In this episode, I . . .

-Give an overview of Stage One: Brainstorming and everything that goes along with it.

-These are topics we’re going to discuss in the weeks to come. I’m going to do a video/podcast on each one.

-Here is the general breakdown, though I might add in some more videos if ideas come to me.

The Brainstorming stage has two parts: Idea and Logistics

IDEA

-Where to get ideas

-Combining ideas

-High Concepts

-How to pitch your story

-Genres, subgenres, and genre mashing

-How to pick a genre

-Define Your Reader

-Story Models

-Alternative Story Models

-Stand-Alone or Series?

-Main Characters

-Antagonists (or other opposition)

-Side characters & the role they will fill

-Point of view

-Archetypes

-Storyworld Elements

-Knowing your ending (or the gist of it)

 

LOGISTICS

Logistics has four main areas: plot, character, storyworld, and theme

Plot:

-Work out the plot

-Genre conventions

-Story model tropes

-Outlining Your Plot

-Series Plotting

-Storyboarding

Characters:

Create a cast of characters, complete with:

-Physical attributes

-Personal backstories

-Personality

-Purpose, motivations, and goals

-Fears, traits, quirks, and habits

-Skills, strengths, and weaknesses

-Unique ways of speaking

Storyworld Building:

-Decide what is necessary to worldbuild

-Geography

-Environment

-Cities and Towns

-Naming places

-Government

-Demographics and Economics

-Landmarks and Buildings

-Civilizations and Cultures

-Racial and Ethnic Groups

-Physical and Mental Attributes of certain people types

-History of the world and its people groups

-Occupations

-Religions

-Technology

-How to create your own language

-Storyworld slang

-Magic

-Creatures

-Current-Day Problems

-The logistics of battles and wars

-How it all interacts in your world

-Ways to work storyworld information into your story

-How to avoid Storyworld Builder’s Disease

Theme:

-What stories changed your life and why?

-Stories that speak about life and humanity.

-Stories that reveal the human condition.

-Stories that illustrate a universal truth.

-Stories that inspire readers to a higher level of humanity.

-Stories that appear as allegory.

-Stories that speak to a certain issue.

-Theme can pose a question

-Ways to work in theme.

Other brainstorming logistics:

-Making maps and floorplans

-Creating timelines

-Story bibles to keep track of all your work

I look forward to the weeks to come.