Supernatural: The Showrunner's Challenge
A writing challenge/exercise
I saw this post and thought it would be really fun to make a SPN specific version. Some of these I tweaked from the OG post, some are the exact same, and others are brand new. If you like this, please give the OG post some love for the creators great idea!!
Think you can write better than the showrunners of Supernatural? Let’s find out! This prompt is a writing exercise/challenge to create a ‘season’ of Supernatural via fanfic. Each chapter functions as an episode.
Prompt:
To start, think of what you would change about SPN if you were its showrunner. Would you scrap everything and start from new? Keep the series going with a new season? Pick a spot in the show and diverge from there? Ignore all the plot and play dolls with your favorite characters?
Write a chapter that works as the Pilot of the show you want to see. At the end of each episode, roll a d12 to see what you must include in the following episode:
Roll a d12:
1. Everything at once: Roll twice, use both. If you get 1 again, keep rolling. Your only way out is to stop getting 1s.
2. TMWWBK: Give every character in the previous chapter a number. Using a dice roll/random number generator, the character whose number is selected is now the main subject and POV of the next episode.
For a greater challenge: include any character mentioned by name and any character with dialogue. (i.e. If Sam mentions Bobby, give him a number. If the waitress at a diner talks to Dean, give her a number)
3. Fan favorite: Your most recently mentioned character (or named object) is now beloved by the audience. You must give them a bigger part in the story, a special destiny, or an important new romance or friendship.
If you roll 3 again; the character must get killed off to motivate their friends/allies/love interest or to serve the plot.
If you roll 3 a third time; either start over OR they come back from the dead.
4. High Concept Episode: Due to plot/MOTW/meddling gods/whatever, the characters are trapped in a different genre than usual. Roll a d6.
High Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Apocalypse/Alternate Reality
Time Travel/Time loop
Sit-com/Meta
Crossover/Stuck in a video Game
Slasher/Death Game
5. Filler episode: The next chapter must be completely low stakes and set you at ease.
For a greater challenge: Flip a coin for each main character.
Heads: Their filler is full of thoughtful inner world building and characterization
Tails: They are interrogating the milves (i.e. doing something silly and stupid)
6. Mothership: The next chapter must include the characters making references to/listening to/arguing about/having a feelings jam accompanied by... Classic Rock.
Bonus: If you roll three 6’s in a row, introduce a Lucifer plotline (If you were ALREADY writing about Lucifer.... kill him).
7. Fallen Angels and Special Children: If the last character mentioned in the previous episode has special abilities, they lose them. If that character does not have special abilities, they gain them.
8. The Focus Group: The execs created a focus group to see if audiences would like more romance in the show. Flip a coin to determine the outcome:
Heads: The audience is into it and so are the execs! The next episode needs to involve a deep, sappy confession of either love or admiration between two characters that have not previously been romantically involved.
Tails: The audience is into it but the execs aren't so sure... The next episode needs to introduce a budding romance between two characters that is only ever alluded to, but never stated outright.
If you roll 8 again:
If you got Heads on the previous flip: The characters have a messy breakup/divorce.
If you got Tails on the previous flip: One character dies right after outright stating their romantic feelings for the other.
9. Familiar Faces: A character from a different season is (re)introduced and becomes plot relevant. (ex: if you’re writing early seasons, include Kevin, Rowena, Ketch, Dagon, ect. If you’re writing late seasons, include Rufus, Cassie, Ava, Bela, ect.)
For greater challenge, assign characters a number and select via dice roll OR
Use a tumblr poll to have followers select
10. J2 Fallout: The two most recently mentioned characters' actors have, IRL, gone through a VERY messy divorce or friend breakup. You cannot put them in the same scene, but they must both remain relevant to the show.
If you roll 10 again, they reconcile.
11. Deep Analysis: Roll a d6. The next episode must include the theme of:
Grief
Bodily Autonomy
Family don’t end in blood
Family is Hell/Absent Fathers and Absent Gods
What makes a monster monstrous
Love
12. Are we ever really done? The most recently mentioned character's actor has decided to leave the show. Kill off their character.
If you roll 12 again for another episode, the character returns.
There's a few bonuses to a character returning, so if you so choose, Flip a coin.
Heads: the actor chose to come back and the character looks the same.
Tails: the actor did not reprise their role so the character has a "new vessel."
The other bonus flip:
Heads: upon return, the character is on the side of the protags
Tails: upon return, the character is working against the protags
Have fun and happy writing <3
Please feel free to tweak this game however works best for you. And if anyone does actually end up writing and posting something based off this, PLEASE tag me bc I wanna see lmao
Tagging a few writing buddies who might get a kick out of this: @kerryweaverlesbian @shallowseeker @bloodydeanwinchester @gryptids @kingflups
