National Novel Writing Month - crowdsourcing novel ideas

[sinister42]

Tentatively planning to do National Novel Writing Month again, trying to kickstart a daily writing practice that extends beyond November. But I have no idea what my novel is going to be about. I've abandoned whatever the hell I was working on last year, although I'm sure I can mine it for short story ideas. This year, I'm going to try outlining, so I don't end up getting stuck halfway through like always, but I NEED YOUR HELP.

Please post something you think I should include in my novel. This can be anything: a word, a phrase, a genre, a character, a mood, a food, a noun, a concept, a whole sentence. I'm going to crowdsource this novel and make it weird as hell, so the more incongruous your suggestions are, the more I'll have to work with.

My theory is this: NYC Midnight always forces me to write based on some pretty funky prompts, and I always come up with a story. If you, yes YOU, give me funky prompts, maybe I'll have better luck getting through Nano this year.

So give me those funky prompts.

 

[Margaret Note Spelling]

How about including one character almost exactly like the one that you really hated from any other book, movie, or television show--only made better. With the main problems solved.

 

[sinister42]

Intriguing.

 

[Mouse]

A house made of cake.

 

[tegeus-Cromis]

Sentient bunnies who have developed a religion around the art of Tom of Finland. The main rites of that religion involve enacting tableaux vivants based on Tom of Finland's drawings.

A restaging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express," but with killer ants instead of trains.

Riemann's hypothesis as applied to tropical cocktail umbrellas.

Diesel rigs wearing bikinis.

Koala metaphysics.

Limburger.

 

[sinister42]

Sentient bunnies who have developed a religion around the art of Tom of Finland. The main rites of that religion involve enacting tableaux vivants based on Tom of Finland's drawings.

A restaging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express," but with killer ants instead of trains.

Riemann's hypothesis as applied to tropical cocktail umbrellas.

Diesel rigs wearing bikinis.

Koala metaphysics.

Limburger.

I'd like very much to live inside your head for 5 minutes. Good stuff, thanks.

 

[Eric Lewis]

In an attempt to clean up a massive oil spill, a bacterium is genetically engineered to consume petroleum products. But its growth gets out of control, eating all fossil fuels on and in the planet. Now, though surrounded by technology, people are reduced to a preindustrial existence, except for a few elites who control all solar/wind/hydroelectricity. Wait, that's basically Mad Max...

 

[MikeAnderson]

Whatever you do, you damn well better have gratuitous amounts of profanity, abnormal sexual activity, and explosions. Lots and LOTS of explosions!!

Oh, and product tie-ins. Have your antagonist sponsored by Carl's Jr. or Penzoil or something. Just in case it flops, you can recoup your losses with corporate kickbacks.

 

[Ian Fortytwo]

Write whatever nonsense is stored in your brain, I know it seems very random, however it will work and flow continuously once started.

 

[Kharn]

Take the main character from your last work, exactly how they are right now and put them in the one position they would be the worst at.

Were they the chosen one? Make them the loyal best friend who has to help the chosen one and yet gets none of the accolades.

Were they the martial arts master? Throw them in a time machine and send them to the eastern front during the battle of stalingrad.

Are they the good guy? Make them the bad guy. (Think Falling Down with Michael Douglas)

Turn the world on its head.

 

[Juliana]

Write whatever nonsense is stored in your brain, I know it seems very random, however it will work and flow continuously once started.

This. Why not try some free writing exercises to get the ideas flowing? Give yourself five minutes, clear your mind, and just write. (Pen and paper is best for this.) Maybe something will jump out at you...