<aside> <img src="/icons/theatre_brown.svg" alt="/icons/theatre_brown.svg" width="40px" /> THEME QUESTIONS

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• Why are you telling this story?
• Why does your story matter?
• Why should your story be in the genre you chose?
• Why does it end like this?
• Why is this the climax?
• What’s an extreme in your story? If there is none, where can you add it?

<aside> <img src="/icons/user_blue.svg" alt="/icons/user_blue.svg" width="40px" /> CHARACTER QUESTIONS

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• What does your character want? What do they need? Do they connect? If so, how?
• Does your character’s dream connect to the obstacles and trials they’re facing? Does it matter?
• Write a scene where your character must decide something.
• What would they do at the beginning of their development? What would they do at the end?
• What actions has your character done that define them?
• Define your character in six words at the beginning of their development then six words at the end of their development

<aside> <img src="/icons/globe_green.svg" alt="/icons/globe_green.svg" width="40px" /> WORLDBUILDING QUESTIONS

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• List out places from your life that inspired you. Choose one and write about it.
• Write about a place in your childhood where you loved to go. What did it mean to you? Why did you love it? What did you get to do there? How did that make you feel?
• Write about a neighborhood. Who lives there? What secrets are held within?
• Create a small town. Where is it? Who lives in it? How is the way of life there?

<aside> <img src="/icons/report_purple.svg" alt="/icons/report_purple.svg" width="40px" /> TROPES

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• Write down the tropes you both hate and love. Why do you love/hate them?
• Pick a random character trope and create a character based on that trope.
• Write a classic coffee shop AU. Now subvert that by adding in something that doesn’t belong. How does this disrupt the trope?
• Pick a song and write a scene to it.
  • Bonus Challenge: Write the scene within the time of the song.

<aside> <img src="/icons/clothes-button_lightgray.svg" alt="/icons/clothes-button_lightgray.svg" width="40px" /> PLOT THREAD PROMPTS

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• Look at a story you’ve written (or plan to write). How many distinct narrative threads can you pinpoint?
• Consider each character’s personal narrative in your story. Consider the best places to insert flashbacks so that you can strengthen your main plot with the subplots.
• Consider the climax of each main thread throughout your story. How would you distribute them as to keep the action moving? How would you converge them to offer the reader a singular sense of explosive gratification?
  • By extension, where would you place your big reveals? When would you have your supporting threads link up to your main threads?

<aside> <img src="/icons/emoji-grinning-smiling-eyes_yellow.svg" alt="/icons/emoji-grinning-smiling-eyes_yellow.svg" width="40px" /> COMEDY PROMPTS

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• Write about the highest game of rock-paper-scissors ever played
• A former party animal lives in a retirement home. They've decided it's time for one last bash.
• Write about an argument played straight between Character A and Character B. Now write it again. But this time, Character B is acting INCREDIBLY rude. Make the argument silly (it’s easier than you think).
• You just got through your worst bout of writer’s block yet. But you’re also 3/4 through your final exam.
• Write the most atrocious Amazon review about a toy spider sold to you for five bucks.

<aside> <img src="/icons/script_gray.svg" alt="/icons/script_gray.svg" width="40px" /> SCREENPLAY PROMPTS

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• Try turning the first scene of your novel into the screenplay format! What did you have to change, and what didn’t you?
• Write out a sizzle reel outline! What would your story’s trailer be like?
• Is your story high concept or low concept? If it’s low concept, what are you cutting out if you made it high concept? Do you need it?
• What’s your story’s logline? (story wrapped up in one sentence)
  • Bonus Challenge: Do it in SIX words or less. (Elevator Pitch)

<aside> <img src="/icons/conversation_orange.svg" alt="/icons/conversation_orange.svg" width="40px" /> DIALOGUE PROMPTS

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• Two of your characters are having an argument. One refuses to talk. How does the talker react, and what do that quiet one’s actions say?
• Sarcasm vs. Stoic. Just an example, but write the dialogue of two characters with opposite personalities. Make sure they sound distinct!
• How can your character motivations appear in dialogue? However, don’t make them overt, give the reader subtle clues and have them guess your character’s motivation.

<aside> <img src="/icons/alien_lightgray.svg" alt="/icons/alien_lightgray.svg" width="40px" /> PERSONIFICATION PROMPTS

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• If your main character was an animal, what animal would they be and why?
• Your main character is suddenly turned into an animal! How do they explain to their comrades who they are and what’s happened?
• Describe a season of your choice as a person.
• Describe a close friend or significant other using only objects.

<aside> <img src="/icons/sword_red.svg" alt="/icons/sword_red.svg" width="40px" /> ACTION PROMPTS

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• Two characters fight to the death!...without waking up a third character
• Your main character’s lost their main weapon. What’s their immediate reaction/how do they continue the fight without it?
• Two characters fight, one desperately trying not to hurt the attacker
• A manager, an angry customer, and a depressed cashier are all discussing the latest “You can’t refund a burger” when suddenly, there’s a zombie breakout. Choose your fighter.

<aside> <img src="/icons/checkmark_pink.svg" alt="/icons/checkmark_pink.svg" width="40px" /> GENERAL PROMPTS

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1. Write down WHY you want to tell your story!
2. Go through your characters and write down which ones are what types of characters: Main or Plot characters?
3. Put your story into three acts and state which acts have which events
4. An element of your story is suddenly spun on its head! Your fantasy world is now a sci-fi world or your young characters are now old, etc. What has to change in the other elements to match your new story?
5. A dragon blocks the way. A solitary soldier approaches. He draws his weapon. It wasn’t quite what the dragon expected.
6. You are teleported to your main character’s DREAM house. Describe it.
7. Split your story into three acts. List what events happen where. Which diagram would you use?
8. Think of a story you love and write down where your favorite scene is, narratively, and why? Is it the midpoint? Why is it the midpoint?
9. Each act should be representing an idea that’s part of your theme. In an act of your story, which idea is it?