How to Write a Story - Story Ideas

Story Ideas Kit + Tips on How to Write a Story

Lower on this page, you'll find step-by-step advice on how to write a story. You can use our fun Story Ideas Kit to come up with great ideas.

Choose one element from each column to come up with a story idea. Mix and match!

Setting	Trait	Character	Situation
On a ski trip,	a shy	librarian	accidentally reveals a secret.
In a stuck elevator,	a deceitful	babysitter	falls in love with the wrong person.
At a costume party,	an incredibly attractive	novelist	discovers evidence of a crime.
In a moonlit graveyard,	a sarcastic	ballet dancer	is visited by a ghost.
In a natural history museum,	a jealous	psychiatrist	seeks revenge.
Backstage at the theater,	a gullible	tattoo artist	succumbs to temptation.
On a rooftop,	a misunderstood	burglar	receives shocking news.
In an orphanage,	a famous	taxi driver	loses something or someone.
In a hair salon,	a paranoid	police officer	tells a dangerous lie.
On a private jet,	an obsessive-compulsive	bodyguard	is kidnapped.
In a maze,	a spoiled	animal trainer	makes a sacrifice.
At a police station,	a clever	actor	realizes that things are not as they seem.
(add your own)	(add your own)	(add your own)	(add your own)
(add your own)	(add your own)	(add your own)	(add your own)

Once you have your idea, how can you go about turning it into a story? Some suggestions:

- Use our character profile questionnaire to develop your main character into a 3-dimensional person.

- Identify what the main problem facing your character in the story is. What steps will the character take to overcome the problem? What complications might arise when your character takes them? Make a list of ideas. If you like, write them on notecards and start playing with the order.

- Imagine one of the scenes in your head and start writing it. It doesn't have to be the first scene in the story. You can go back and write the story beginning later. Start with whatever scene is clearest in your imagination. Then move on to the next scene.

- Sign up for our online course Story Structure for more help planning your story or novel.

Have fun!

Back to the Creative Writing Ideas blog

Back to the How to Write a Story index

<< BACK from How to Write a Story to Creative Writing Now Home