The Story Idea Machine is a free online tool based on The Marshall Plan Novel Writing Software by Evan Marshall and Martha Jewett. It's designed to help writers develop a novel or story idea in five steps. The tool asks you to provide:
- The name of your protagonist.
- An inciting incident.
- The protag's emotional reaction to the inciting incident.
- The course of action the protag follow in response to the incident.
- The hoped for outcome of that action.
As the story opens, Laura, the novel's lead character, discovers that her son Timmy has been kidnapped by his father, who's a cop. Laura feels as if the world has been turned upside down and is distraught to the point of madness.The instructions suggest that you play with changing around the different pieces of information you enter in the form until you find a story that really appeals to you. They also point out that the story idea generated is "a brief, film-style 'treatment' for you to work from as you develop your novel."
Laura weighs all possible courses of action. Finally, after much careful consideration, Laura decides to go after Timmy without help from the police.
This is the only way Laura believes it will be possible to get Timmy back, the only course to take.
It is this goal that Laura will aggressively pursue, all the way to the end of the story.
I've never used writing software, but I've always wondered if it's helpful. After trying the Story Idea Machine, I'm still undecided.
On the plus side, it's free.
So what do you think? Is this helpful in giving you a jumping off point for writing? Is the 'treatment' close enough to a query letter or short synopsis to help provide some insight when it comes time to start marketing what you've written?
http://www.themarshallplanet.com/story_idea.htm
Happy plotting,
Martina
Are you kidding!!!
Personally, I think that this is a BRILLIANT idea!
When I want to write a short story or witty poem, something usually for my own boys or my students - I get those poor victims to brainstorm ideas for me.
My students are constantly giving me prompts to base my stories around. Well, in this situation I'm writing for them so I include whatever THEY want.
When I am writing purely for my own pleasure or catharsis, then prompts and 'idea generators' are not usually necessary. In this situation I want feedback on the language, grammar, tone and so on. The plot is usually already fixed in my head...
IT'S FREE....?! SEE YA....off to plot my plot and improve the lot!
This was GREAT Martina....just thought of a negative aspect, though...are we in danger of producing something that another 1000 or so writers have written because the generator gave the same info and plot guidelines to a whole bunch of 'lazy PLOTTERS?!?'
Martina--Thanks for sharing the link and giving us an example. I haven't used anything like this before, but I'm curious now. :)
Hi Ann Marie! Since you have to put in the goal and the bones of the story, the chances of someone else coming up with the same thing are much reduced. It's that same old discussion about how many plots there are, right?
(http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/04/master-plots-and-how-to-count-them.html)
Hi Sharon! My pleasure.
Interesting concept, Martina! I'll have to check it out. : )
Hi, Martina! I followed you from Julie Musil's blog and really enjoyed this post. I'd love for you to check out my post today where I've tackled the issue - Is "It" Really Worth It? I hope to see you there, and thanks for providing the helpful link. Have a great evening! Tory