New Plots?

[dustinzgirl]

Is there any way to come up with a new plot? I don't mean a new plot twist, or new characters, or a plot in a different setting, I mean wholly new plot that has never, ever, never been done before............

Any ideas?

Just wondering. Sometimes I feel like everything is just a remake of something else with different characters or twists or characters and twists.

So lets work on something new and amazing and not at all corny. OK well mabye a little corny. Or hominy. Whatever.

PSST I have no ideas myself, just so you know.

 

[Vladd67]

Isn't that the holy grail of writing?

 

[dustinzgirl]

Yes it is. Literally.

 

[HareBrain]

Can the main character be a wombat?

 

[ctg]

You mean something original, something that you saw in the district 9?

 

[The Judge]

Isn't that the holy grail of writing?

If so, our choices include:
(a) the Action Adventure -- good looking action hero escaping from Nazi spies while seeking it in secret canyons
(b) the Mystery Thriller -- good looking professor hero escaping from Vatican spies while seeking it in secret codexes
(c) the Arthurian Treatment -- good looking knight hero escaping from witch's spies while seeking it in secret castles

And just for HareBrain:
(d) the Wombat Initiative -- good looking... er... wombat escaping from koala spies while seeking it in secret eucalyptuses

J

 

[dustinzgirl]

You mean something original, something that you saw in the district 9?

I hated that movie. It was sad and terrible.

And just for HareBrain:
(d) the Wombat Initiative -- good looking... er... wombat escaping from koala spies while seeking it in secret eucalyptuses
J

Wombats........shiver........I'm siding with the Koalas. But that's just Jambes Bond with furries.

 

[Brian G Turner]

The problem, I don't think, is whether a plot is new - it is simply how it is handled.

The simplest plot can be extremely entertaining - handled well.

I guess you could say a plot is a writing tool - there's little point in trying to reinvent the screwdriver or create a brand new tool that will have limited applications - nothing beats being able to handle a familiar tool with expertise.

 

[dustinzgirl]

The problem, I don't think, is whether a plot is new - it is simply how it is handled.

The simplest plot can be extremely entertaining - handled well.

I guess you could say a plot is a writing tool - there's little point in trying to reinvent the screwdriver or create a brand new tool that will have limited applications - nothing beats being able to handle a familiar tool with expertise.

Good post boss!

 

[Pyan]

There is a theory (by Christopher Booker, IIRC) that there are only seven basic plots, and all the stories ever written are variations of one or more of them.

1. Overcoming the monster -- defeating some force which threatens...
e.g. most Hollywood movies; Star Wars, James Bond.

2. The Quest -- typically a group setoff in search of something and
(usually) find it. e.g. Watership Down, Pilgrim's Progress.

3. Journey and Return -- the hero journeys away from home to somewhere
different and finally comes back having experienced something and
maybe changed for the better. e.g. Wizard of Oz, Gullivers Travels.

4. Comedy - not necessarily a funny plot. Some kind of
misunderstanding or ignorance is created that keeps parties apart
which is resolved towards the end bringing them back together. e.g.
Bridget Jones Diary, War and Peace.

5. Tragedy - Someone is tempted in some way, vanity, greed etc and
becomes increasingly desperate or trapped by their actions until at a
climax they usually die. Unless it's a Hollywood movie, when they
escape to a happy ending. e.g. Devils' Advocate, Hamlet.

6. Rebirth - hero is captured or oppressed and seems to be in a state
of living death until it seems all is lost when miraculously they are
freed. e.g. Snow White.

7. Rags to Riches - self explanatory really. e.g. Cinderella &
derivatives (all 27,000 of them)!!!

 

[ctg]

There is also a theory that sides there is far more then just seven plots, but the thing is there are far more plots then the normal ones, so check this out to give you inspiration: 20 Master plots and How to Build Them

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

The familiar plot types center around basic human needs and desires. The more universal and compelling the need or desire the more likely it is to engage the reader. That's why there are a limited number of basic plots.

But the possibilities for variations on these plots is as wide as human experience and imagination.

 

[Xelah]

You mean something original, something that you saw in the district 9?

Not as original as it's given credit for.

District 9

That video pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter.

 

[dreamhunter]

Yes, they're all about the range of human emotions and experience, and playing to them.

We all like/need to laugh, so, comedy for you. We all like/need some love, so the inevitable romantic bit in any story. We all like/need some activity, so the action stuff.

Some enjoy a good cry, so, the tearjerker. Others like to get scared out of their pants, so, the ghost/monster/vampire story.

Similarly for adventure, challenge, magic, mystery, thrill, suspense, fear, fantasy etc.

A dream could give you something offbeat. Now, what was my dream last night?

I also notice that, 'cruelty & revenge', and 'against all odds', seem to be a common thread in many plots.

 

[Culhwch]

Can the main character be a wombat?

'fraid it's been done. And done well, to boot.

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French, Bruce Whatley

 

[fkatona]

Suddenly, I want a wombat.

EDIT: I should probably contribute to the topic in some way. Ever try having a story without a plot? One where the lasting impact is the meaninglessness of the charactes lives.

 

[Boneman]

I was on a script-writing course a decade or so ago and in discussing plots we went over the seven basic plots and the infinite variations of them and for homework we were challenged to think of a story and then reverse some element in it completely - I think they did this when they made Brad Pitt into a complete nasty prat in that Helen of Troy film, where he played Achilles, and it didn't work - 'oh my brother's been killed (in a battle) because he was so stupid he pretended to be me, now I'll go out and slaughter everyone...'

But it is a useful exercise: whatif sleeping beauty had been an absolute cow, a homicidal maniac who killed off all her siblings, and enslaved the 7 dwarfs (or better still, they're as evil as she is) and in controlling all the diamonds and zirconite, they're weakening the whole kingdom, so Prince Charming makes a pact with the dragon to root them all out and kill them??

Find a story, film, book that you really like and reverse it: it gives you great plot ideas, if nothing else!

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Ever try having a story without a plot? One where the lasting impact is the meaninglessness of the characters lives.

If the characters just accepted the meaninglessness and didn't try to do anything about it*, it would make a boring story -- really, not even a story, just a series of incidents. If they made any effort to rise above it, that would be a plot.

*Actually, I saw a movie that was pretty much about that, and it was boring. I can't even remember what it was called, that was how deeply it impressed me.

 

[Xelah]

It wouldn't have been "The Starfighters" . . . would it?

You'd think with a name like that, it would be something kickass with stuff going boom every few minutes, and a buff, shirtless guy spraying bad guys with lead, and a large chested woman being rescued heroically by our shirtless guy.

No. It's about refueling military aircraft midair. Epic stuff.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

No, I just remembered the name of it. Reality Bites. I think one of my daughters had it on VHS, and I sat down to watch the movie with her, on the misguided assumption that we would be spending some quality time together.