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Vent: I keep seeing the same prompt advice that just doesn't work for me
Every writing blog and forum, like the one in Seattle I used to follow, says to start with 'What if...' but that always makes my ideas feel too sci-fi. I've had way better luck for my character-driven stuff by asking 'Why would someone...' instead, like 'Why would someone mail a single sock to their ex?' It grounds the weirdness in a person. Anyone else find a different starter question that clicks for them?
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richard2147mo ago
Bad movie trailer" is exactly why I switched to "What's the worst way to..." too.
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hayden_rivera7mo ago
Yeah, the "bad movie trailer" feeling is real. It makes everything sound like a gimmick before you even start. Starting with "What's the worst way to..." is good, but it can still trap you in just planning a single scene. The real trick is asking "And then what?" right after that bad decision. That forces you to figure out the actual consequences, not just the setup.
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claire6167mo ago
That Seattle writing blog was the one that made me try the 'What if' thing for like a solid year. Honestly, it made every story idea feel like a bad movie trailer. Your sock example is way better, it makes me actually care about the person doing the mailing. Tbh I've started with "What's the worst way to..." and that gets me into the character's bad decisions right away.
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