Specific Title Challenge

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

This challenge is one I created on another site where there are a number of others to choose from. LegendFire Writing Challenges (http://www.legendfire.com/forums/index.php?showforum=6).

Your challenge is to create 3 random titles (it can be anything that comes to mind), and then create a plot outline (a story concept, in other words) for each random title.

From beginning to end, this should add up to about 200 words each, but can be more - 200 is just a rough guide. However, these outlines must be worthwhile, not something just run through. Put as much detail in as you want. This is a great challenge - very fun, and useful for practising plotting and coming up with ideas.

For starters!


The Kay

Only the priest can give each girl or boy their Kay - their secret name known only to the child, the priest, and God. The priest gives the Kay when the child is fifteen years old and considered adult in Creevan society. But when it comes Lina's time to receive her Kay, neither she nor the priest are prepared for what happens. A Kay is a secret name no one can know, or power will be given over them by whoever knows it. When Lina's Kay turns out to be the same name she has already been given, the priest is shocked. Together they must get to the bottom of this mysterious purpose - for God has a reason for everything.


To Glean

When the Ravati Empire stormed through Callas it destroyed the Callasians' homes, their lives, their very culture... and their magic. Now that Empire has died out. The last of the troops has withdrawn, mincing back to the capital hundreds of miles away to fight for their rulers there and try to save their collapsing dominion. Two generations have passed since the Callasians were able to practice their magic. Now that they're able again, no survivors from the time of its use remain to pass on their knowledge. All they can do is glean what little knowledge has been left among them by word of mouth or dim memory... and by trial and error, which may be more dangerous than they know.


Fired

Duncan has had it with his work, his boss, his co-workers, and the whole darn system. But too chicken to throw in the towel himself, it takes his boss firing him to light a motivating fire beneath him and get him up and moving. Whatever his shortcomings, Duncan does not want to be labelled among the statistics as one of the "Fired". Nothing remains for him in the packed capital of London. But north... To the cold Scottish north his family awaits, as does the open wound that no time has staunched. Will he run forever from his past and his family, or will he return to face his mistakes?

[Tommie Lyn]

Wow, Nessa!

I posted a writing prompt challenge, intending to write something for it. Got distracted, checked out a few things and saw your writing challenge. So....I thought I'd write something for yours first.

And ran headlong up against my biggest problem -- I'm a character developer, not a plotter.

First time I've ever encountered writer's block. I just cannot seem to develop plots for the three titles I selected -- my mind's a total blank. So, I think I'll come at it backwards. I'll write a story for each, THEN write the synopsis. Is that cheating?

Here are my titles. I'll post the synopses once I've written the stories...

A Glittering Droplet

Forget Me Not

Tuggers Down
(The title, "Tuggers Down," is something Jacks Girl said in chat one night -- it intrigued me, so I asked her if I could use that for a title some time. She said I could, like the gracious lady she is. Thanks, Jacks.)

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

And ran headlong up against my biggest problem -- I'm a character developer, not a plotter... So, I think I'll come at it backwards. I'll write a story for each, THEN write the synopsis. Is that cheating?
I'd have to say it is, but you already knew that... ;) The whole point of this challenge is to challenge yourself. :) It doesn't have to be an award-winning plot. Just 200 words. One trick that might help is to imagine you're writing a synopsis of a book you've already read, not one you have yet to write. Good luck! !thumbsup!

[Tommie Lyn]

I'd have to say it is, but you already knew that... ;) The whole point of this challenge is to challenge yourself. :) It doesn't have to be an award-winning plot. Just 200 words. One trick that might help is to imagine you're writing a synopsis of a book you've already read, not one you have yet to write.
I am having no luck -- my mind is a total blank when I try to come at it this way. Can't think of a thing.

The closest I've ever come to developing a plot before writing the story is when I outlined my NaNovels using the Snowflake -- and in both instances, I started by defining my characters, their motivations, their hopes, dreams and intentions. And as I defined them, I could see in my imagination the things they would do, how they would relate to each other, and I wrote those things down as being my plot outline. Once I started actually writing the story, though, that's when the plot wrote itself, and it differed (in some ways, a little, in some ways, a lot) from the things I'd written down in my outline.

But to try to think of an actual plot without first having seen it acted out by my characters, I can't seem to do it, can't think of a thing. Now I understand what frustration people endure when they say they are blocked. Ugh! It's horrible!

If I can't come up with something soon, I'm going to just chalk this up to a learning experience and move on, I'll just realize I can't dream up stories -- I can only dream up characters and let them give me stories. I know that's backwards, and perhaps it means I'm not much of a writer, but it's the only thing I seem able to do.

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

I'm going to just chalk this up to a learning experience and move on, I'll just realize I can't dream up stories -- I can only dream up characters and let them give me stories. I know that's backwards, and perhaps it means I'm not much of a writer, but it's the only thing I seem able to do.
Bah! It doesn't mean you're not a good writer! It just means that you come at your stories differently - many do. We're all different. :) The flip side of that is your characters are probably far more thought-out and in-depth than any of mine ever are! :rolleyes:

[Amica]

The Squeeze
Frederick Ace is a young executive at an old company in a new city. A recent arrival in Soversville, Frederick knows no one. When his boss pressures him to attend the office Christmas party with a date, he panics. With the knowledge that his promotion hinges on his bringing a date to the party, Fred ends up asking every woman he meets if she'll be his date for the party... and the one who says yes ends up stealing both his heart and his job!

Blue Birds and Rainbows
Eight-year-old Clarissa has just found out about her leukemia. With her parents in despair, her world turned upside-down, and her future destined to be short, Clarissa discovers a family secret that helps her accept her illness.

Hard Cheese
Frank Wilson is a cynical middle-aged attorney, with a small law firm in Sidney. He's not looking for anything from anybody, and doesn't give anything away. When a tiny, silent, aborigine girl named Eerin enters his life and refuses to leave, he starts to question his bitter outlook. But when Eerin disappears and all signs point to kidnapping, Frank will do whatever it takes to get her back.

[Tommie Lyn]

Nessa, Amica, I'm impressed. But I'm working on my problem. Lynn posted a link to a free course on plotting offered by Holly Lisle and I am taking advantage of it. In the meantime, guess I'll use those three titles in the Writing Prompt #2 thread so they're not wasted...

[jacks girl]

This one is right down my Alley


San Antone

Rachel never knew a stranger or fear of a man. The town she lived in was small but friendly. Now and then the roughnecks would pass through but she'd never actually feared anything before. But when she jumped off her horse and ran to the strangers side and seen all the blood on his shirt front she was afraid. She could see the fear in the man's eyes at first then a bit of calm. They both knew what would happen if he was found. Would she be able to get him to safety before someone seen her and would the brown eyes of the stranger steal not only her heart but her innocence.



Sunset Ridge

The parties were starting to bore Lance and he was looking for a change. The valley had always been a place to rest and relax but lately there had been some vandalism and he hoped that his house had been spared. When he arrived he found that his house had been ransacked to the point that it wouldn't be safe to stay there. The only other place close by was the old Miller estate so he headed to see if Old man John was home. After a flat and a rain storm he finally found himself soaked to the bone on Johns door step only to be met by a Smith and Wesson pointed at his chest and a pair of cold blue eyes looking back at him. Johns niece was now staying in his house and she wasn't as friendly as John nor did she appreciate strangers that came calling at midnight.


Johnson's Revenge

It'd been years since Leland had went home and he wondered it you could really go back home. Quitting high school and leaving his favorite girl hadn't been his plan but after the accident that night what else could he do. Now years later he'd felt the urge to go back and confess and take his punishment like a man. What awaited him he didn't know. Would Randi hate him, was she married now. What about Stan the local sheriff had he put two and two together and knew what had happened. Facing his past and his family was going to be hard but after all this time he needed to put things right after all thats the least he could do for Billy Johnson.


Man i loved this great great thread. and you are more than welcome Tommie for the Tuggers down. thanks Nessa..


Jacks girl

[Tommie Lyn]

Great job, Jacks Girl! Wish I could do that .....

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

I'm glad you're finding it helpful, jacks girl. :)

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

Hammer of God

Mika has been chosen as the Hammer of God, a mighty warrior to smite the foes of Darnak. For years Mika does the god's bidding, but in a conquered land he meets and befriends Rek, who believes in a god of mercy and love. Through his forbidden friendship with Rek, Mika learns another way... but that way is not the way of his god, and the priests of Darnak are circling like vultures, eager to remove Mika before he does permanent damage to the Darnaki religion that they have followed for centuries...


Sailing to Rivenland

Rivenland is a land of myth, where the steam rising from the Great Rift has caused the creation of all manner of strange flying mammals in a land otherwise cold and fickle. The warm updrafts allow heavy creatures to fly, and the moisture from the water as it falls into the molten core far below allows for a tropical environment within the Great Rift. All manner of tales have been told about this land, but Larasar the Traveller takes it upon himself to set sail down the Great River to Rivenland... and whatever awaits him there.


Many Bloody Returns

It's Michelle's birthday, but she doesn't want the usual trinkets. No, this year Michelle is out for blood - the blood of the woman who murdered her husband and shot her in the stomach, putting her through a year of colostomy bags and painful physiotherapy. Last year she got a bullet for her birthday. This year... she would be the one to give a bullet. But Detective Bercelli is on to her. Will his message of forgiveness pierce her fog of revenge... before it's too late?

[starlitopal]

Dancing with Canvas

Becka always knew she would paint. Everyone said so; it must be true. After the expected college and art school she found herself in the coveted position of a steady income from her art. She painted flowers and cats, streams and cottages for the industries that marketed them for cards and notepaper, hotels and lobbies. She should be thrilled; she should be proud. But Becka felt a longing and a fear that she couldn't shake. Was this all that there was to her? When an unexpected opportunity presents itself, she must choose. The safe, trusted path that has served her so well for the past five years, or the risk of trying something new, daring and exciting. Something she wasn't sure she had it in her to deliver.

Underneath the BanYan Tree

In the very centre of a little village nestled in the foothills of the Himalaya grows an enormous, ancient Banyan tree. It was under this tree that the gossip of the day was exchanged, deals were struck and marriages were forged. And it was under this tree that Rael first overheard the truth about her father. Determined to unravel the web of secrets she has grown up in, she must fight to find out the truth of her father's disappearance. A truth that will take her on a journey father away from home and deeper inside herself than she could ever have imagined.


No Time for Chocolate

Liz is a busy, modern, ambitious woman. She has a soaring career and she works hard at it, loving every minute. Her colleagues respect her and her family is proud of her. Sometimes she wishes for a bit of 'me time'; a long luxurious bath, a glass of wine, some cosy time watching a film with a giant bar of chocolate. But Liz simply doesn't have the time. She dreads stopping; the thought of being 'stagnant' makes her ill. But when, after a longer than usual day at the office trying to cement the last details of a crucial deal, her lift stalls, she finds herself with more time on her hands than she knows what to do with. And all she can do is think ... about herself, about her life, and about the emptiness she has been trying so hard to fill.