I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

**velysai** · 07-09-2006, 12:00 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Originally posted by JayKid

However, I do need to write a treatment by tomorrow for a workshop I'm in. I've been attempting to think of things all weekend because I feel my ideas are lacking, but I'm just coming up short over and over.

Anyone have advice to help me out?

You need to write a whole treatment by tomorrow? Feature length? Here's my advice: get off the internet and start writing!

What's the best idea that you have right now? It's hard to give good advice without knowing the pieces you're working with.

**dpaterso** · 07-09-2006, 12:03 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

I have no answers, and certainly nothing that'll help write that treatment for tomrrow, but in the longer term consider reading a short story collection in whatever genre you're writing in.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

**English Dave** · 07-09-2006, 12:20 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

It's not easy. Think, until blood drips from your forehead. Sweat doesn't count.

You want to be good at what you do? Then put the work in. There is no other way.

**JayKid** · 07-09-2006, 12:20 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Btw - here are some crappy ideas I have:

Romantic Comedy - About horny, nerdy virgin 18 year old who gets the guts to reply to a porno ad. That's all I really have. I know I'd like the porno people run him into some bad situation, since there has to be some type of conflict, but no idea what. Also he'd have a group of friends, one who is a girl who likes him, who help him get out of the situation. And plus I feel the original story idea blows.

Drama - I just have one scene of a young girl walking in on her father committing suicide. Which gave me an idea of just a really ****ed up family. The mother kicking her out of the house because her drug addict boyfriend doesn't like her.

Another Drama - Based off same scene. This time an 18 year old and his younger brother. He gives up on his dreams and ends up taking care of his 12-14 year old brother. He then meets some girl and his struggle between borther and girl. Yet, that isn't exactly enough, but it doesn't help that I seem to have a mental block that can't help me think of more.

Horror - A kid hallucinates when he gets fevers. More or less a true story, since I've hallucinated some effed up **** when I was a kid. However, again, this is just some stupid vague premise

Comedy - I just have an idea for an opening scene that I feel is funny. A army volunteer doesn't want to go to Iraq when he gets called so he attempts to shoot his foot. He can't do it so hands the gun to his friend to do it. The friend shoots after much persuasion and the army volunteer freaks out (obviously), then snatches the gun from his friend and fires it at his friends foot. With both there with wounded feet, they call their friend (volunteers work buddy and other kids high school buddy) to bring them to the hospital, he'd be the protag. They tell the doctor they got mugged... and so on. No idea what to do with these characters though. Maybe the army volunteer, who gets himself into things he won't go through with, gets them into trouble.

Romance - Based off a social inept guy who owns a comic book store my friend goes to. I went in to get my friend once and the guy definitely seemed immature and was even flirty (altho in an innocent way) with a young employee (think she's 17ish). So love story about that... another vague premise.

Action/Comedy - A spoof of the comic book movies. Scary Movies meet X men, Spiderman, Hulk, etc... I'm so good at thinking of vague premises, many of which aren't even good.

Off the top of my head, those are some of my ideas...

You can be brutally honest about them (please be actually).

I just need help thinking of better story ideas. Mine blow...

**JayKid** · 07-09-2006, 12:25 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Originally posted by English Dave

It's not easy. Think, until blood drips from your forehead. Sweat doesn't count.

You want to be good at what you do? Then put the work in. There is no other way.

I agree, that's what I've been doing. But having a fever since friday night doesn't help, lol. Also, I just wish I had more time to think of something. I guess I shoulda thought before I started the class more (the first week just ended and he this monday-tuesday we are working on the treatments for our ideas, he told us this friday). I mean, I obviously have ideas and could probably think of something cliche and boring to just get it done with, but I'd rather have a short, crappy treatment of a story idea I like then a full out treatment to a story I don't really like.

I just think the original concept (well, the characters might be ahead of that) is incredibly important to a great story, and even more so, one you would enjoy telling. At least I feel like I'm not alone though, considering only two of the stories that my classmates said actually interested me... the rest were blah.

Oh well, I'll just keep thinking and thinking.

Hopefully something comes to me soon. When something does, well, I'll just write and write and write... that part won't be hard. It's thinking of the story that will hopefully spark my writing passion that is difficult.

**amandag** · 07-09-2006, 12:30 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

You ideas aren't bad at all.

Seems like nothing's grabbed YOU yet. You might be jumping around a little too much. If you're good, you can make most of these ideas engaging. If you're newer, then try to flesh them out. It's a great structure workout. Just stick to whatever sticks to you.

Good luck

**Hamboogul** · 07-09-2006, 12:32 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

And if torturing yourself isn't enough, torture the above poster.

**odocoileus** · 07-09-2006, 12:35 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/sm...f/summary.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/.../odysseus2.htm

http://ias.berkeley.edu/orias/hero/

http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~sparks/heroj.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth

Do a fill in the blank based on The Hero's Journey template. Just use the characters you've already dreamt up, and plug in the likely events.

Throw in the seven sequence method if you like:

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/news/a...r/writing.html

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/news/a...sevensteps.htm

It ain't Art, but it may help you git r done.

**Stephen Wegmann** · 07-09-2006, 12:44 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Originally posted by amandag

BTW, Structure is a mega-bitch that will suck you dry, but with a lot of beginning to end practice, the story part will come a lot easier. Good luck!!!

True as that may be, structure is probably one of the most important factors in a script. Structure is how you make sure your script doesn't suck; ie is too boring, too action packed, lacks character development -

actually, trying to follow all of that does make structure a mega-bitch.

nvm.

**JayKid** · 07-09-2006, 12:50 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

thank you for the help, those links are helpful, im gonna go do that...

Also, I'm curious, outof those ideas, what one or two do you guys think is the most interesting, has most potential, or most marketable or something. I just want to know what others think.

**English Dave** · 07-09-2006, 12:59 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Originally posted by Hamboogul

And if torturing yourself isn't enough, torture the above poster.

**JayKid** · 07-09-2006, 01:22 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

^ ???

**English Dave** · 07-09-2006, 01:40 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Originally posted by JayKid

^ ???

I'm really sorry. I was tickled by Ham's response.
You have to remember that any serious writer has long gone through the phase you are in now. Therefore seeing it in Screenwriting for the 300th time it was nice to see an original twist of humor .

**velysai** · 07-09-2006, 01:52 PM

Re: I can think of characters and scenens, but not stories...

Originally posted by JayKid

^ ???

Not you.

Romantic Comedy - This reminds me RISKY BUSINESS or THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. Not seeing your angle here.

Drama - No.

Another Drama - Still no.

Horror - Maybe, as long as it's not a "it was all just a dream" scenario. Those nightmares should come to life. Maybe he dreams about the people he cares about in his life and these things come true? And he has to figure out what is causing the nightmares to come true or lose everyone he loves. Just an idea. Use or ignore if you want.

Comedy - Huh?

Romance - Vague is an understatement.

Action/Comedy - If you could pull this off well. You couldn't actually use already established superheroes, obviously. You'd have to make your own. I have no idea what your story would be. Maybe it would just a series of scenes strung together, like the SCARY MOVIE series. I personally am not a big fan of those. So, whatever floats your boat.

I'd say work on one of the genre ideas and steer clear of those drama ideas (anything but the drama ones really). Some of your ideas just need to be fleshed out more. But pick one. You're spreading yourself all over the place. I have ideas in all different genres, too, but I don't try to develop them all at once. This shows a lack of focus. You need to pick the one idea that you will be passionate about enough to carry you through writing all three acts until FADE OUT.

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