forum I need major help with this Sci-Fi Plot thing!
Started by Deleted user
tune

people_alt 2 followers

Deleted user

So my writer's block has come back months ago and it's been really bad.Even though I still have it I have decided to try something new………..SCI-FI! I dunno, it seems interesting. So I have ideas for what I want for my plot, but I don't know how to put it all together if it makes sense?

  • Political government issues
  • Secret agency
  • Super Powers
  • I guess it's modern sci-fi?
  • Some steampunk
  • Alternate universes and alternate history ( Optional, still thinking about it.)
  • Don't know if I want an apocalyptic situation or anything.

Deleted user

@AmericasFavoriteFightingFrenchGirl_LAFFETTE! well, that's a lot of stuff to put together. I think I'd start by coming up with either a) one big main event that you want to occur or b) a main character/characters. You need to have something to tie all these concepts to.

Deleted user

Yeah, but how am I suppose to do that if I don't even know what ny plot is going to be like?

Deleted user

I usually build my plot around one thing. Do you have an idea (or multiple ideas) for what you want to happen in this story? Even something very vague? An event you want to occur, a scene you've been thinking about writing? If you have something like that, then you could backtrack and find reasons for how and why it happened, what will happen next, etc. (I don't know if this is the best way to do this, it's just what I always do).

If you don't have anything, I can always help you brainstorm?

Deleted user

Well I don't have anything in mind right now since those were just some ideas…..um maybe its a government conspiricy or something?

Deleted user

Okay! That's something to start with! Now, the way I brainstorm is I ask lots of questions. Here are three to start with:

  1. What kind of government system is in place?
  2. Is this the government of a country, is it a world government? How much power does this government hold over the place it governs and places outside of the place it governs?
  3. What is the motivation for the conspiracy? (What do the conspirators gain by it?)

Deleted user

Well this is taking place in the United States, so i guess out system and the world system. I guess the motivation is to rule the world or to prove themselves I guess?

Deleted user

Okay, the motivation could be stronger but you can always tweak that later. A few more questions:

  1. When is this set? (Past, present, future).
  2. Is this set in our universe, or an alternate universe?
  3. What POV (Point of View) are you writing this in? (Omniscient POV, limited omniscient POV, first person, second person, etc.)
  4. What tense are you writing this in? (Past tense, present tense).
  5. How many main characters are you thinking about having?
  6. Of these main characters, how many will get a POV?

Deleted user

  1. Its set in the future
  2. What do you mean by that?
    3: I think 3rd person
    4: Present
  3. Probably a lot
    6: I think 3 or 4.

Deleted user

  1. Okay. How far in the future?
  2. I mean is it in our world today but just in the future, or is it in an alternate world? Characteristics of an alternate world would be different history than ours, new/different species, the existence of supernatural powers and/or magic, etc.
  3. Okay. Limited 3rd person or just 3rd person? (Side note: Omniscient POV/limited omniscient POV are the same as 3rd person/limited 3rd person. It's just a different way of saying it).
  4. Okay. That's fine, it's the tense I'm writing my current story in, but I just thought I'd link you this very interesting article on the pros and cons of each tense. It's something @TryToDoItWrite showed me and I found it very helpful. https://thewritepractice.com/past-tense-vs-present-tense/
  5. Probably a lot? Give me a ballpark. 5-10? 10-20? 20-30? 30-40? More?
  6. Okay. That's a reasonable amount.

Deleted user

Sorry for getting back to you late:

  1. I guess about 2420
  2. Its in our world I guess
  3. Limited 3rd person.
    5.Erm………either 10-20 or 30-40

Deleted user

Looks over 1, 2, and 3 Okay, yeah… nods

Sees 5 Well heck. That's a lot of characters. That's Durarara-level lots of characters.

PurplePygmyPies

INTEGRATE!!!! Steal ideas you like from successful shows, and use that as the glue to hold your concepts together. Also, imagine the characters as your favorite actors. That's what I do

Deleted user

PurplePygmyPies is right. Good writers often start by copying other people. Hell, Shakespeare stole Romeo and Juliet from another poet.

Deleted user

Plagarism is when you steal someone's words or writing. Obviously you shouldn't copy an entire character or an entire plot, but if you take a general idea it's fine.

Deleted user

I mean I would do that, but if I do, I'm afraid that I'll end up plagiarizing Marvel.

@Lavy-the-Nerdy-Sci-Fi-Birdy

I think you're good girl! I've got a plot that's reminiscent of Avatar (Not the tv series one), and I've talked with some others, and they've told me it's fine! I think you'll be good!

Deleted user

Do you think you've got enough of a start now or do you need some more help? (If I'm even being helpful XD)

Deleted user

Um I think I'll try it out and see how it goes.

PurplePygmyPies

I do a lot of copy, pasting, thinking, and going, "actuallyyy… I like this better," and removing it. I'm putting together a story, and it resembles a LOt of stories combined