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How do I find the right combination of plot ideas?

I don't know the exact saying, but I think it's something about how all stories are used, just with different characters and settings. I don't know all the combinations, but I really want to look for some that really stands out. Sometimes I don't know what the "plot" is called, especially if I like it. How can I find more about plots? (I'm looking for unique ones [I also know plots can't be too wacky or least relatable, otherwise the viewer won't understand it], but iconic ones are cool too.) I also heard about the main 7 (Overcoming the Monster · Rags to Riches · The Quest · Voyage and Return · Comedy · Tragedy · Rebirth), but I don't know how to make it unique and cool. I know the plots are vague and authors tune it to their own (example: overcoming the monster can be emotion or literal), but I have characters and I don't even know my plot!

Thank you comment icon Woah this is a lot of answers in one day! Pearl

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Ann-Marie’s Answer

Hi Pearl,
Try simplifying. I. can’t remember who to credit this with, but all plot boils down to this: the King died, and then the Queen died of grief.

Something happens, and then something happens. So ask yourself, if this happens, then what?

Your characters can drive or even create your plot as they hang out together and rub against one another, this discovering it byworking from the inside out.

Or you can template your way in from the outside.

But it is most often: Man/Woman against Nature; Man/woman against self; Man/woman against other. And “other” can be anything. ANYTHING..

Have fun!
Ann-Marie
Thank you comment icon The reference is intriguing, I love it! Thank you! Pearl
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Fernando’s Answer

There is no definitive formula or combination for a good plot. The thing about story writing, and narrative writing, is how it's a combination of drawing from your own emotions paired with exploring themes that resonate with you. A good place to start, is looking through stories that drew you in or struct a cord with you when you discovered them. After that ask yourself what is it that clicked with you? Why did it click with you? What emotions did it bring out? Through these answers you start to piece together themes and ideas that resonate with you. Now comes the standard writing process of brainstorming the ideas for your story.
Thank you comment icon I like how the questions you asked me made me stop, and take the time to really think how to answer them to myself. Thank you! Pearl
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Ricardo’s Answer

Hello Pearl,

Often, the secret to uncovering a compelling plot lies not in actively seeking it, but in shifting your focus to the characters. Devote your energy to crafting authentic, three-dimensional characters that resonate with reality. Let their reactions and interactions naturally shape the plot. While it's essential to have a basic understanding of your story and a rough idea of its conclusion, the rest should flow organically, particularly the second act of your script. Let your characters guide your pen.

Take a leaf out of the book of renowned Italian director Federico Fellini. He would sketch characters on napkins during lunch at a restaurant, showing his deep connection with them. He even allowed his actors to improvise on set, often writing dialogues later and dubbing them during ADR. Without necessarily emulating Fellini, permit yourself to let your characters steer your narrative. You'll find this approach intriguing and might even end up with a unique screenplay that steers clear of being too "plot-driven" or predictable.

To illustrate, suppose you have a simple story about a family adopting a new dog from a shelter. If you invest time in developing your characters before diving into the narrative, the story's direction might surprise you. How do the family members react to the new puppy? Are the siblings excited? Is one of them reserved, with the dog helping to bring out their personality, while the other is scared of animals due to a past traumatic experience? These character traits could take your story down unforeseen paths. Maybe the fearful sibling attempts to abandon the dog, prompting a search by the other sibling. These twists and turns wouldn't emerge without first cultivating your characters' distinct personalities.

Lastly, make a habit of observing the people around you. This is arguably the best method to create believable characters. Let your characters reflect real people rather than imitating characters from other movies. This strategy alone will give you a significant edge over other writers.
Thank you comment icon This is huge great advice! Thank you so much!!! Pearl
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Sierra’s Answer

I was once told that you write best when you write what you know. I believe that this is true. This does not imply that you can only write non-fiction, or that you need to write the same story repeatedly. Rather, if you write a plot that builds on your emotions, your experiences, and the truths you believe, then it will be unique to you and will be a story that nobody has ever read before. The goal is to make this story believable and captivating.

You said you had the characters. Have you asked yourself how they interact with each other? Have you asked what happens to them and what experiences they have? THese details will help develop your plot and the story around that simple thread. As I saw another answer suggest. The truth is you need to write. More than that, you need to enjoy writing and worry less about the how and more about the doing. The story is there, just get to know your characters as you would your friends and family and they will tell you their story.
Thank you comment icon I love the questions you asked me! it's helpful because I can think about how to answer it, giving me the structure I need! Pearl
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Cleopatra’s Answer

Hello Pearl,
Writing a story can be overwhelming as well as confusing if you have a lot of ideas and cannot put it to work, or if you have no ideas at all but you want it to go a particular way.
In this sense, you need to outline your ideas and set it up to the feeling you want to give your reader, then build on each of these ideas(exegesis and eisegesis), meaning you should explain this ideas subjectively and objectively, making your ideas not only please you, but also your reader and your target audience.
After building this up, make sure you take note of your transitions, demanding flow and concord and escaping tautology.
In conclusion, as a writer, your imagination is your greatest tool, use it wisely.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the tips! Pearl
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Tom’s Answer

What type of story are you trying to write? It's wise to know the basics of creating a story and the advanced tactics, but don't get bogged down in the details to the point of sacrificing your own creativity. It's true, there are only so many story ideas, but there are enough differing perspectives out there that each story will have its own unique flavor if you make it YOURS, not anyone else's. Elements of every story are out there for authors to use, but how you choose to use them, what conflict you decide to come up, and how you resolve it stems from your innovative method and the creativity that comes from your imagination.

Don't get hung up on the technicalities right away, let your mind wander and see where the flow takes you. After that happens, you can choose where it goes and how you'll continue to let it take shape. In the beginning, it comes down to one thing, which many writers appear to forget about in their quest to create a great story.

Just write.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for your advice, it's really helpful!!1 Pearl
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Richard’s Answer

Creating a plot can be accomplished in a couple of ways:
Being a "Pantser", or writing down your story by the seat of your pants. You let your mind create the plot as you go along writing the story.
The other method is the planner or outliner. This way you know where you are going in the story and build scenes that carry the plot along towards a conclusion.
The Pantser method can lead to major problems with story and character arcs which may require major rewrites to fix such as events happening out of sequence in the story. e.g. a character is murdered and magically in the next chapter, they are alive and well. You can't get away with Monty Python comedic scene shifts such as when the heroes on a bicycle tour end up facing a firing squad and in the next scene they say to each other, "Wasn't that a lucky escape!" While that's wacky Pythonesque humor, it doesn't work for the vast majority of stories.
Being logical in how you outline your plot and character development makes the writing process easier. You can work on different scenes at different times and still come up with a cohesive plot. For example, I wrote a fictional action-adventure novel set during the Napoleonic Wars. About a third of the way into the draft I had the hero meet his future romantic interest. In writing that one scene, I set aside all I had written up to that point and restructured the story as a romance. Difficult to do that when you don't routine and create an outline.
So back to your question. Write about what you know or what interests you to the point of fascination where you will happily research and write about your subject of choice for hours and hours. Then the story ideas will flow like water as you add twists and turns and enjoy every minute of leading your reader in a merry chase. Your readers want to try to figure out what will happen next. This will keep them engaged in your story. Characters that have depth will have readers routing for them as they face difficulties along the way.

Richard recommends the following next steps:

Try writing prompts which give you three ideas that you must create a story around. Google writer sites for such contests. Writer's Digest used to run these types of prompts.
Read, read, read genres that you enjoy reading. Analyze how the author structures their plot.
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