - or write some believable death scenes.

Essays about world building by Steven Savage are archived as Chronological and By Subject (links to all but 6 articles, perhaps some didn't fall into a clear category).

Weekend 2: The victim speaks

Second weekend with "Weekend Novelist Writes a Mystery": Interview the killer.

There are four parts to the work on the victim:

1. Monologue
2. Character sketch
3. Killer connection
4. Steps to the murder
5. Plotting with scene cards

1. Monologue

Write in the first person, the hopes and dreams and fears of the victim. In the authors' example, they wrote an internal monologue of the victim's feelings and hopes and running commentary written in the present tense as she went about the events preceding the murder.

I didn't find it natural to create both events and feelings at the same time so ended up with something that sounded more like a series of diary entries, expressing her feelings towards the various people.

2. Character sketch

This covers the same information as you did for the killer: personal, objects, character links, resource base. (If your mystery has more than one victim, describe the victim that opens the book.)

Use it as a way to draw out more of the character and how who she is gets revealed in what she looks like (what did her hopes and dreams and hobbies do to her physical appearance), how she dresses (what was she dressed in and why those particular clothes), objects she kept around her. (The sleuth will use all these to go the opposite direction, creating a vision of the victim from the objects.)

3. Killer connection

How did the murderer and victim connect? How did they meet? How long have they known each other? What choices did the victim make in life (or were made for her) that brought killer and victim into each others lives?

4. Steps to the murder

Walk the victim through the steps leading up to the point she is killed. Get her dressed, get her prepared to head off towards where she meets the killer. This can be third person or a monologue or a mixture. Whatever draws the details out for you.

5. Plotting with scene cards

If your victim is dead when the book opens, obviously the scene cards will be the crime scene and then people discussing the victim:

1. Crime scene - give a physical description of the victim and the scene. Draw out sights, sounds, smells, textures.
   
2. Witness Interview - sleuth will dig up the victim's past.
   
3. Suspect Interrogation - sleuth will try to connect the suspects with the victim.
   
4. Victim's Lair - more clues to the past and connections to the killer.

Next weekend is the sleuth.

Unpoplular opinions

Use one of the following as a prompt for a story.

• The god of death, the wind, the underworld, the ever-burning entrance to hell, the knife-edge, poison, serpent, and fire - women are all of these in one.
  
• All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific.
  
• Though I am not naturally honest, I am so sometimes by chance.
  
• Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
  
• Of the delights of this world, man cares most for sexual intercourse, yet he has left it out of his heaven.
  
• Be good and you will be lonely.
  
• But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?

These are from The Wiccan Witch of the South

(Some are obviously quotes, bits of comedy routines and so forth but they aren't attributed.)

Previously on 24 ...

These are randomly generated in the form of the intros to 24. (Which starts season 6 on Sunday but of course fans already know that! I only got to watch the first season but I've been "watching" it vicariously through TV Guide since then. ;-)

Pick one of the following and use it as a 10-15 minute writing prompt. Yes, they’re bizarre!  But if you free yourself from worrying about making sense the ideas can flow more freely and you end up making connections you couldn’t have planned on :-)

---

Right now, cardboard cutouts are plotting to approach a nebulous threshing machine. My alien is miserly, and electric eels that I work with may be brokenhearted.

I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and this is the most rotting trilobite of my life.

---

Right now, pedalos are plotting to search eBay for a weak-kneed wombat. My milk bottle and budgerigar are shrunken, and sitars that I work with may be nasty.

I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and this is the most surprisingly favourable cup-a-soup of my life.

---

Right now, capybaras are plotting to take chunks out of an organic sink. My Sontaran and monolith are iron, and roller coasters that I work with may be lard-coated.

I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and this is the kindliest Rubik's cube of my life.

---

Right now, Glaswegians are plotting to deafen a stupid bloody buggering tram. My gibbon is remote-controlled, and jumpers that I work with may be wet.

I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and this is the giddiest mastodon of my life.

---

Right now, razors are plotting to buckle a desiccated biker. My Scrabble-tile bag is Orwellian, and lepers that I work with may be toasted but happy.

I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and this is the most belligerent puff-adder of my life.

---

Right now, Wookies are plotting to keep a butterscotch drawing pin. My little girl is spicy, and ice cubes that I work with may be stunned.

I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and this is the poorest little suitcase of my life.

---

These were generated at 24 Dreaming. There are also randomly generated (first season only it seems) episode descriptions at 24ever. Here's an example:

The following takes place between Midnight and 1:00 am on the day of the California Presidential Primary.

Kim and Teri arrange to meet Tony in a car Jack has stolen. CTU kidnaps Jack. Again. Division kidnaps Jack's wife by posing as a relative.

Kim revokes the security access for Teri because they suspect they are conspiring with the Drazens. Senator Palmer holds another victory party. Jack is attracted to a skinny woman with short hair and jawbones you could drink soup out of.

The CTU team phone Nina continually for some reason. Meanwhile, we are all wondering why a janitor is cleaning a warehouse in the small hours of the morning...

"If one waits for the right time ..."

Elizabeth Lyon's Character development questions

This is from A Writer's Guide to Fiction (Writer's Compass) by Elizabeth Lyon which looks like a very good writing guide. It covers characterization, plot, pacing, and theme as well as revising, marketing and samples of cover and query letters -- which makes it sound much like most writing guides ;-). But a reviewer (Catherine Tudor) wrote "Reading Elizabeth Lyon's, A Writer's Guide to Fiction, is like taking a college course on writing. I can't recommend it highly enough for those who write any form of fiction whether it be short stories or novels. Her experience as a writing teacher and independent book editor shows in her thoroughness, conciseness, thoughtfulness and clarity." It's on my next to read list.

Character Development: Questions

Goals : What was most important to your character at age five, fifteen, nineteen, and at the age at which the story or novel begins?

Motivation : What were your character's deepest longings at various ages? Which singular longing has been with him or her since childhood?

Positive Trait : What qualities in your character are he or she most proud of? What would friends say is your character's most shining quality?

Negative Trait : What is your character's greatest weakness and worst personality trait? What would friends say is his or her biggest weakness?

Nickname : What were your character's nicknames? Why was he or she called them?

Self-Concept : What words would be inscribed on your character's headstone that best capture the way he or she would like to be remembered? Example: He was a friend to all.

Fear : What is your character's greatest fear? When did he or she first feel it?

Trauma : What was the most traumatic experience in your character's life?

Secret : What disclosure about your character or his or her actions would your character do almost anything to keep from becoming public knowledge?

Power : When the chips are down, what is your character's greatest "weapon," the ace up his or her sleeve?

Adversaries : What person(s) have most blocked your character's success

Allies : Who can your character count on during life's highs and lows?

Darkest Hour : What were the lowest points in your character's childhood, teens, twenties, thirties, and so forth? Times when he or she thought they might not be able to go on living?

Shining Moments : What were the high points of your character's childhood, teens, twenties, thirties, and so forth? Times when he or she figured they had it made?

Legacy : What message does your character want the world to hear? What would he or she like to leave behind as a gift to others?

Weekend 1: Interview with a killer

First weekend with The Weekend Novelist Writes a Mystery: Interview the killer.

There are four parts to the work on the killer:

1. Interview with the killer
2. Character sketch
3. Murder checklist
4. Plotting with scene cards

Part 1 - Interview with the killer

The first part, Interview with the killer, is the bulk of the project for the weekend and quite possibly will provide answers for 2 and 3.

This was unexpectedly easier than one would think. How can you interview someone you know nothing about who has done something you know nothing about?

It's actually not as impossible as you think because people -- and characters are people too -- love to talk about themselves :-)

I did begin by picking out a murder reason. Here's a couple of resources:

• Way too many good reasons to murder someone
  
• All the plots in the world

I had this vague impression the murderer would be a youngish woman, in a fantasy world that was almost contemporary. Then I had her sit down (after her death with an angel reporter but that's all pretty vague and won't appear in the story) and start talking about the murder and her past and basics about who she is and what led up to the murder. I didn't have her answers planned out. They were made up on the spot. In a couple of places she contradicted herself and came up with better answers so while it's not necessary to be consistent, you'll notice that made up answers open doorways of possibilities that lead to more possibilities which flesh out the character and background for you.

Part 2 - Character sketch

The one he's given is pretty vague and basic.

• Personal: Name, age, sex, profession, residence, birthplace, skills, hobbies, weaknesses etc.
  
• Objects: Home, toys, wardrobe, vehicle, tools, jewelry, etc.
  (That one didn't do much for me but it might be because mine is a murder to eliminate control rather than one to gain something.)
  
• Character links: Connections (blood, money, work) to other characters.
  
• Resource base: This phrase doesn't quite do it for me ;-) but what the authors mean is what the killer is trying to get (treasure, power source, object of desire). What's between the killer and what he wants?

Part 3 - Murder Checklist

This is the environment the killer operates in:

• Place (where, indoors or out, did the killer choose, how much planning, etc.)
  
• Time (when, what time of day -- which affects what the character is wearing and has with him and what he has access to)
  
• Lighting (artificial, natural, twilight, blazing sun of the desert)
  
• Weapon (why, how did the character get access to the weapon, how much knowledge does the character have, is it an immediate death or slow death (poison)
  
• Wounds (what kind of wounds, did the killer try to remove signs of the murder)
  
• Weather (season, temperature, what affects on the murder or the body does this have?)
  
• Planning (how much planning was involved, where did the killer get the weapon, was planning on paper or in her head?)
  
• Disposal (how was (if it was) the body disposed of? left there? left for animals? thrown in the ocean? etc.)

Part 4 - Plotting with scene cards

These are index cards with brief descriptions of scenes. For now you'll create 2 or 3. As you gather more, as the story grows more complex, you'll be able to shuffle them about to see how the order affects the story.

Give each scene a title (this will help when you start shuffling!) and tell a bit about who, what, where. Make stuff up! You can always change it later.

1. Murderer Onstage - This is the first time the murderer appears. (It might also coincide with:
   
2. Murderer meets the sleuth - It might be an interview. It might be inadvertant. It might be at the crime scene. It might be a friend they've known.
   
3. Murderer Confesses or Murderer Revealed - This might be the classic everyone gathered in the library as the sleuth goes through the possibilities. Or it might be the sleuth explaining.

And that's it.

Next week is the Victim.

Just in the neighborhood

Change the setting of Red Riding Hood to the future.

• Is the forest a trek across an alien landscape? A trip through a high rise apartment building or space station?
  
• Is the wolf is an android? An alien? A self aware computer? A human who wants something from a non-human?
  
• Is Red Riding Hood a little girl? Someone new to the area? Someone leaving home for the first time? An android who has just been turned on? An alien?

---

More

I'm currently reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster

(He has a nice chatty style. Not at all professorial! ;-)

Part of his point is that by mining old stories to tell new stories, writings give a sense of familiarity and depth and timelessness to what they're writing. To take a bit from what he's saying, think about what the various pieces of Red Riding Hood represent in a broader picture.

What is Red Riding Hood?

• Innocence? Naivete? Vulnerability?

When she meets the wolf/grandmother she is suspicious. She notices something's off but doesn't trust her interpretation. Why? Does she want what the illusion represents so much that she's willing to disregard her feelings? Is she lacking in self-confidence?

What is the wolf?

• Certainly something deadly to her, but it's disguised as not only something benign but something she has an emotional connection to, something she already trusts. She wants to approach.

What other things (in a future or other setting) would represent those that would have the same resonance?

Pangrams

Choose one of the following for a writing prompt.

For the purposes of the prompt, the following pangrams are unexpected couplings of ideas. Out in the world beyond the prompt, pangrams are sentences that use all the letters in an alphabet. The most well known pangram (to English speakers) is "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." Pangram is Greek for "all letters". They're also called holoalphabetic sentence.

---

Bulgarian: Жълтата дюля беше щастлива, че пухът, който цъфна, замръзна като гьон.

The yellow quince was happy that the fluff, which bloomed, froze like sole-leather.

---

German: Victor jagt zwölf Boxkämpfer quer über den großen Sylter Deich.

Victor chases twelve box fighters across the great dam of Sylt.

---

Greek: Ξεσκεπάζω την ψυχοφθόρα βδελυγμία.

I uncover the soul-destroying abhorrence.

---

Lithuanian: Įlinkdama fechtuotojo špaga sublykčiojusi pragręžė apvalų arbūzą.

Incurving fencer sword sparkled and perforated a round watermelon.

---

Norwegian: Vår sære Zulu fra badeøya spilte jo whist og quickstep i min taxi.

Our strange Zule from the bathing Island did actually play whist and quickstep in my cab.

---

Serbian: Ljubazni fenjerdžija čađavog lica hoće da mi pokaže štos.

A kind lamplighter with grimy face wants to show me a stunt.

---

English:

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.
Six big devils from Japan quickly forgot how to waltz.


These are just a few of the many pangrams at Wikipedia.

"Let yourself be silently drawn ..."

Top Ten Plotting Problems

This was created by Alicia Rasely, an award winning romance writer, that's applicable to any genre. She has lots of tips, a writing newsletter, books, booklets and workshops at her website.

THE TOP TEN PLOTTING PROBLEMS
copyright 1998 by Alicia Rasley

10. Backstory Blunders: The past is prologue, for sure, but you can tell too much too soon, if everything about the characters' past is explained right upfront in Chapter One. (Click here for more discussion of this topic.)

9. Boring Beginnings: If you have to rely on your readers' patience while you get the story set up, you're likely to lose most of them. Start where the protagonist's problem starts, or just before that, and feed in the backstory later. This is the MTV era-- people don't like to wait. Be especially wary of books that start with the protagonist on a journey, thinking about what awaits her at the destination. Editors frequently mention that as an example of a boring opening. It helps to decide what your major story questions are and make sure those are posed in the first few chapters-- at least one should be posed in Chapter One.

8. Limping to a Conclusion: You don't want the reader to think you ended the book just because you ran out of paper. Make the ending a conclusive one, reinforcing the themes of the book and the progress of the protagonist. (Click here for more discussion of this topic.)

7. Sagging Middle: The middle has to do more than just fill up the space between beginning and end. It should be a time of "rising conflict" where the protagonist is tested up to (and perhaps beyond) the limits of his ability-- a time to develop the internal and external conflicts and show how they influence the protagonist's actions. It should set up the great crisis/climax/resolution that will bring the novel to a close. So when you're starting the middle, think of how the protagonist can be challenged. What external plot events can make his internal conflict impossible to ignore any longer? How can that internal conflict impede his/her progress towards the goal? If there's an antagonist, how does the antagonist's reaction affect the protagonist's progress?

6. Tumors and Parasites -- The cast of thousands: Secondary characters are distinguished from major characters-- the protagonist(s) and the antagonist usually-- by their lack of a story journey. That is, they exist to make things happen in the plot, but their own conflicts and issues shouldn't be part of the story. (If they're that interesting, let them star in the sequel.) Every person with a story journey (described progress towards a significant change in their life) dilutes the impact of the major characters' journey. In some books (family sagas, for example), this can work. But in most protagonist-centered popular fiction, tracking the secondary characters' lives and loves is going to waste time and confuse the reader. Watch out for long passages in a secondary character's viewpoint which dwell on his problems and not on the protagonist. And keep count of how many subplots you've got-- make sure each one supports the main plot in some way.

5. Plodding Pacing: Pacing is primarily a function of how many cause-effect related events happen in the book. But that doesn't mean that effective pacing depends on shoving a lot of events into the story. Selection is key. What events are essential? What supporting events are needed to set up those essential events (aka "turning points")? Are all the events of the plot related causally-- that is, does the discovery of the letter in chapter 2 set up the release of the imprisoned protagonist in Chapter 4, and eventually the capture of the villain in the climax? Make sure every scene has at least one event that affects the main plot-- that way the readers can't skip without missing something important.

4. What a Coincidence!: Coincidence is fun in real life. But it's death to good fiction. Fiction is about cause and effect, and there's no cause and effect when the central elements of your plot happen by coincidence. It's often hard, however, to identify coincidence in your own story, so be ruthless. Look at the chain of events. Which would be unlikely to happen unless you the author made it happen? How likely is it that in a city of 7 million, your judge protagonist would just happen to get the embezzling case of the man she thinks was responsible for the hit-and-run killing of her mother? Not very. To fix coincidence without losing the event, make it happen because of character decision and action, and watch your characters grow into strength and purpose. That judge doesn't just happen to get the case; she seeks it, determined to avenge her mother's death. Now that's a lot more fun than coincidence, because the conflict is now not just an accident, but the result of this character's need for vengeance over justice.

3. Conflicts about Conflict: Conflict is the fuel that powers the plot and forces the characters into action. Without it you might have a nice slice of life portrait, or a great character sketch... but you don't really have a story. Problem is, conflict is volatile, and many of us avoid it in our plotting as we avoid it in our lives. But just as children need discipline to grow, characters need adversity to change. And fiction is, at base, about change. Popular fiction is usually about change in the protagonist. No one changes without a good reason to change-- that's where conflict comes in. Quite simply, you have an authorial duty to provide conflict for your characters so that they will learn to change-- and that means determining how they need to change. Linking conflict to character change will revitalize your story, and avoid the problems of serial conflict (where what looks like the book conflict wraps up in Chapter 3, to be replaced by another conflict) and incoherent conflict (where the conflict has nothing to do with who this character is or what she needs).

2. Structural Weaknesses: Many a good story is sunk by a weak structure: a hidden protagonist (the readers can't tell early whose story this is), meandering setups, mispresented conflict, rushed climaxes, incoherence between the protagonist and the plot (the main character doesn't have much to do with the main plot, or this person would never do what the plot requires him to do). Much of this derives from a misunderstanding of the purpose of structure. It's not a prison, chaining you to a "formula", it's a map to help you and your readers explore the issues you're developing with this story. Learning structure can teach you when to modify it and when to branch out on your own. The key to structure, in my opinion, is understanding the concept of the story questions-- the question or problem your opening poses, and the events which combine to create the answer. (Click here for more discussion of this topic.)

1. Whose Story Is This, Anyway? The Plight of the Protagonist: The biggest single plot problem I see in my judging, editing, and critiquing is actually a character problem: the passive or undermotivated protagonist-- that is, a protagonist who is not truly involved in causing the plot to unfold. Beware of the victim-protagonist (bad things happen to him, and he suffers a lot), the passive protagonist (he witnesses the plot events, but he doesn't participate), the bumbling protagonist (he acts, but stupidly, without learning from his mistakes). The central character doesn't have to be likeable (though it helps) or (god forbid) without faults, but he does have to be motivated enough to act and encounter obstacles and change in response to plot events. Ideally, the protagonist should be involved in nearly every event, and his decisions and actions should drive the plot. You might make a list of all the major plot events, and beside each note the protagonist's contribution. Is each action or decision or choice motivated? (The motivation doesn't have to be laudable, but should derive from who he is and what he wants.) Does each action have some effect on the plot? And finally, does each action-event dynamic contribute to an ultimate change in the protagonist?

Here's a final thought that might help you plot: One primary purpose of the plot is to force the protagonist to change, usually by recognizing and overcoming some internal conflict. Know your character, and you'll figure out your plot. Conversely, know your plot, and you'll find the character who needs that sequence of events for internal growth.

Year-long mystery

Note: This project only went on for 10 weeks before a computer ate all my daughter's notes and we lost enthusiasm for it. But you're welcome to read through as far as we got to see if the book might interest you. It was a new and interesting experience for me to plot out a book before writing it :-)

---

I just picked up an intriguing book called The Weekend Novelist Writes a Mystery by Robert J. Ray (author of 7 Matt Murdock mysteries though I'm not familiar with the series) and Jack Remick.

It's 52 weekends to a finished mystery novel. They write their own mystery along with the reader.

Kat thought it sounded like fun so, as we're doing it, I thought I'd post summaries of what the authors suggest you do each weekend on Fridays so you can join in if you'd like. Obviously their book has more thorough explanations and lots more encouragement. But we'll see how well it works!

If you'd like to try, mysteries don't need to be contemporary! I like historical mysteries, though that might involve some research. ;-) But authors have successfully combined fantasy or science fiction with mystery, like Laurel K. Hamilton's vampire series and Isaac Asimov's Robot series, just to name two.

To get going, they suggest creating a story profile. Obviously at this stage you won't know much! But write down ideas that pop into your head. They aren't etched in stone. You can always change them. You can always leave blanks to fill in later as the story sails along:

Fill in (as you can):

• Working title
  
• Type of tale
  
• Setting
  
• Time
  
• Main characters
  
  • killer
    
  • victim
    
  • sleuth
• Notes on the murder
  
  • weapon
    
  • wounds
    
  • time of death
    
  • motive
    
  • other
• Body discovered by
  
• Witnesses
  
• Suspects
  
• Scapegoats
  
• Other

The creation schedule is broken into 4 parts:

1. Planning
   
2. First draft which is written "fast and loose" -- like NaNoWriMo :-)
   
3. Second draft -- where the gaps are filled in and the bumps smoothed out
   
4. Final draft -- where it's polished

And the weekly breakdown of tasks is:

• Weekends 1-4: Character work
  
  • Killer
    
  • Victim
    
  • Sleuth
    
  • Catalyst
• Weekends 5-9: Plotting
  
  • Back story
    
  • Key Scenes
    
  • Plot Picture-Diagram
    
  • Subplots
    
  • The working synopsis
• Weekends 10-13: Scene building
  
  • Crime scene
    
  • Dialogue
    
  • Action
    
  • Setting
• Weekends 14-25: First Draft
  
  • Writing Act One
    
  • Writing Act Two
    
  • Writing Act Three
• Weekends 26-38: Second Draft
  
  • Weekends 26-29: Rewriting Act One
    
  • Weekends 30-35: Rewriting Act Two
    
  • Weekends 36-38: Rewriting Act Three
• Weekends 39-52: Final Draft

(By the way there's also The Weekend Novelist for writing a novel.

And that's it until next Friday!

I will cut back on my killing ...

Your favorite villain has made New Year's Resolutions. Will he put more effort into his evil plans? Will he turn around and try to start anew?

Make a list. :-)

Feels like ...

Since poetry came up on the list, here's a poetry prompt. (I should be sending out poetry prompts more than just during Poetry Month!)

This is something simple and yet digs into the strength of poetry: holding things up to unique ways of seeing (and tasting and feeling). Use the template to describe an abstract in terms of the senses.

The Feeling Poem

Line one: Name an abstract
Line two: “Smells like. . .”
Line three: “Tastes like. . .”
Line four: “Sounds like. . .”
Line five: “Feels like. . . .”
Line six: “Feels like. . .”
Line seven: “Feels like. . .”
Line eight: Name the abstract

(The original suggestion at The Magic Writing Tram was to write about an emotion but it will work just as well with any abstract idea.)

If you need some inspiration, there are examples done by kids at the link below.

Feel free to come up with your own abstract but if you wish to spend time on the poem rather than the idea, here's a handful of topics that go along with this time of the year.

anticipation
charity
patience
peace
wonder

If you need more there are lists of virtues and emotions from previous writing prompts.

From The Magic Writing Tram.

"Wake up with a smile ..."

All the plots in the world

Only one plot exists: conflict. “Foster-Harris describes this in terms of what the main character feels: ‘I have an inner conflict of emotions, feelings.... What, in any case, can I do to resolve the inner problems?’” Which sums it up nicely but isn't very helpful! So here are three ways people have come up with to categorize plot (with explanations and examples for the last and longest set.)

7 Plots
7 basic plots as remembered by IPL volunteer librarian Jessamyn West and a similar list from Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch and perhaps the inspiration for the school list:

[wo]man vs. man [wo]man vs. nature [wo]man vs. self [wo]man vs. god/religion [wo]man vs. machines/technology [wo]man vs. the supernatural [wo]man vs. the environment

Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Himself Man vs. God Man vs. Society Man caught in the Middle Man & Woman

7 (Other) Plots
From The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories by Christopher Booker

1. Overcoming the Monster
   
2. Rags to Riches
   
3. The Quest
   
4. Voyage and Return
   
5. Comedy
   
6. Tragedy
   
7. Rebirth

20 Plots
From 20 Master Plots: And how to build them by Ronald B. Tobias

1. QUEST - the plot involves the Protagonist's search for a person, place or thing, tangible or intangible (but must be quantifiable, so think of this as a noun; i.e., immortality).
   
   
2. ADVENTURE - this plot involves the Protagonist going in search of their fortune, and since fortune is never found at home, the Protagonist goes to search for it somewhere over the rainbow.
   
   
3. PURSUIT - this plot literally involves hide-and-seek, one person chasing another.
   
   
4. RESCUE - this plot involves the Protagonist searching for someone or something, usually consisting of three main characters
   
   
5. ESCAPE - plot involves a Protagonist confined against their will who wants to escape (does not include some one trying to escape their personal demons).
   
   
6. REVENGE - retaliation by Protagonist or Antagonist against the other for real or imagined injury.
   
   
7. THE RIDDLE - plot involves the Protagonist's search for clues to find the hidden meaning of something in question that is deliberately enigmatic or ambiguous.
   
   
8. RIVALRY - plot involves Protagonist competing for same object or goal as another person (their rival).
   
   
9. UNDERDOG - plot involves a Protagonist competing for an object or goal that is at a great disadvantage and is faced with overwhelming odds.
   
   
10. TEMPTATION - plot involves a Protagonist that for one reason or another is induced or persuaded to do something that is unwise, wrong or immoral.
    
    
11. METAMORPHOSIS - this plot involves the physical characteristics of the Protagonist actually changing from one form to another (reflecting their inner psychological identity).
    
    
12. TRANSFORMATION - plot involves the process of change in the Protagonist as they journey through a stage of life that moves them from one significant character state to another.
    
    
13. MATURATION - plot involves the Protagonist facing a problem that is part of growing up, and from dealing with it, emerging into a state of adulthood (going from innocence to experience).
    
    
14. LOVE - plot involves the Protagonist overcoming the obstacles to love that keeps them from consummating (engaging in) true love.
    
    
15. FORBIDDEN LOVE - plot involves Protagonist(s) overcoming obstacles created by social mores and taboos to consummate their relationship (and sometimes finding it at too high a price to live with).
    
    
16. SACRIFICE - plot involves the Protagonist taking action(s) that is motivated by a higher purpose (concept) such as love, honor, charity or for the sake of humanity.
    
    
17. DISCOVERY - plot that is the most character-centered of all, involves the Protagonist having to overcome an upheavel(s) in their life, and thereby discovering something important (and buried) within them a better understanding of life (i.e., better appreciation of their life, a clearer purpose in their life, etc.)
    
    
18. WRETCHED EXCESS - plot involves a Protagonist who, either by choice or by accident, pushes the limits of acceptable behavior to the extreme and is forced to deal with the consequences (generally deals with the psychological decline of the character).
    
    
19. ASCENSION - rags-to-riches plot deals with the rise (success) of Protagonist due to a dominating character trait that helps them to succeed.
    
    
20. DESCENSION - riches-to-rags plot deals with the fall (destruction) of Protagonist due to dominating character trait that eventually destroys their success.

36 Plots
The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations by Georges Polti (trans. Lucille Ray)

Polti claims to be trying to reconstruct the 36 plots that Goethe alleges someone named [Carlo] Gozzi came up with. (In the following list, the words in parentheses are the IPL annotations to try to explain some of the less helpful titles.):

1. Supplication (in which the Supplicant must beg something from Power in authority)
   (The dynamic elements technically necessary are: a Persecutor; a Suppliant; and a Power in authority, whose decision is doubtful)
   A.
   
   
   1. Fugitives Imploring the Powerful for Help Against Their Enemies
      
   2. Assistance Implored for the Performance of a Pious Duty Which Has Been Forbidden
      
   3. Appeals for a Refuge in Which to Die
   B.
   
   
   1. Hospitality Besought by the Shipwrecked
      
   2. Charity Entreated by Those Cast Off by Their Own People, Whom They Have Disgraced
      
   3. Expiation: The Seeking of Pardon, Healing or Deliverance
      
   4. The Surrender of a Corpse, or of a Relic, Solicited
   C.
   
   
   1. Supplication of the Powerful for Those Dear to the Suppliant
      
   2. Supplication to a Relative in Behalf of Another Relative
      
   3. Supplication to a Mother's Lover, in Her Behalf
   
   
2. Deliverance
   (Elements: an Unfortunate, a Threatener, a Rescuer)
   A.
   
   
   1. Appearance of a Rescuer to the Condemned
   B.
   
   
   1. A Parent Replaced Upon a Throne by His Children
      
   2. Rescue by Friends, or by Strangers Grateful for Benefits Or Hospitality
   
   
3. Crime Pursued By Vengeance
   (Elements: an Avenger and a Criminal)
   A.
   
   
   1. The Avenging of a Slain Parent or Ancestor
      
   2. The Avenging of a Slain Child or Descendant
      
   3. Vengeance for a Child Dishonored
      
   4. The Avenging of a Slain Wife or Husband
      
   5. Vengeance for the Dishonor, or Attempted Dishonoring, of a Wife
      
   6. Vengeance for a Mistress Slain
      
   7. Vengeance for a Slain or Injured Friend
      
   8. Vengeance for a Sister Seduced
   B.
   
   
   1. Vengeance for Intentional Injury or Spoliation
      
   2. Vengeance for Having Been Despoiled During Absence
      
   3. Revenge for an Attempted Slaying
      
   4. Revenge for a False Accusation
      
   5. Vengeance for Violation
      
   6. Vengeance for Having Been Robbed of One's Own
      
   7. Revenge Upon a Whole Sex for a Deception by One
   C.
   
   
   1. Professional Pursuit of Criminals
   
   
4. Vengeance Taken For Kindred Upon Kindred
   (Elements: Avenging Kinsman; Guilty Kinsman; Remembrance of the Victim, a Relative of Both)
   A.
   
   
   1. A Father's Death Avenged Upon a Mother
      
   2. A Mother's Death Avenged Upon a Father
   B.
   
   
   1. A Brother's Death Avenged Upon a Son
   C.
   
   
   1. A Father's Death Avenged Upon a Husband
   D.
   
   
   1. A Husband's Death Avenged Upon a Father
   
   
5. Pursuit
   (Elements: Punishment and Fugitive)
   A.
   
   
   1. Fugitives from Justice Pursued for Brigandage, Political Offenses, Etc.
   B.
   
   
   1. Pursued for a Fault of Love
   C.
   
   
   1. A Hero Struggling Against a Power
   D.
   
   
   1. A Pseudo-Madman Struggling Against an Iago-Like Alienist
   
   
6. Disaster
   (Elements: a Vanquished Power; a Victorious Enemy or a Messenger)
   A.
   
   
   1. Defeat Suffered
      
   2. A Fatherland Destroyed
      
   3. The Fall of Humanity
      
   4. A Natural Catastrophe
   B.
   
   
   1. A Monarch Overthrown
   C.
   
   
   1. Ingratitude Suffered
      
   2. The Suffering of Unjust Punishment or Enmity
      
   3. An Outrage Suffered
   D.
   
   
   1. Abandonment by a Lover or a Husband
      
   2. Children Lost by Their Parents
   
   
7. Falling Prey To Cruelty Or Misfortune
   (Elements: an Unfortunate; a Master or a Misfortune)
   A.
   
   
   1. The Innocent Made the Victim of Ambitious Intrigue
   B.
   
   
   1. The Innocent Despoiled by Those Who Should Protect
   C.
   
   
   1. The Powerful Dispossessed and Wretched
      
   2. A Favorite or an Intimate Finds Himself Forgotten
   D.
   
   
   1. The Unfortunate Robbed of Their Only Hope
   
   
8. Revolt
   (Elements: Tyrant and Conspirator)
   A.
   
   
   1. A Conspiracy Chiefly of One Individual
      
   2. A Conspiracy of Several
   B.
   
   
   1. Revolt of One Individual, Who Influences and Involves Others
      
   2. A Revolt of Many
   
   
9. Daring Enterprise
   (Elements: a Bold Leader; an Object; an Adversary)
   A.
   
   
   1. Preparations For War
   B.
   
   
   1. War
      
   2. A Combat
   C.
   
   
   1. Carrying Off a Desired Person or Object
      
   2. Recapture of a Desired Object
   D.
   
   
   1. Adventurous Expeditions
      
   2. Adventure Undertaken for the Purpose of Obtaining a Beloved Woman
   
   
10. Abduction
    (Elements: the Abductor; the Abducted; the Guardian)
    A.
    
    
    1. Abduction of an Unwilling Woman
    B.
    
    
    1. Abduction of a Consenting Woman
    C.
    
    
    1. Recapture of the Woman Without the Slaying of the Abductor
       
    2. The Same Case, with the Slaying of the Ravisher
    D.
    
    
    1. Rescue of a Captive Friend
       
    2. Of a Child
       
    3. Of a Soul in Captivity to Error
    
    
11. The Enigma (temptation or a riddle)
    (Elements: Interrogator, Seeker and Problem)
    A.
    
    
    1. Search for a Person Who Must Be Found on Pain of Death
    B.
    
    
    1. A Riddle To Be Solved on Pain of Death
       
    2. The Same Case, in Which the Riddle is Proposed by the Coveted Woman
    C.
    
    
    1. Temptations Offered With the Object of Discovering His Name
       
    2. Temptations Offered With the Object of Ascertaining the Sex
       
    3. Tests for the Purpose of Ascertaining the Mental Condition
    
    
12. Obtaining
    (Elements: a Solicitor and an Adversary Who is Refusing, or an Arbitrator and Opposing Parties)
    A.
    
    
    1. Efforts to Obtain an Object by Ruse or Force
    B.
    
    
    1. Endeavor by Means of Persuasive Eloquence Alone
    C.
    
    
    1. Eloquence With an Arbitrator
    
    
13. Enmity Of Kinsmen
    (Elements: a Malevolent Kinsman; a Hatred or Reciprocally Hating Kinsman)
    A.
    
    
    1. Hatred of Brothers -- One Brother Hated by Several
       
    2. Reciprocal Hatred
       
    3. Hatred Between Relatives for Reasons of Self-Interest
    B.
    
    
    1. Hatred of Father and Son -- Of the Son for the Father
       
    2. Mutual Hatred
       
    3. Hatred of Daughter for Father
    C.
    
    
    1. Hatred of Grandfather for Grandson
    D.
    
    
    1. Hatred of Father-in-law for Son-in-law
    E.
    
    
    1. Hatred of Mother-in-law for Daughter-in-law
    F.
    
    
    1. Infanticide
    
    
14. Rivalry Of Kinsmen
    (Elements: the Preferred Kinsman; the Rejected Kinsman; the Object)
    A.
    
    
    1. Malicious Rivalry of a Brother
       
    2. Malicious Rivalry of Two Brothers
       
    3. Rivalry of Two Brothers, With Adultery on the Part of One
       
    4. Rivalry of Sisters
    B.
    
    
    1. Rivalry of Father and Son, for an Unmarried Woman
       
    2. Rivalry of Father and Son, for a Married Woman
       
    3. Case Similar to the Two Foregoing, But in Which the Object is Already the Wife of the Father
       
    4. Rivalry of Mother and Daughter
    C.
    
    
    1. Rivalry of Cousins
    D.
    
    
    1. Rivalry of Friends
    
    
15. Murderous Adultery
    (Elements: Two Adulterers; a Betrayed Husband or Wife)
    A.
    
    
    1. The Slaying of a Husband by, or for, a Paramour
       
    2. The Slaying of a Trusting Lover
    B.
    
    
    1. Slaying of a Wife for a Paramour, and in Self-Interest
    
    
16. Madness
    (Elements: Madman and Victim)
    A.
    
    
    1. Kinsmen Slain in Madness
       
    2. Lover Slain in Madness
       
    3. Slaying or Injuring of a Person not Hated
    B.
    
    
    1. Disgrace Brought Upon Oneself Through Madness
    C.
    
    
    1. Loss of Loved Ones Brought About by Madness
    D.
    
    
    1. Madness Brought on by Fear of Hereditary Insanity
    
    
17. Fatal Imprudence
    (Elements: The Imprudent; the Victim or the Object Lost)
    A.
    
    
    1. Imprudence the Cause of One's Own Misfortune
       
    2. Imprudence the Cause of One's Own Dishonor
    B.
    
    
    1. Curiosity the Cause of One's Own Misfortune
       
    2. Loss of the Possession of a Loved One, Through Curiosity
    C.
    
    
    1. Curiosity the Cause of Death or Misfortune to Others
       
    2. Imprudence the Cause of a Relative's Death
       
    3. Imprudence the Cause of a Lover's Death
       
    4. Credulity the Cause of Kinsmen's Deaths
    
    
18. Involuntary Crimes Of Love
    (Elements: the Lover, the Beloved; the Revealer)
    A.
    
    
    1. Discovery that One Has Married One's Mother
       
    2. Discovery that One Has Had a Sister as Mistress
    B.
    
    
    1. Discovery that One Has Married One's Sister
       
    2. The Same Case, in Which the Crime Has Been Villainously Planned by a Third Person
       
    3. Being Upon the Point of Taking a Sister, Unknowingly, as Mistress
    C.
    
    
    1. Being Upon the Point of Violating, Unknowingly, a Daughter
    D.
    
    
    1. Being Upon the Point of Committing an Adultery Unknowingly
       
    2. Adultery Committed Unknowingly
    
    
19. Slaying Of a Kinsman Unrecognized
    (Elements: the Slayer, the Unrecognized Victim)
    A.
    
    
    1. Being Upon the Point of Slaying a Daughter Unknowingly, by Command of a Divinity or an Oracle
       
    2. Through Political Necessity
       
    3. Through a Rivalry in Love
       
    4. Through Hatred of the Lover of the Unrecognized Daughter
    B.
    
    
    1. Being Upon the Point of Killing a Son Unknowingly
       
    2. The Same Case, Strengthened by Machiavellian Instigations
    C.
    
    
    1. Being Upon the Point of Slaying a Brother Unknowingly
    D.
    
    
    1. Slaying of a Mother Unrecognized
    E.
    
    
    1. A Father Slain Unknowingly, Through Machiavellian Advice
    F.
    
    
    1. A Grandfather Slain Unknowingly, in Vengeance and Through Instigation
    G.
    
    
    1. Involuntary Killing of a Loved Woman
       
    2. Being Upon the Point of Killing a Lover Unrecognized
       
    3. Failure to Rescue an Unrecognized Son
    
    
20. Self-Sacrificing For an Ideal
    (Elements: the Hero; the Ideal; the 'Creditor' or the Person or Thing Sacrificed)
    A.
    
    
    1. Sacrifice of Life for the Sake of One's Word
       
    2. Life Sacrifice for the Success of One's People
       
    3. Life Sacrificed in Filial Piety
       
    4. Life Sacrificed for the Sake of One's Faith
    B.
    
    
    1. Both Love and Life Sacrificed for One's Faith, or a Cause
       
    2. Love Sacrificed to the Interests of State
    C.
    
    
    1. Sacrifice of Well-Being to Duty
    D.
    
    
    1. The Ideal of 'Honor' Sacrificed to the Ideal of 'Faith'
    
    
21. Self-Sacrifice For Kindred
    (Elements: the Hero; the Kinsman; the 'Creditor' or the Person or Thing Sacrificed)
    A.
    
    
    1. Life Sacrificed for that of a Relative or a Loved One
       
    2. Life Sacrificed for the Happiness of a Relative or a Loved One
    B.
    
    
    1. Ambition Sacrificed for the Happiness of a Parent
       
    2. Ambition Sacrificed for the Life of a Parent
    C.
    
    
    1. Love Sacrificed for the Sake of a Parent's Life
       
    2. For the Happiness of One's Child
       
    3. The Same Sacrifice as 2, But Caused by Unjust Laws
    D.
    
    
    1. Life and Honor Sacrificed for the Life of a Parent or Loved One
       
    2. Modesty Sacrificed for the Life of a Relative or a Loved One
    
    
22. All Sacrificed For a Passion
    (Elements: the Lover, the Object of the Fatal Passion; the Person or Thing Sacrificed)
    A.
    
    
    1. Religious Vows of Chastity Broken for a Passion
       
    2. Respect for a Priest Destroyed
       
    3. A Future Ruined by Passion
       
    4. Power Ruined by Passion
       
    5. Ruin of Mind, Health, and Life
       
    6. Ruin of Fortunes, Lives, and Honors
    B.
    
    
    1. Temptations Destroying the Sense of Duty, of Piety, etc.
    C.
    
    
    1. Destruction of Honor, Fortune, and Life by Erotic Vice
       
    2. The Same Effect Produced by Any Other Vice
    
    
23. Necessity Of Sacrificing Love Ones
    (Elements: the Hero; the Beloved Victim; the Necessity for the Sacrifice)
    A.
    
    
    1. Necessity for Sacrificing a Daughter in the Public Interest
       
    2. Duty of Sacrificing Her in Fulfillment of a Vow to God
       
    3. Duty of Sacrificing Benefactors or Loved Ones to One's Faith
    B.
    
    
    1. Duty of Sacrificing One's Child, Unknown to Others, Under the Pressure of Necessity
       
    2. Duty of Sacrificing, Under the Same Circumstances, One's Father or Husband
       
    3. Duty of Sacrificing a Son-in-law for the Public Good
       
    4. Duty of Contending with a Brother-in-Law for the Public Good
       
    5. Duty of Contending with a Friend
    
    
24. Rivalry Of Superior and Inferior
    (Elements: the Superior Rival; the Inferior Rival; the Object)
    A.
    
    
    1. Masculine Rivalries; of a Mortal and an Immortal
       
    2. Of a Magician and an Ordinary Man
       
    3. Of Conqueror and Conquered
       
    4. Of a King and a Noble
       
    5. Of a Powerful Person and an Upstart
       
    6. Of Rich and Poor
       
    7. Of an Honored Man and a Suspected One
       
    8. Rivalry of Two Who are Almost Equal
       
    9. Of the Two Successive Husbands of a Divorcee
    B.
    
    
    1. Feminine Rivalries; Of a Sorceress and an Ordinary Woman
       
    2. Of Victor and Prisoner
       
    3. Of Queen and Subject
       
    4. Of Lady and Servant
       
    5. Rivalry Between Memory or an Ideal (That of a Superior Woman) and a Vassal of Her Own
    C.
    
    
    1. Double Rivalry (A loves B, who loves C, who loves D)
    
    
25. Adultery
    (Elements: a Deceived Husband or Wife; Two Adulterers)
    A.
    
    
    1. A Mistress Betrayed, For a Young Woman
       
    2. For a Young Wife
    B.
    
    
    1. A Wife Betrayed, For a Slave Who Does Not Love in Return
       
    2. For Debauchery
       
    3. For a Married Woman
       
    4. With the Intention of Bigamy
       
    5. For a Young Girl, who Does Not Love in Return
       
    6. A Wife Envied by a Young Girl Who is in Love With Her Husband
       
    7. By a Courtesan
    C.
    
    
    1. An Antagonistic Husband Sacrificed for a Congenial Lover
       
    2. A Husband, Believed to be Lost, Forgotten for a Rival
       
    3. A Commonplace Husband Sacrificed for a Sympathetic Lover
       
    4. A Good Husband Betrayed for an Inferior Rival
       
    5. For a Grotesque Rival
       
    6. For a Commonplace Rival, By a Perverse Wife
       
    7. For a Rival Less Handsome, But Useful
    D.
    
    
    1. Vengeance of a Deceived Husband
       
    2. Jealousy Sacrificed for the Sake of a Cause
       
    3. Husband Persecuted by a Rejected Rival
    
    
26. Crimes Of Love
    (Elements: The Lover, the Beloved)
    A.
    
    
    1. A Mother in Love with Her Son
       
    2. A Daughter in Love with her Father
       
    3. Violation of a Daughter by a Father
    B.
    
    
    1. A Woman Enamored of Her Stepson
       
    2. A Woman and Her Stepson Enamored of Each Other
       
    3. A Woman Being the Mistress, at the Same Time, of a Father and Son, Both of Whom Accept the Situation
    C.
    
    
    1. A Man Becomes the Lover of his Sister-in-Law
       
    2. A Brother and Sister in Love with Each Other
    D.
    
    
    1. A Man Enamored of Another Man, Who Yields
    E.
    
    
    1. A Woman Enamored of a Beast
    
    
27. Discovery Of The Dishonor Of a Loved One
    (Elements: the Discoverer; the Guilty One)
    A.
    
    
    1. Discovery of a Mother's Shame
       
    2. Discovery of a Father's Shame
       
    3. Discovery of a Daughter's Dishonor
    B.
    
    
    1. Discovery of Dishonor in the Family of One's Fiancee
       
    2. Discovery than One's Wife Has Been Violated Before Marriage, Or Since the Marriage
       
    3. That She Has Previously Committed a Fault
       
    4. Discovery that One's Wife Has Formerly Been a Prostitute
       
    5. Discovery that One's Mistress, Formerly a Prostitute, Has Returned to Her Old Life
       
    6. Discovery that One's Lover is a Scoundrel, or that One's Mistress is a Woman of Bad Character
       
    7. The Same Discovery Concerning One's Wife
    C.
    
    
    1. Duty of Punishing a Son Who is a Traitor to Country
       
    2. Duty of Punishing a Son Condemned Under a Law Which the Father Has Made
       
    3. Duty of Punishing One's Mother to Avenge One's Father
    
    
28. Obstacles To Love
    (Elements: Two Lovers, an Obstacle)
    A.
    
    
    1. Marriage Prevented by Inequality of Rank
       
    2. Inequality of Fortune an Impediment to Marriage
    B.
    
    
    1. Marriage Prevented by Enemies and Contingent Obstacles
    C.
    
    
    1. Marriage Forbidden on Account of the Young Woman's Previous Betrothal to Another
    D.
    
    
    1. A Free Union Impeded by the Opposition of Relatives
    E.
    
    
    1. By the Incompatibility of Temper of the Lovers
    
    
29. An Enemy Loved
    (Elements: The Beloved Enemy; the Lover; the Hater)
    A.
    
    
    1. The Loved One Hated by Kinsmen of the Lover
       
    2. The Lover Pursued by the Brothers of His Beloved
       
    3. The Lover Hated by the Family of His Beloved
       
    4. The Beloved is an Enemy of the Party of the Woman Who Loves Him
    B.
    
    
    1. The Beloved is the Slayer of a Kinsman of the Woman Who Loves Him
    
    
30. Ambition
    (Elements: an Ambitious Person; a Thing Coveted; an Adversary)
    A.
    
    
    1. Ambition Watched and Guarded Against by a Kinsman, or By a Person Under Obligation
    B.
    
    
    1. Rebellious Ambition
    C.
    
    
    1. Ambition and Covetousness Heaping Crime Upon Crime
    
    
31. Conflict With a God
    (Elements: a Mortal, an Immortal)
    A.
    
    
    1. Struggle Against a Deity
       
    2. Strife with the Believers in a God
    B.
    
    
    1. Controversy with a Deity
       
    2. Punishment for Contempt of a God
       
    3. Punishment for Pride Before a God
    
    
32. Mistaken Jealousy
    (Elements: the Jealous One; the Object of Whose Possession He is Jealous; the Supposed Accomplice; the Cause or the Author of the Mistake)
    A.
    
    
    1. The Mistake Originates in the Suspicious Mind of the Jealous One
       
    2. Mistaken Jealousy Aroused by Fatal Chance
       
    3. Mistaken Jealousy of a Love Which is Purely Platonic
       
    4. Baseless Jealousy Aroused by Malicious Rumors
    B.
    
    
    1. Jealousy Suggested by a Traitor Who is Moved by Hatred, or Self-Interest
    C.
    
    
    1. Reciprocal Jealousy Suggested to Husband and Wife by a Rival
    
    
33. Erroneous Judgment
    (Elements: The Mistaken One; the Victim of the Mistake; the Cause or Author of the Mistake; the Guilty Person)
    A.
    
    
    1. False Suspicion Where Faith is Necessary
       
    2. False Suspicion of a Mistress
       
    3. False Suspicion Aroused by a Misunderstood Attitude of a Loved One
    B.
    
    
    1. False Suspicions Drawn Upon Oneself to Save a Friend
       
    2. They Fall Upon the Innocent
       
    3. The Same Case as 2, but in Which the Innocent had a Guilty Intention, or Believes Himself Guilty
       
    4. A Witness to the Crime, in the Interest of a Loved One, Lets Accusation Fall Upon the Innocent
    C.
    
    
    1. The Accusation is Allowed to Fall Upon an Enemy
       
    2. The Error is Provoked by an Enemy
    D.
    
    
    1. False Suspicion Thrown by the Real Culprit Upon One of His Enemies
       
    2. Thrown by the Real Culprit Upon the Second Victim Against Whom He Has Plotted From the Beginning
    
    
34. Remorse
    (Elements: the Culprit; the Victim or the Sin; the Interrogator)
    A.
    
    
    1. Remorse for an Unknown Crime
       
    2. Remorse for a Parricide
       
    3. Remorse for an Assassination
    B.
    
    
    1. Remorse for a Fault of Love
       
    2. Remorse for an Adultery
    
    
35. Recovery Of a Lost One
    (The Seeker; the One Found)
    A.
    
    
    1. A Child Stolen
    B.
    
    
    1. Unjust Imprisonment
    C.
    
    
    1. A Child Searches to Discover His Father
    
    
36. Loss Of Loved Ones
    (A Kinsman Slain; a Kinsman Spectator; an Executioner)
    A.
    
    
    1. Witnessing the Slaying of Kinsmen While Powerless to Prevent It
       
    2. Helping to Bring Misfortune Upon One's People Through Professional Secrecy
    B.
    
    
    1. Divining the Death of a Loved One
    C.
    
    
    1. Learning of the Death of a Kinsman or Ally, and Lapsing into Despair

Compiled from:
The "Basic" Plots in Literature
TSA Writing Tips - Twenty Basic Plots
The Thirty-six Dramatic Situations

Deck the halls with boughs of garlic

Write a sentence about vampires for each of the following words. Feel free to change the tenses or word forms. To make it even more challenging, give the sense that it's cold or even Christmas.

• android
  
• bristly
  
• castle
  
• diddle
  
• empire
  
• ferret
  
• grovel
  
• hollow
  
• immortal
  
• jaded
  
• knock
  
• low tech
  
• master
  
• notorious
  
• owl
  
• patience
  
• quirky
  
• rakish
  
• secret garden
  
• torment
  
• ugly
  
• violinist
  
• whimper
  
• explorer
  
• yanked
  
• zest

A winter's tale

Come up with titles for the following genre's using the words winter or Christmas. (Or let the season otherwise inspire you :-)

• Adventure/Action
  
• Animal
  
• Autobiography
  
• Biography
  
• Children’s
  
• Detective fiction
  
• Fantasy
  
• General
  
• Historical
  
• Horror
  
• Humor
  
• Mystery
  
• Non-fiction
  
• Poetry
  
• Reference
  
• Romance
  
• Science fiction
  
• Suspense
  
• Western

"Who needs a clean house ..."

Here there be dragons

A wealth of pages on creating dragons.

---

Dragon and Dragon Name Generators

Seventh Sanctum's Dragon generators
There are a wealth of generators at Seventh Sanctum for fantasy, science fiction and gaming.

Dragon Breed Generator - Creates names for Dragon breeds, both in a semi-real world style, or in a general fantasy style.

Examples:

• Hungarian Greattoothed Highflyer
  
• Daywind Terror
  
• Majestic Giantwing
  
• Mottled Greattoothed Trampler
  
• Sapphire Daymaw

Dragon Character Generator - Creates very detailed dragons for use as characters in stories or games.

Example: Woodstopper - She is a young dragon. She has silver scales and ridges on her back. Her breath is a cloud of gas that puts most beings to sleep. She is very cunning. She lives in a deep and mysterious forest. Her hoard is small.

Dragon Description Generator - Creates highly detailed dragon descriptions for writing, games, and art.

Example: "This dragon has a thick, short body with a thick tail and neck. Its scales are green. On the end of its tail is a bladelike extension. This dragon has short, thick limbs with three splayed digits on each foot that end in very short claws. It has small, wide-set wings running from its shoulders to its lower back. This dragon has a small mouth and has a pronounced underbite. It has giant slitted nostrils. This dragon has slitted eyes that are red. It has small holes for ears. A bony plate projects from the back of its skull, protecting its upper neck Flaps of skin allow it to completely close its nostrils."

The Dragon Stone name generator
Get 5 dragon names at a time in various styles.

Human language:

• Astra Goldenlair
  
• Ebonyguardian Quick-Night
  
• Draco Timewyrm
  
• Sapphirecloud
  
• Astralfly

Mix of dragon and human:

• Fyre Worhamumin
  
• Glala Draig
  
• Ignatius Isnou
  
• Binachul Lightning-Night
  
• Detu Silence

Anne McCaffrey Pern style:

• Hyoth
  
• Papith
  
• Imath
  
• Xebrasoth
  
• Drhoth

(There's also a Pern style name generator at Dragon Name Generator that can display up to 50 names at a time.)

Terry Pratchett Swamp style:

• Goodcherry Lightning V of Brindisi
  
• Gaynose Elspeth of Ankh
  
• Petallight Marquis Prosper the Seventh
  
• Sundawn Tallulah
  
• Baronet Marchlight Gayreeds of Genua

Dragon Name Generator
Type in your name and turn it into a dragon name. Mine is: Jarkore the Great Dragon (Green Dragon)

(There are quite a few quirky name generators at Rum and Monkey like "The fluffy kitten name generator" and "Reveal your ridden [sic] Harry-Pottery Patronus" and "The Damned Hippie Name Generator". (Note some of them are beyond PG-13.)

---

Dragon Name Resource
A thorough discussion of techniques for naming dragons. Some examples: Naming after yourself (scramble the letters of your name), important dates and places, after a friend, a book character, strange words, personality traits, another language.

---

Dragon Names

The Dragon's Chart from The Serene Dragon
An extensive list of names of dragons and story titles and characters in dragon stories.

Dragon Names
List of famous dragon names, plus dragons in literature, TV, film, video games, etc. Also a selective list of links to more dragon names.

Dragonorama's Famous Dragons, Serpents and Wyrms
Some that aren't listed at the above site. (Links to the rest of the alphabet are at the bottom of the page.)

Dragon Names
Names that mean dragon, serpent, snake, famous dragons. (There are also names by nationality and if you pull down the pull down menu there are dozens and dozens of special category names, eg, ghost, element, fire, color .. there are two pages of them.

The Real Dragon Magic Names
An article on dragon-magic names rather than dragon magic-names but some very cool sounding words that could be used for dragon names (or, of course, dragon magic!) As well as a draconic dictionary for making up your own. Here's a sampling:

• Abumagi (Scales of Energy)
  
• Arctaos Ro (Everlasting Charm)
  
• Chaun Duil (Expel from Lair)
  
• Denthanus Ro (Everlasting Terror)
  
• Fal Indelstan (Unstoppable Energy)
  
• Gul Kaden (Freezing Cloud)
  
• Ingis Facorol (Deadly Spray)
  
• Madeec Tomosha (Blind the Mind)
  
• Sart Aurthon (Small Enough)
  
• Zaunduil (Shifting Sanctum)

CAT TOWN THEATER

HELLO, I'M ANGEL, HERE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO CAT TOWN. CAT TOWN IS A TOWN WHERE EVERYBODY IS A CAT AND THERE ARE MANY HILARIOUS ADVENTURES.


I'M EL GUAPO, THE HERO OF MANY CAT TOWN TALES. AND YOU, TOO, CAN ADD TO THE MERRIMENT BY WRITING YOUR OWN EPISODE (PREFERABLY IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE TALK IN CAT TOWN.)


MAYOR SAILOR SUIT CAT. YOU MUST CHECK OUT THE RESIDENTS OF CAT TOWN SO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT.


I'M LITTLE REDHAIRED CAT WHO IS IN LOVE WITH EL GUAPO. I'M QUITE CERTAIN EPISODE 1 WILL GET YOU INSPIRED. AND SEVERAL EPISODES WILL GET YOU EVEN MORE INSPIRED. SOON YOU WILL WRITE AND TALK LIKE WE DO IN CAT TOWN!

---

Note: If Cat Town Theater disappears, try the Cat Town mirror site.

Fill in the blanks

This will take about 2 minutes to load if you have dial up so click here to get it started loading in a new window.

This is the 11 page comic I did for the Imagination Tribe story book project. I've removed all the spoken words. You can fill in the word bubbles with your own words.

Sorry, the comic pages were stored at Blogsome where the blog was originally hosted for the first 4 (?) years. Apparently Blogsome shutdown in 2011 -- which I hadn't even realized until this post popped up on the "Poplular posts" list. Unfortunately, I can't find the original pages to re-upload here :-(

"Shoot for the moon"

Word jar

Cut words from the headlines in magazines and newspapers. Put them in a jar large enough to hold hundreds of them. When you're stuck trying to think of a story idea or where to go next in a story, randomly pull out three slips. Use those three words in the next sentence you write.

Flight writing prompts

These are from my last year's NaNoWriMo to use as writing prompts:

"I will rip his eyeballs out and impale them on a spit and roast them until they burst. I will rip his nose off and season it with fire pepper and feed it to Tagira. I will rip his lips off and ...," dark haired Ristiki chanted into the warm summer wind rushing into her as the massive orange tiger beneath her bounded over ragged rocks and scrubby scrouse bushes.

---

Rane whirled his two swords in black and white deadly circles. As he had designed the blades and the technique to do, the swords sliced through the demon horde attacking him. Pieces of lesser demons littered the ground, and black demon blood rained down on the green grass. It hissed and ate away at every living thing it touched.

---

The snake was as thick around as the man standing before it. If it were stretched to its full length rather than curled about itself, it would be as long as the room. It raised its head up to peer down with brown golden flecked eyes at the man. When the snake could see the fear in the man's eyes it was satisfied and its shimmery gold and brown and black form writhed and contracted. Soon, out of the amorphous mass a woman took shape, unselfconsciously naked. Perfectly formed, her hair was streaks of gold, brown and black, her skin was golden with the slightest hint of brown and black patterning, and her eyes were brown with gold flecks.

---

Hengorth rolled the stem of the crystal glass of wine between his long elegant fingers while the woman watched, a sensuous smile on her face. The horny nails should have marred his fingers' elegance but on him they seemed right. His black clothing draped perfectly over his tall, lean frame and the color complemented his gold toned skin. His smooth, thick black hair was gathered back and clipped at the nape of his neck with a gold clasp. There was something unnaturally elegant about him. But then, of course, he wasn't a man so perhaps that he looked human at all was more remarkable.

---

"Vir Drenn," said a feminine voice just behind him as the noise of the crowd died down. "I never thought I would see you here."

---

With a slow anguished unfolding, she transformed into a violet, teal and magenta bird, with clawed wings and talons half as long as Rane was tall. She was fast and in his dazed state, sliced Rane across the chest to taunt him into transforming.

---

Gor strode slowly and deliberately across the room to Rane. His hand shot out, his fingers closing around his son's throat, lowering Rane to his knees. "Where are the humans, Rane?" Gor asked in a quiet, reasonable voice.

Basilisk

I was looking for a list of episode titles from Basilisk (a Japanese animated show), which, being relatively new, I could only find Japanese titles for. Google "translated" them for me and came up with the following which make for some mind stretching writing prompts. Use one to begin a scene or try to work in as many as you can.

• Phase thought offset (the person who is loved the dying obtaining)
  
• Fetal movement two place
  
• Misfortune cruel
  
• enclosure night traveling
  
• Ninja six ceremony
  
• Descending/disembarking tear love
  
• Human skin hell
  
• Blood smoke cruelty
  
• stopping long rain
  
• Stone gravel non announcement
  
• Recollection film slide
  
• Kocho boisterous dance
  
• Scattering flower strait
  
• Wave jail gate
  
• Bosom pale picture
  
• runoff
  
• Non discernment dawn
  
• shooting heat waves
  
• Fantasy bubble shadow
  
• Afterlife encounter
  
• God ancestor/founder
  
• Benevolence flow
  
• Super woman
  
• Ogre

Nacreous

You see this shooting across the sky at twilight. (Click to open a larger view in a new window.)

Some questions to think about if you need a jump start:

What is it?
What has caused it?
What will happen?

Or who is it?
Where are they going and why?
Are they chasing something or being chased?
Are they off to the rescue or off to some big event?

(The original is at Nacreous Clouds - Southern Norway, along with other cool nacreous cloud pictures.)

"There is no agony ..."

Latté break

Well, I wanted to do some clever wrap up to NaNoWriMo, but I feel the pressure of all the things I put off during the month ;-) So here's some more tips on getting unstuck:

Experiment -- Try to write in different places, at different times, and with different writing instruments.

Freewrite -- Choose one sentence in a paragraph and write a paragraph about it. Then choose one sentence from that paragraph and do it again.

Cluster -- Choose key words and ideas; then write associated ideas and words in clusters around them. This process often forms new ideas.

Be flexible -- Be willing to throw out sections of text that are causing problems or just don't work.

Follow a routine -- Follow a routine to get into the writing mood. Try activities like wearing comfortable clothing, using a certain pen, or listening to a particular CD or type of music.

Move -- Physically move around, stretch, or walk.

Take a break -- Get a snack or drink, talk to someone, or just relax for five minutes before starting to write again.

Concentrate -- Focus on a different section or aspect of your paper. This sometimes leads to new insights in problem areas, while allowing you to get work done on another section.

Re-read -- Read a print draft of the paper and jot down ideas while reading.

Relax! -- The more you worry, the harder it gets to think clearly.

These are from Overcoming Writer's Block.

Doctor who?

As NaNoWriMo winds down today (or furiously races to the midnight finish) ... this is an idea suggested on the NaNoWriMo boards and gives me a chance to share my new favorite Doctor (Christopher Eccleston). (Is it sacrilege to put him above Tom Baker??) Incorporate as many of these quotes from the 9th Doctor as you can into a writing piece.

• Ah, could've been worse. Look at the ears.
  
• If you're an alien, then how comes you sound like you're from the North?
  
• So what you're saying is, the whole world revolves around you?
  
• The great and the good are gathering to watch the planet burn.
  
• We don't want your pity! We want this world and all its flesh!
  
• Excuse me, do you mind not farting while I'm saving the world?
  
• Mickey the idiot, the world is in your hands--
  
• He's dead. Sip Fel Fotch Pasameer-Day Slitheen is dead.
  
• Exterminate.
  
• Look at me, I'm stupid.
  
• Don't touch the baby!
  
• And I'm looking for a blonde in a Union Jack. A specific one, mind you, I didn't just wake up this morning with a craving.
  
• Like I said, once. There's a banana grove there now. I like bananas. Bananas are good.
  
• I'm... trying to resonate concrete.
  
• Close the door will you? Your ship's about to blow up; there's gonna be a draft.
  
• She's got a teleport! That's cheating! Now we'll never get her!
  
• I think you're forgetting something: If there's one thing I can do it's talk. I've got 5 billion languages and you haven't got one way of stopping me.
  
• I thought that was just a legend.