The Spark: What Are You Writing?
Oct 1 - Oct 9
This week is about turning "I have an idea" into something resembling a story.
The Elevator Pitch: Describe your story in 50 words or fewer. Then try again in one sentence.
Three Things I Know: Provide three things you absolutely know about your story and three things you haven't figured out yet.
The Promise: Complete the following phrase: "I want this story to make the reader feel ______." Then explain why.
CHALLENGE. Steal This Prompt: Pick one of these 10 elements and incorporate it somehow into your concept.
- A locked door
- An unwanted inheritance
- A lie told at dinner
- Something buried beneath a tree
- An embarrassing lie
- A secret
- Something very very pink
- A monster
- A sport game
- A story within a story
WEEK TWO
Reducio
Meet the Cast
Oct 10 - Oct 16
This week shifts entirely to character development.
The Interrogation for each of your main characters (at least 3):
- Who does your character envy?
- What would you never forgive?
- What do you desperately want people to believe about you?
- What secret would destroy your most important relationship?
Want / Need / Fear: Every major character gets three lines:
- Wants: What they consciously pursue.
- Needs: What they actually need, whether they realize it or not.
- Fears: What they're trying to prevent.
Bad Decisions Department: What's the single worst decision your protagonist is likely to make during this story and why will it seem completely reasonable to them at the time?
WEEK THREE
Reducio
Build the Story
Oct 17 - Oct 23
Now start creating things that will actually help in November.
The Skeleton: Identify just five moments: Opening Image → First Disaster → Point of No Return → Everything Goes Wrong → Ending.
Twenty Possibilities: Set a timer for 10 minutes and write 20 things that could happen. They don't have to be good. The goal is to get past the obvious ideas.
The Disaster Ladder: Identify one problem your character faces. Then make it worse three times.
Meanwhile...: What is your antagonist, or whatever force opposes your protagonist, doing while the protagonist is busy with Chapter One?
WEEK FOUR
Reducio
Let's get thoughts!
Oct 24 - Oct 30
A lot of thoughts have been compiled, now it is time to get thoughts from others. Participants have the same task - they need to post in at least 5 other participant's threads and give their thoughts. The thought needs to be substantial, so 3-4 sentences. Not "this is great" but actual, real thought.
