I gave an AI the prompt “Stuck for a good story idea? Use this novel writing prompt.” It gave me this.

I’ve noticed some awesome novel writing prompts floating around, and I’ve collected the best ones to help you get started.

This novel writing prompt is called “A Good Story Idea.”

If you can think of an awesome (out-of-this-world, immortal, mysterious, etc.) coming-of-age adventure, and you’re stuck for a story idea, consider using this prompt.

1. Write the first scene in the life of your main character that you want to tell. Then, revise and expand it, taking it in directions that will make the most sense for the story.

2. The question: What is the main conflict of the story?

3. Write the second scene in the story based on the character’s answer. Consider:

a) Alternatives to the conflict.

b) Things your character would do to solve the problem.

c) Other obstacles.

4. The question: What is the main conflict of the story?

5. The second scene in the story based on the character’s answer. Consider:

a) Alternatives to the conflict.

b) Things your character would do to solve the problem.

c) Other obstacles.

6. The question: What is the main conflict of the story?

7. The third scene in the story based on the character’s answer. Consider:

a) Alternatives to the conflict.

b) Things your character would do to solve the problem.

c) Other obstacles.

8. The question: What is the main conflict of the story?

9. The fourth scene in the story based on the character’s answer. Consider:

a) Alternatives to the conflict.

b) Things your character would do to solve the problem.

c) Other obstacles.

10. The question: What is the main conflict of the story?

11. The final scene in the story based on the character’s answer. Consider:

a) Alternatives to the conflict.

b) Things your character would do to solve the problem.

c) Other obstacles.

12. The conflict: What is the driving conflict of the story?

Your story idea will probably be better if you focus on that one thing that keeps your character from solving the problem.

Take the time to get to know your main character well enough to explain the conflict and why he’s not solving the problem.

Tips for writing a scene-to-scene screenplay

6 tips for writing a screenplay

Use a dialogue-driven approach and limit yourself to one character’s viewpoint per scene.

Limit your viewpoint to one character per scene and place the other characters in the story so that they are important to the character, yet they remain peripheral to the main conflict.

Do not start with action. Asking what will happen next, or who is doing what, doesn’t do anything except stall. Start by describing the scene, then describe the action that takes place within it.

Avoid action where it doesn’t exist—movies rarely start with a chase scene, for example. Begin with a conversation and follow up with action.

Do not focus on characters doing something they wouldn’t normally do.

Cut all the extraneous or unnecessary dialogue.

Plot points happen every 10 to 20 pages, so focus on that and only that.

Traditionally, two people meet, talk, and fall in love, a conflict develops and they are then in an emotional crisis.

The conflict then escalates and then leads to a climactic moment that causes them to learn something about each other, which is then important for solving the main conflict.

Only focus on the central plot and only the main plot.

Keep in mind that each scene should advance the central story. The scene may not be as important as the dialogue it builds in order to advance the overall story.

Remember to keep your plot moving, but with a strong character, and always keep the character’s emotional state in mind.

Avoid: characters walking around aimlessly, going about their business and having little interaction with each other.

Avoid: characters doing something that doesn’t make sense.

Avoid: characters saying “Oh, I got lost,” or “I had this plan to get somewhere, but I got lost.”

A fundamental mistake that writers make is to start with the dialogue and then write a normal scene.

The dialogue should serve as an opportunity for an interesting scene to develop, and not as the main action of the scene.

Take a step back from your draft and see if the scene still moves the main plot forward. If it does, it’s a good scene. If not, it may need to be rewritten and placed at the end of a script.

Allow enough time for your characters to say their lines so that they don’t come up with senseless dialogue.

Keep in mind that your character will probably be explaining something he wouldn’t usually say and can explain only through dialogue.

Add subplots. If it seems like the characters’ lives don’t fit together, they probably do and they will eventually come together.

Avoid using the same vocabulary and not referring to other characters by name.

Avoid any type of flashback. The action of the scene should advance the plot forward, and a flashback is when you go back to a time earlier in the story and continue the action in that time.

The time spent in the flashback should not be part of the story. The character should be moving on from that point in his life.

Also, don’t jump around in time or be in flashback for too long.

Character Dialogue

What kind of dialogue can make a character come alive?

Problems in characters’ dialogue can be:

Characters often use flowery, formal, or overly flowery language to describe things and projects.

Characters often say the same thing over and over, saying the same thing to the same person or in the same sequence. This can get boring for the reader.

Characters speak in clichés. Try using an unusual word, such as “naturally” instead of “naturally.”

Example of boring characters’ dialogue: “How are you?” (“Hello.”) “That’s good.” (“That’s good.”)

Example of good dialogue: “How are you?” (“Hi.”) “I’m fine.” (“That’s good.”)

“How are you?” (“I’m fine.”) “How’s your family?” (“Fine.”)

“How’s your family?” (“Fine.”) “What do you do for a living?” (“I’m a musician.”)

“What do you do for a living?” (“I’m a musician.”) “Do you know what’s happening tonight?” (“I know what’s happening tonight.”)

When writing good dialogue, consider what your character would normally say if he were asked the same question in the same way. For example, if a woman says she is fine, it doesn’t mean she is not in pain or sad. She could have a broken arm, broken leg, or sprained ankle, but she is not fine. The woman could be in a car accident and she would use “I’m fine” because she is OK.