Board 8 > Hey B8 writers, I have a writer's block related question

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So I came up with an idea for something I want to write that I'm pretty jazzed about actually. My only problem is that I have a concept I really enjoy, but I'm having trouble coming up with a solid plot for it. How do you guys navigate that issue? Keep in mind this idea is pretty fresh in my head, but I struggle to figure out a compelling story to put the universe and characters into.

Anyone else deal with this issue before? It's normally very backwards to how I normally have issues with it, as I usually come up with a story first and build around that.

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I feel like I would try to start with the characters at that point. Brainstorm a bunch of generic characters (teen boy, soldier, etc) and see if anything jumps out as fitting in your world. Then try to see if that character has a motivation/goal that fits into the world to start a story.

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I dunno, just gotta write everything that comes in your head no matter how silly it may seem. It always works for me. You'll find the throughline eventually.

Alternatively going through the 5 w's can help immensely too.

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It's pretty situational. Skullbone's idea is solid, though. Are you more of a planner or a pantser?

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Do you have characters, Biscuit? That kinda informs how I'd go about it. I think if you want to have a strong plot, you need to define who your protagonist is. Find a good sounding board and start puzzling through what kind of character fits the concept, and from there work out what they want, then project outward. You should have a skeleton of a plot at that point.

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skullbone posted...

I feel like I would try to start with the characters at that point. Brainstorm a bunch of generic characters (teen boy, soldier, etc) and see if anything jumps out as fitting in your world. Then try to see if that character has a motivation/goal that fits into the world to start a story.

I think I have a solid protagonist, and I have some supporting characters figured out. I'm at the point where I think I have a motivation/goal for the protagonist, but I'm still trying to find a way to make a compelling plot around said motivation and goal. I think I may have a plot, but I'm not sure if it will be strong enough to carry a whole story.

I'm absolutely more of a planner (usually to my detriment). But Snake might be write that I just may need to start writing and see where it takes me, but it's a story where I feel like... I need a solid foundation for rules and whatnot to make it work, which is usually where a lot of my stories tend to get stuck in the planning phase.

It's also a dark comedy. I feel like I'm pretty good at writing comedy, but I've only ever really done so casually. But comedies always feel like one of the more challenging things to write, for obvious reasons. And I feel like you really need a strong foundation of characters and plot to really make it work.

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If you're not sure about that, you might consider developing the support characters a little more and what their goals are. If they somehow end up competing with the protagonist in some way, that might inform your decision.

Beyond that, the old adage is that pantsers start at the beginning, planners start at the end. Decide where you want the story to finish, then where you start (and how that's different,) and then subdivide the story into meaningful changes and transitions along the way.

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Try to find the villain. It sounds like you've built a world, so what about that world does someone want to destroy, change, or abuse for personal gain? What's motivating them to incite the conflict that your heroes will overcome? And how is the villain framing that conflict in their own mind so that they can see themself as the hero?
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If the foundation and rules and such is where you're getting hung up, why not try just writing a few short stories set in the world to see what works on the page and what doesn't? Use the existing characters you've thought up or new ones, either way. Gives you opportunities to just throw stuff at the wall to see what sticks without feeling pressured to have the machine well oiled from the beginning.

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