Questions can be a great way to get ready to write. We looked at some character questions last week. This time, I want to look at my favorite idea/plot generating questions.

• What if . . . ?
• How could X happen?
• What would it take
• How can this be more? Do I have any other ideas this would combine with well?
• What’s the worst thing that could happen?
• What does this character want?
• What kind of person would want/not want this?
• What else is going on in his/her life?
• Who is the least likely suspect?
• Who would be the worst/most painful person to do this to the protagonist?
• Why would s/he do such a thing?
• How can I get A to do/want/say Q?
• What other part of the story can I tie this to?
• Who else is in play here?
• How can this character have a subplot that parallels the main plot?
• What else can go wrong?
• How can I make something go right, but at such a wrong time that it just makes everything worse?
• Who else is out to get them? Why?
• What else is going on in this setting? How can that tie in?
• Can I make things worse?

Sometimes, I find myself just answering these questions subconsciously as I plot and write, but usually I can trace my thought process back through the questions I asked myself to get there.

What do you think? What kind of questions do you ask yourself when plotting?

Photo by Gillian Maniscalco