Welcome to Story Starters

Prompts for Story Starters are a handful of the elements that go into storytelling, whether literature, movies, TV shows, or any form of creative media. Genre, Themes, Characters and Setting are ubiquitous to telling a good story, and so this is where we start. But beware! Sometimes when left to chance, the randomness may lead to what might appear to be clashing elements. But that's part of what makes it fun. That cyborg engaged in a star-crossed lovers relationship in Regency England could be the next best seller! 

Genre is the section on the library shelf your story fits in. From YA to Westerns, there's a box your story will belong. If this is one of your prompts, head to the Genre wheel below!

Plot is the "what's happening here?" of your story. The plot is the device through which your characters explore your story's themes. From Comedy (everybody lives!) to Tragedy (everybody dies!) there's a plot for everyone. 

Setting is the where or when of your story. A rolling hillside, a space station on teh edge of the galaxy, the year 1842 are all settings.

The theme of your story (and there may be more than one) is the idea you wish to explore through the plot, setting, and characters within the genre you have set them. Love and death, man vs machine; all of these things are themes you might like to explore. See what the wheel gives you!

Your characters are the people in your story, but all of them fall into specific categories. Generally you aren't going to have  more than one protagonist, but if you are dealing with an ensemble piece, you just might! Usually the protagonist is your main character. I'll give more details in that section below.  For Story Starter purposes, assume that whomever you spin is meant to interact with your protagonist. If "Protagonist" spins up, then maybe have them as the only person in the scene.

Archetypes are like themes for characters. The Hero is probably most familiar to the populace, but I included the twelve main Archetypes combined with those described by Joseph Campbell in his works.

Style is what sets various authors apart within the same genre. Not exactly the same as their unique voice, but more the tone they take. From persuasive to creative to journalistic, the style is the way the story gets told.

There are five perspectives, or Points of View, from which a story can be told. First-person (I woke up in a dystopian hellscape, and now the violent overlord wants to make me his bride, or kill me); Second-person (You walk into the apothecary and are greeted by a wizened shopkeeper. He asks you which of his wares have drawn you in); Third-person omniscient (He felt like hell and so did she and every person within a five mile radius); Third-person limited (He felt like hell, but everyone else's feelings were a mystery to him); and third-person objective (He walked into the door, but it was anyone's guess how he felt about it.)

Tropes are the fun things that hook the reader in, like the Cinnamon Roll, or enemies-to-lovers, or "there was only ONE BED," aka "forced proximity."

Tropes are fun, tropes are great, get your tropes today!

The twenty-two Major Arcana cards of the Tarot deck is another way of exploring the theme of archetypes. Each card sets up a different aspect of humanity and life in general, and follows the journey of the Fool, card 0. 

Let the cards give you a jumping off point for ideas of theme, archetype, character, or even something having to do with what's depicted on them. This prompt is a little more open to interpretaion, so see what comes with the inspiration!

This one is pretty self explanatory. Pick a verb. Let your character do this at least once during your Drabble.