Brainstorming Bootcamp:Creative Sparks for Storytellers
- Donna Carbone
- 20 hours ago
- 6 min read
Episode 68
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank page, you’re in the right place. In this episode, we provide brainstorming techniques you can use today to help spark ideas and methods to begin to flesh them out. From character-driven sparks to high-concept “what if” questions, we’ll show you how to move past creative paralysis and into momentum. Whether you’re starting your first novel, searching for your next project, or feeling stuck midway through a draft, this episode will help you unlock creativity with purpose — and walk away with ideas you’re excited to write.
SHOW NOTES:
10 Idea Generators/ Brainstorming Techniques
Methods of Brainstorming
10 Idea Generators/Brainstorming Techniques
1. The “What If?” This technique allows writers to develop complex narratives by starting with a premise.
What if a small town suddenly loses its water supply?
Then what would follow? The people would face scarcity, leading to panic and potential conflict over remaining resources.
What’s the worst possible outcome? Desperation could lead to violence, betrayal among neighbors, and divisions within the community.
By building on each "what if," scenarios, writers can explore escalating tensions and conflicts that add depth to their narratives.
2. Character-First Exploration: Developing a character before the plot adds emotional quality. Start with:
A deep want: A character deeply desires acceptance and love.
A hidden fear: They could fear abandonment or rejection, making them hesitant to form relationships.
A moral flaw: Perhaps they tend to manipulate others to get what they want, leading to toxic relationships.
Next, imagine a situation, like a romantic relationship where the character’s fear of intimacy forces them to confront their ways, creating tension between their desires and actions.
3. Theme-Driven Brainstorming: Choosing a theme helps frame the story. For example, choose "betrayal."
What situation would test this theme to its limit? A close friendship could be tested when one friend betrays the other for a job opportunity.
What opposing values could clash? Loyalty versus ambition could drive the conflict as each character navigates their priorities in the fallout of the betrayal.
This approach deepens character motivations,
4. Memory Mining: Drawing from personal emotional experiences can enrich storytelling. Start with:
List emotionally charged moments for you: Remember significant events such as loss, joy, or fear from your life.
What if this happened to someone unlike me? Envision how a character from a different background would react, offering a different perspective on familiar emotions.
What if it ended differently? Imagine alternate outcomes that could lead to unique story arcs and character development.
5. Genre Swap: Transforming familiar stories can breathe new life into narratives.
For example:
A love story as a thriller: Instead of a typical romantic plot, create tension with unexpected twists and threats that jeopardize the characters' relationship.
A family drama as speculative fiction: Imagine a family dealing with the implications of time travel on their relationships, which could challenge their values and interactions.
A mystery set in an isolated town: Explore characters' hidden motives and secrets that unravel as they confront their pasts under pressure.
6. Setting as Catalyst: Choosing a setting with pressure that can drive conflict.
For instance:
Islands: The isolation can create claustrophobia which leads to paranoia among characters.
Small towns: Everyone knows each other's business, intensifying conflicts when secrets are revealed.
Hospitals: The high-stakes environment can alter character dynamics, heightening emotions and revealing vulnerabilities.
7. The Lie at the Center: In this story, the central lie may revolve around the belief in a false sense of security, perhaps one where characters believe that their lives are under control or that their relationships are unshakeable.
What lie does everyone in this story believe?
This could lead to the idea that love conquers all, or that ignorance is bliss,
Who benefits from it?
The person that benefits from this lie could be someone in a position of power, such as a manipulative character who exploits others. Or, societal norms might uphold this lie, benefiting those who maintain the status quo and prevent change, allowing them to thrive in their positions without challenge.
What happens when it cracks?
When the lie begins to crack, repercussions unfold. Characters may experience emotional turmoil or confront the reality of their situations. They might witness the disintegration of their relationships. This often leads to a chain reaction of revelations and conflicts causing character growth. It can also cause pain and chaos as truths come to light.
8. Image-Based Brainstorming: craft an image or become inspired by one that becomes central to identifying the who, what, how or why
Example: Initial Image= A woman burning letters at dawn.
Who is this?
The woman may represent someone undergoing a transformative moment, letting go of memories or toxic relationships. She could be symbolic of regret, closure, or a desire for freedom.
Why now?
The dawn signifies a new beginning, suggesting she is at a turning point in her life where she must make a decisive choice about her future.
She may have just faced a betrayal or a significant loss, prompting her actions. Or she could be on the verge of embracing her independence, about to break free from the constraints of her past.
9. Article/Headline Mining: Use nonfiction headlines to spark story ideas
Examples:
Nonfiction Headlines:
"Secrets Beneath the Surface: A Family's Fragile Truth"
"When the Masks Fall: Unraveling the Lies of a Perfect Life"
Striking Elements:
Beneath surface tensions in relationships.
The concept of maintaining facades while harboring secrets.
Combine the elements of “family secrets” with “the unraveling of a perfect life” to craft a story centered on a seemingly cohesive family whose facade crumbles under external pressure, revealing deep-rooted lies.
10. Mash-Up Method:
A profession + a secret:
A therapist who secretly struggles with severe anxiety which undermines her ability to help others.
A relationship + a crisis:
A married couple facing an unexpected pregnancy while grappling with unresolved issues from their past.
A place + a taboo:
A secluded retreat known for healing where participants confront buried traumas that society deems unacceptable to discuss.
Methods
1.Ending First: By understanding where you want the story to go, you can work backwards to build it
Who is changed?
The main character, the woman burning letters, emerges transformed, finding strength in vulnerability and authenticity.
What truth is finally revealed?
She uncovers that the letters contained manipulations and lies that kept her bound to unhealthy relationships, and she sees the need for self-acceptance.
What is lost or gained?
She loses the illusion of safety coming from her relationships but gains a sense of inner peace.
Lists: Creating lists can help you flesh out the elements you want to see in a story
Character profiles
Conflicts
Settings
Themes
3.Outline: Narrative Arc
Drafting a narrative arc involves identifying the key components of the story:
Exposition: Introduce the setting, characters, and initial situation.
Inciting Incident: What event triggers the main conflict?
Rising Action: Series of events leading to the climax. This should introduce complications. Perhaps revelations or betrayals.
Climax: The turning point where tensions peak. The protagonist must confront their main obstacle.
Falling Action: Events following the climax. How do characters respond to the outcomes?
Resolution: Wrap up storylines and character arcs, showing the changes that have occurred.
4.Venn Diagram: Overlapping Themes or Character Arcs
Using a Venn diagram allows for a visual representation of how characters and themes intersect
Circle A: Themes of isolation vs. connection.
Circle B: Character arcs dealing with secrets and truths.
Areas of overlap can show moments where characters influence each other or mirror experiences.
5.Post-Its: Scene Breakdown and Character Development
Utilizing post-its can help organize scenes and character arcs physically, allowing for easy rearrangement:
Write key scenes or moments on individual post-its.
Color-code them based on character focus, theme or conflict.
Arrange them on a wall or board to visualize the flow of the story.
6.Free Write/ Stream-of-Consciousness
Set a timer (e.g., 10 minutes) where you write whatever comes to mind regarding characters, themes, or emotions without editing. This technique can produce raw ideas and insights.
Example Topic to Free Write: "Character A’s feelings as she discovers the letters from her past."
7.Journal Writing
Keeping a journal for each character throughout the story can provide depth and clarity
Record reactions to key events and emotions over time.
Explore how characters’ relationships evolve.
Reflect on personal insights that might inform character motivations or decisions.
SOURCES & LINKS
DO NOW: Choose an idea generator and combine it with a method. Repeat until you have a strong premise for your next story.
Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com
Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/
Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com
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