How to know what story you want to tell: observe, steal, adapt
This is an unusual post because this time I won't give prompts.
Instead I'm going to show you a way you can identify what you want to narrate starting from who you are and what you like.
This can be applied for every kind of fictional story: novels, short stories, graphic novels, dramatic scripts and so much more. Be creative!
First: the art of discerning
Before we start this creative exercise, I have to underline that this post will be divided in two sections: the things you like and the ways you like.
Often we can like a story because we feel connected to the plot and the themes in it and other times we are more attached to it due to its way of narrating things.
It is important to know the differences between those two in order to have a clear idea of your self-made prompts.
When you feel like you've understood the difference, we can go on
Choose from 5 to 10 stories you really like and make sure that they are told through different medias (like, not only books or tv shows)
Don't take too much time thinking: grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the stories you feel connected to.
Tip: if you feel you have too much stories you like, think about the ones you'd really like to watch/read /listen to again.
Now, for every of them write down the reasons you like it. Don't take too much time thinking: every small reason that comes to your mind is worth adding.
- historical setting seen with modern lens
- normalization of queer identities (amd lots of them)
- mix of humor and important themes
- centered around masculinity with feminist lens (and portrait of healthy masculinity)
- about mental health too
- stream of consciousness
- awareness of human emotions and thoughts
When you're done, chose a blank space and divide it in two columns:
In one you write down the things you like
In the other you write the way you like
Example: "stream of consciousness" falls in "ways I like" while the "queer rep" goes under "things I like"
Side note: depending on the media you're going to use, some things aren't usable (like, if you're going to write, "amazing soundtrack" is useless) but make sure to write them on first place, they may give you some ideas on how to adapt them to your chosen media.
Then, write down all the things you wanted to see more but (almost) never did. Challenge yourself to write as many as possible in a limited time (like, 5 minutes). It can be whatever comes to your mind, like "more neurodivergent characters" or "black and white comics when narrating a memory"
When your set time ends or when you feel like you're done, divide what you wrote in the previous two columns.
You could stop here, but if you want more:
Write down from 3 to 5 stories that disappointed you and try to point out in what way they did it.
For everyone find one or more thing that you'd have changed to make them better.
I didn't like how it focused more on a single tragic story in the end -> I'd keep telling about the story of the group (it will be translated into "focused on story of a group of people")
Then write them down on your two columns.
Now, you have two long lists of things only your own person you'd have put together and you can make prompts out of it.
There are two ways you can do it:
you may find out you've repeatedly praised historical fiction and have wrote several times "queer rep" and you want to make a comic liking a more realistic style and mixing written paragraphs with drawing (and maybe found out you don't fancy vignettes so much), so you'll go for it.
Creatively mix things together:
you've written "stream of consciousness", " space ships " , "feminist themes" and "found family" and you want to make a story starting from those things.
Advanced tip: what to avoid
If you feel like, you can write down from 3 to 10 stories that everybody seems to like but you don't really fancy.
Then, for everyone you can list the reasons you don't like it.
You'll may find out that you like fantasy worlds but don't like do-it-all-magic or that you're bored of quick romances, and that's ok.
You can then make a list of things you may find pressure to add but don't want to, and feel free to not narrate in your own story.
You now have some prompts that came out form who you are and what you like. Experiment with them, have fun, try them out and don't be afraid of changing some things if you feel to.
This is your story (or stories) and the only way to measure its worth is to see if it makes you happy.
Go out and write, draw, record and plot and don't be afraid if it sounds too much "you" or too less common like.
This is about you and your creativity, and I'm pretty sure that out there there are people who can't wait to see your work.
I'm already rooting for you.
And if in your creative process you'll accidentally find yourself here again, you'll likely find the second part about creating characters from your own liking.
