Places to Chat
'Prompt' Exchange
Chatterbox: Inkwell
'Prompt' Exchange
'Prompt' Exchange Thread!
A thread for random ideas you thought up but are probably never going to write/a place to brainstorm cool plots, whether or not you end up going any further.
Maybe you'll inspire someone else with cute, heartfelt, mysterious, angsty, or flat-out weird ideas? Maybe you have a really cool first line or interesting premise, but don't know where to use it? Maybe you're looking for something to motivate or inspire you, but don't know where to start? Or perhaps you just want to design an OC without writing a whole story, or concoct an outline for an overly-convoluted scheme? Perhaps you really want to see more post-apocalypse cyberpunk or a fresh take fantasy or pure fluff-mance stories, or something niche and oddly specific, and want to egg random people on until they finally write it for you?
Well why not try exchanging with others? Drop off ideas that you might not want to write an entire thing about, and pick up other people's ideas to test them out. Maybe you'll find a new favourite genre or writer; maybe you'll finally cure your writers' block. Challenge yourself! And of course, have fun!
submitted by Jaybells, age Obscure, Lost in the Universe
(December 17, 2021 - 12:28 am)
(December 17, 2021 - 12:28 am)
Yay! :D
OK, to be honest, though, it's a tad of a challenge for me to spin plots and characters out of nothing as well. We might wanna grab a person who can help with that before we start out on this adventure!
Sp, wanna come up with a basic premise, first? Like, a revolt/philosophical revolution might be an interesting start, and then we can build a world out of that... Or maybe focus on a small set of characters/sole character at the beginning in a mysterious scenario, which spirals out? Any thoughts/preferences?
All I really know for sure is that I want some desert-action. Maybe include some underground caves/pyramid ruins/etc.?
Eeeeek, I'm so excited to get started!! :)
(February 6, 2022 - 7:31 pm)
I don't care how we start, really. I think underground caves and pyramid ruins sounds awesome! I'd like our story-world to have mythical creatures/species we make up, not just humans (if that's okay).
(February 7, 2022 - 1:17 pm)
Absolutely!
Have you played/seen anyone Breath of the Wild? They have these epic desert beasts called Molduga, and I really want something similar to that! They're so fun! 10/10 would draw a reference inspired by, if that idea goes through.
There are plenty of other creatures we can make up too, it'll be awesome!!!
(February 7, 2022 - 5:43 pm)
Ooo, I'd like to too! I feel like I need some place to start out writing and get involved. Sounds great!
(February 6, 2022 - 7:57 pm)
Great! Welcome aboard!
D'you have any ideas in particular you want to work on? Would you be interested character design/plot, by any chance? *cough* (sorry, this is our team's self-defined weakest point so far) *cough*
Basically anything at all creative is welcome, though! Especially suggestions where we should begin. :)
I plan on starting a new thread once we agree on/sort out the most basic stuff~
(February 6, 2022 - 9:11 pm)
I get your point. :) I would love to design some characters: that's actually my favourite part of writing! It just takes me awhile to come up with ideas, so count on it being a couple days before I post charries, ect. As for the plot, there are so many possibilites I couldn't decide! I might suggest a few things later, but it's up to you for that!
(February 6, 2022 - 10:09 pm)
That's perfect, then!
So that means first chunk of the plot is up to us, Hex! (But Flamarestii and anyone else can still contribute input, of course.) Any cool opening ideas?
> I'm thinking (as the prologue) maybe an excavation gone wrong at the site of some ancient ruins... But maybe we should focus on the ominous'ness of the glyphs/architecture or the general creepy underground vibes, and then have the archeologists/researchers get trapped soon after they start exploring. (I'm pretty heavily inspired by ancient Egypt here, although the planet won't be Earth, just so ya' know.) In the next segment, there could be a seemingly unrelated bit (still relevant for world-building/character development/introductions, but that won't be immediately obvious to the audience), and then for part 2 the researchers are trying to escape. Gotta start that drama and suspense! >:) Lol
Anyway, this is just a suggestion so we can get started soon, you people don't have to go through with my idea, especially if you have a better one! Tell me whatcha think; basically all advice is welcome!
(February 7, 2022 - 12:13 am)
A few ideas, nothing big though:
- Just some inspiration for the desert setting: the ancient city Petra in Jordan. If you haven't heard of it, you should look up pics just to see the amazing buildings carved into desert cliffs!
- I like the idea of underground caves Jaybells had. To expand on that, what about tunnels and secret trapdoors too?
So we're planning on archeologists or something? There could be a cave-in in the site. Ooo, what if they found ancient treasure in the place? Something evil could be guarding it. Or there could be a traitor among them who wants to take it all for themself. Sorry, I have all these disconnected ideas that go all over the place. You don't have to use them, but if you guys like them, cool!
(February 7, 2022 - 6:09 pm)
Exactly!
These are fantastic! I definitely plan on tying this back to a rebellion/'lost,' something(like age-old schemes behind the scenes, a civilization, a resistance group, etc.). That could explain away the trap floors and tunnels, too!
On the next note, I definitely agree, Petra is fascinating! It's just a feat of mysterious architecture~ (Reminds me of ruins; specifically, the Forgotten Temple in a Breath of the Wild and the 'magic' I get out of exploring it!) While we're on the topic of ruins, Extra Credits has a great series on Angkor Wat, the real-life "Forgotten City" of Cambodia/the medieval Khmer Empire. It's one of those things I've always really wanted to write about/explore the 'what-if's of...
Also, EVIL ENTITIES FOR THE WIN! Well, not the win, but like... Let's include a morally dubious entity that toys with our charries. Maybe we can draw inspiration from Riordan's Kane Chronicles, if you've read them? Might be a cool experience!
(February 7, 2022 - 6:59 pm)
I haven't read the Kane Chronicles, but I've heard of Angkor Wat. Last night my brain got excited and started developing charries- I have tentative plans for two archeologist protagonists, thinking of another, but I'll wait till you and Hex have the plot sorted out a bit more. Tying the story into the past would be so cool! This is so exciting!!!
(February 8, 2022 - 8:16 am)
We could have some ancient magic that makes a dead (maybe buried?) mummy/lost explorer/rebel/thief/whoever is doing whatever they're doing come alive. Aah that sentance made no sense. Basically ancient magic that makes undead.
Or we could have an ancient burial chamber (I feel like that's too much like Egypt, though). We could have a booby-trapped tomb, or a quest for treasure.
I'd like a prologue kind of thing that prefaces the ancient evil come awake, or the tragic happenings of the charries...
Also, evil entities are compleately awesome! You know, within reason. And Petra is really cool. The Kane Chronicles are good too, but they're more about existing myths than created myths, so only kinda-sorta similar?
@Flamarestii, I don't know how developed your charries are, but what species are there? Human or [insert name of species that doesn't exist yet or maybe it does but I don't know]
(February 8, 2022 - 3:42 pm)
The charries are human so far. There's three of them who are archeologists/main protagonists. Two are younger, and one is really old, he's like the heart of the archeological party and it's his dream to find treasure/something significant before he dies. But I'm definitely thinking about how to incorporate some other species in, or make them humanish but not totally human.
I'm also thinking maybe making them have mythical creature companions like pets, except not really, more like, I don't know, creatures that help them find treasure. Like how a dog can sniff out scents, maybe these creatures can sniff out gold/ancient things?
I like your idea of ancient magic affecting things- what about ancient curses that affect them like a disease almost? I feel like ancient Egypt is affecting my thinking too. :) I also feel like I use the word like too much.
(February 8, 2022 - 6:35 pm)
Here's an idea I had a while ago that must have SOME potential...
A Monster Hospital
...
.__. thats pretty much the whole idea
Its set in a world where monsters and humans live together, and perhaps told from a nurses POV? I don't have much knowlage on this stuff, though... so :) here we are
I have character ideas written down somewhere... ill post them later
(February 7, 2022 - 4:44 pm)
Yeah, undead mysterious-stuff sounds good! Traps/other obstacles sound fun too.
Actually, maybe we can lean on some Chinese or Korean stuff for inspiration on the undead idea... Mo Dao Zu Shi (a Chinese comic/manhua) deals with an interesting established system of undead... 'beings,' which are a prominent piece of the story. I don't plan on ripping it straight out of that series, of course, but it might help to get an idea of what we want. (Don't be afraid to ask for more info on MDZS and its undead if you can't or don't want to spend a bunch of time figuring out that whole series, though. I'd be happy to go more in-depth on the subject!)
Oh, and I have an idea for the opener, but I'll run it by you two for suggestions/rewrites/general feeling/thoughts on it before we post it officially:
+×+×+
"It was nearly dark when Serai caught another glimpse of them. Purple sky-sand bleeding from strangled blue to black above a sea of off-white dunes -- there they stood. Xe'd seen them before. [INSERT DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCHERS SEEMING DISORGANISED/CULTURALLY UNAWARE HERE]
What fools, xe thought. It wouldn't surprise xer at all if these nosy foreigners never made it out alive. Sarai knew what they did not about that tomb, after all. Xe shrugged. It was really none of xer business, though. Xe would not bother to sit around and wait for the cries of horror to fly up to the sky; instead xer sleek black coat of fur slipped silently into the falling night from whence xe came, knowing that something terrible was soon bound to begin.
It was quiet for some time after."
+×+×+
For clarification, Serai is a type of magical/spirit'y-cat-thing that doesn't really reproduce(they are more 'manefested' than 'birthed') and are sentient. Xe is neutral in terms of moral alignment, and perhaps seeks out the most interesting outcome; so I'd say 'neutral chaotic' as a whole. Since xe's basically always been in the desert, xe knows the way things should be and is mildly annoyed by what's going on with the 'tourist'y' people who keep flocking in, but is sort of intrigued about what they might accidentally uncover. Xe tends to be a little on the lazy side, but is still physically adept(you know, essentially being a magical cat, and all). Sarai likely won't be able to speak with more human'y characters.
What do you think? Should any major/minor changes be made, or is it good? If it doesn't fit with either of your visions, please speak up bout it!
(February 8, 2022 - 9:59 pm)
I LOVE the first part of your opener, it has such cool imagery! It really draws me into the story and makes me want to know what will happen next! A minor suggestion: instead of saying "Ze'd seen them before," could you say "Ze had seen them before"? I think it sounds more clear then. Also, a clarification: is ze's name Serai or Sarai?
So after this part, could the point of view go to the archeological party at the tomb? It would be interesting to include what they are feeling at the moment too: excited, ignorant about what is about to happen, or do they sense the ominous quality in the air? Then it could go back to Serai/Sarai or anyone else or even the diabolical evil itself, whatever that turns out to be.
(February 9, 2022 - 6:01 pm)