Hi Folks,
Yeah, this is kind’a like my previous post, or at least it looks like it on the surface. The previous post was Ideas and this one is Story Starters. In the previous post I talked about where ideas (story starters) come from. In this one I’m going to actually give you some story starters.
Please feel free to use any of these that make you want to finish the story. They are all original to me.
You will notice that all of these begin with action or at least intrigue. Why would you ever want to begin any story in any other way? For example, if you came across this sentence
The body moved more easily once we reached the dew-soaked grass.
wouldn’t you want to read the next sentence, and the next one, and the next one? Of course you would. And that’s your first story starter. Here are some more:
The dust whipped off the wheels, racing the ambulance into the old man’s yard and settling over everything as the sirens wound down.
Everyone should be adept at something. Tom was adept at messing up everything he touched.
A grin still on his face, Harlan sipped his coffee, then set his cup on the counter and shook his head. “One thing’s for sure. Ol’ Jackson couldn’t hit a bull in the butt with a bass fiddle.” ¶John laughed. “Couldn’t find his own butt with both hands and a map.” ¶”And wouldn’t know what to do with it if he did find it.” After a pause, Harlan’s smile faded. “Still, he was a pretty good ol’ boy. I’m gonna miss him.” (Note: The ¶ symbol indicates where I would indent a new paragraph in the story.)
You get the idea. If you’re walking along one day and a bit of dialogue or a scene or a character pops into your head, that’s probably a story trying to be born. Helpl it out.
Here are a few ideas that might spur story starters in your own mind:
You’re driving into a rural town and two horses, in their pen, are racing parallel to the road. They are magnificent, and they bring to mind….
When you’re out for a walk one day, you notice your shadow isn’t exactly in sync. Why not? Can you do anything about it?
The impact at Meteor Crater scattered minuscule fragments, on which were microscopic bits of interstellar life that have been hibernating while they acclimatized to our environment. They’ve just awakened.
A natural, worldwide disaster (apocalypse, perhaps the alleged impending pole shift) creates havoc with industry, technology and/or various parts of the the infrastructure (highways, the oil and gasoline supply, electricity, communications, etc.). Extrapolate a near-future scenario.
Per the above, perhaps a great migration? Perhaps a complete lack of trust among cities, states, nations? Perhaps a trick of one or more governments to usher in a “new age”?
If you were tasked with saving humankind by sending a spaceship to a distant planet, how many humans would you send? How would the break down among genders? Why? Races? Why? What particular skill sets would they carry with them (one major skill set per passenger)? For example, certainly you would consider sending a doctor or two, an engineer or two, etc. Would there be any politicans on board? Religious leaders? Why or why not?
Traveling through space, humans encounter a world inhabited by ethereal (non-physical) beings. On the planet, what conflict makes us aware of them? What happens as a result of that awareness? Most of the beings probably are “normal,” but there must be a few evil ones as well. What happens? The human crewmembers are honorable as well, except for that one guy. What happens?
Speculate… most people accept or believe in some form that God created angels and human beings. If he created angels first, why did he then create humans? Was he dissatisfied with the angels? What was lacking? When he created humans, were we the best he could do or were we an alternative “just in case” the angel project fell through? If he created humans primarily to populate Earth, did he also create other life forms to inhabit other planets?
What might the Garden of Eden look like on a planet inhabited by silicon-based life forms?
You’re in a bus station or train station or airport at 4 a.m. waiting to board your conveyance. Observe those around you, and write about an interaction that spurs your interest. Write about a person who inspires a fantasy.
Hope one or more of these will get you started. Set a habit of writing every day for at least one hour. You’re worth that. Give yourself the gift of one hour a day and you won’t be sorry.
Oh, just wanted to say, my personal writing experiment (one new short story every week) is going very well. If you haven’t checked it out yet, please drop by Harvey Stanbrough & Friends Writing in Public and sign up for the blog. You won’t be sorry.
‘Til next time, happy writing!
Harvey