The thing about generating ideas is that everyone does it. The trick is to realize what is you're doing and hold onto the good ideas.
Start small. Start with a thought. Then look at the thought and see what lies underneath it to discern whether or not it's good ground on which to build a story.
The basic part is just a simple "Hey let's take (insert character/s here) and put them into (insert situation here) and see what happens".
Once you have that thought, poke at it. Think about what needs to happen for that thought, that scenario, to take place. Consider who would be affected by it, as well as what the central conflict is and if it's going to be engaging. Sometimes it'll be a dud. Sometimes it'll be awesome.
An example, you ask?
Hey let's take M'sato Tia (my main) and Erik Mynhier (picked at random because he posts a lot) and get them both kidnapped and shoved into an illegal fighting ring where they're going to be forced to fight one another to the death to see how they'd fight or work together in order to escape.
...Now this idea actually isn't too bad. It gives the following:
-Two characters who don't know one another and could thus get acquainted.
-An illegal underground coliseum, which means there will be bad guys involved who profit from and/or enjoy this. Given that this is a rich person's game? That means the Syndicate.
-A chance for the FRIENDS of Erik and M'sato to get in on it, hunting them down through a trail of clues and rumors.
-A complex conflict. Sato and Erik don't know one another. M'sato isn't a trusting soul, and he comes off as a bitter, angry little ass most of the time. He's also affiliated with a group that has a really shady reputation. Erik is a known Paladin, generally fairly well-liked by the people who know him, and is a known associate of the Immortal Flames. If they don't get a chance to stop and talk things out before they're forced into the ring, they could very well kill one another. We can only imagine that their captors would try to spin any lie they can to keep the two at one another's throats to make for a more entertaining event. Given how the story goes, they might end up working together...Or going at one another with real murder in their hearts.
-The chance to bring in others as additional captives, or even bring in new characters as criminals or guards for the baddies.
So now you've got a story idea. It took me about five, ten minutes to iron out this far after picking Erik, including placing it more or less comprehensively into a post. It gets complicated fast, and I haven't even gone into the things that can be done to nudge the story along.
Just start with a thought, then once you think it's something you can build a story on, go to work.
Start small. Start with a thought. Then look at the thought and see what lies underneath it to discern whether or not it's good ground on which to build a story.
The basic part is just a simple "Hey let's take (insert character/s here) and put them into (insert situation here) and see what happens".
Once you have that thought, poke at it. Think about what needs to happen for that thought, that scenario, to take place. Consider who would be affected by it, as well as what the central conflict is and if it's going to be engaging. Sometimes it'll be a dud. Sometimes it'll be awesome.
An example, you ask?
Hey let's take M'sato Tia (my main) and Erik Mynhier (picked at random because he posts a lot) and get them both kidnapped and shoved into an illegal fighting ring where they're going to be forced to fight one another to the death to see how they'd fight or work together in order to escape.
...Now this idea actually isn't too bad. It gives the following:
-Two characters who don't know one another and could thus get acquainted.
-An illegal underground coliseum, which means there will be bad guys involved who profit from and/or enjoy this. Given that this is a rich person's game? That means the Syndicate.
-A chance for the FRIENDS of Erik and M'sato to get in on it, hunting them down through a trail of clues and rumors.
-A complex conflict. Sato and Erik don't know one another. M'sato isn't a trusting soul, and he comes off as a bitter, angry little ass most of the time. He's also affiliated with a group that has a really shady reputation. Erik is a known Paladin, generally fairly well-liked by the people who know him, and is a known associate of the Immortal Flames. If they don't get a chance to stop and talk things out before they're forced into the ring, they could very well kill one another. We can only imagine that their captors would try to spin any lie they can to keep the two at one another's throats to make for a more entertaining event. Given how the story goes, they might end up working together...Or going at one another with real murder in their hearts.
-The chance to bring in others as additional captives, or even bring in new characters as criminals or guards for the baddies.
So now you've got a story idea. It took me about five, ten minutes to iron out this far after picking Erik, including placing it more or less comprehensively into a post. It gets complicated fast, and I haven't even gone into the things that can be done to nudge the story along.
Just start with a thought, then once you think it's something you can build a story on, go to work.
Characters: M'sato Tia (Lost Soul Seeker), Soren Walker (Ishgardian Midlander Pilot), Solomon Laguerre (Elezen Mercenary/Bar Manager)
Send me a PM if you feel like RP!
Send me a PM if you feel like RP!
