How to find ideas for a plot Archives

My last prompt for plots this month is this cute photo. How you could use this scene as a plot point? It seems too innocent to add any tension or conflict to a story. But that’s the challenge. Here’s my inspiration:

I should have taken that job at the beach concession stand. Waiting on sweaty, hungry tourists had to be easier that keeping track of my little brother all summer.

The early morning sun wasn’t searing yet, and the breeze was still cool off the water as I scanned the docks for Noah.

There. At the end of the dock. I should have known he was with that little girl from the rented condo down the road. He was usually with her when I couldn’t find him.

I opened my mouth to call his name, when a big guy, tall and muscular, pounded down the empty road by the docks. “What are you doing out here?”

The little girl leaped to her feet. Then she jumped in the water.

For prompts dealing with plot, click here.

Let me know how this photo inspires you in the comments!

So much of writing advice that deals with plot is focused on some kind of action–confrontations, betrayals, suspense, etc. I chose this photo because it’s quiet. Where would you place this scene in a plot?

I think it could anywhere except the beginning. The beginning should always have some kind of action to hook the reader. You could use it to start a story if a rock comes through the window or gloved hands pop out of the darkness on the first page.

But I think this scene would work better in the middle, when the main character has to think over things he’s learned during the course of the story. Or it maybe this character’s mirror moment. This is a scene in the middle of a story described by James Scott Bell in his book, Write Your Novel from the Middle, which I review here.

Or maybe this scene is the wrap up after the climax. The character is coming to some kind of conclusion from what he experienced in the story.

Now it’s your turn. Where would you place this scene in a plot?

For more prompts for writing plots, click here.

Tag: How to find ideas for a plot

Use This Scene as a Plot Point

Where Would You Place This Scene in a Plot?

JPC Allen Writes

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