"You think it, I'll write it!" | Sorrel's Plot Factory | I'll write something up for you!

Someone looks up from a clipboard. Hey there, and welcome to Sorrel's Plot Factory, I'm your host, Sorrel! Dry applause from the audience. If you need a plot, or help with an idea, please feel free to share it. I'd love to help you in any ways that I can! Much better applause from the crowd. For now, I'll be waiting at my window-seat, watching the clouds until I'm summoned. Farewell for now! That someone vanishes, big time.

How This Works:
you : Comment an idea you want a plot for, or something you need help with.
me : Replies with the plot or some help.

A curious writer found her way into your world!

How do I make an arrogant protagonist likable to the reader besides having stupid-silly things happen to him?

A curious writer found her way into your world!

How do I make an arrogant protagonist likable to the reader besides having stupid-silly things happen to him?

@Momentia, give him really relatable traits, things that people can relate to on different levels. Arrogance often times brings along a higher ego, and big time thoughts about oneself, so a little Narcissism wouldn't do you wrong. I'd also advise him to play some form of hero, a lot of heroes are arrogant when I think about it. My last tip would be to give him another side, a mental side or something. Some state to which he's not that into himself, and finds ways to admire everything else! I hope this helps!

How does a comedy writer write a psychological horror without comedy ;-;

@Acie, my advice for this one would be to ignore the best in life. Completely focus on the worst things, even if it's hard. You might even find the difficulty good at forcing you to write bad things, due to the fact it'll be a struggle. Scary songs also help, especially horror soundtracks. Pay attention to your details and ignore fun. Remember, psychological horror deals with mental states and traumas beyond speakable levels. Keep it in mind as you write.

@Sorrel thanks so much! I’ll try, but generally the psych horrors are the weirdest ones… I’ve never written horror before and I guess I’m picking up with a difficult genre. Would you say a more gothic style does well with this genre? Like antiquated language and oddly specific details? (Sorry if I’m asking you too many questions I’m just a confused •-•)

@Acie, don't worry about the questions, that's what I'm here for. I think that there are many ways to write a story of this genre, both with modern-day English and the English of old. It always depends on the time you write your story in, in my opinion. If you're writing an older-type horror/psych tale, I'd say goth would work well, but if it were more 2000's I'd go with basic English. You just need to find words that work well with it. ( Thesarus.com is a babe for that. )

@Sorrel Ok, thanks! And yes, it’s an older set tale. Thanks again, and I’ll try to apply your requests :D

@Acie, thanks for asking all of things you wondered! If you need any more help, please remember I'm here! Good luck with your tale, feel free to keep me updated, lol!

@Sorrel Ok, thanks! And yes, it’s an older set tale. Thanks again, and I’ll try to apply your requests :D

@Acie, thanks for asking all of things you wondered! If you need any more help, please remember I'm here! Good luck with your tale, feel free to keep me updated, lol!

I’ll definitely come back if I need help, trust me. You’ve been a great help. If you ever have any other ideas, let me know!

@Acie, I will. <3

So I have a small group of protagonists that are on the way to being fully developed, and I have a few elements of the universe I'm going for. I'm having trouble working out any universe or plot ideas. Sorry its a bit of a general question, I can narrow it down if you like.

So I have a small group of protagonists that are on the way to being fully developed, and I have a few elements of the universe I'm going for. I'm having trouble working out any universe or plot ideas. Sorry its a bit of a general question, I can narrow it down if you like.

@amber_is_a_starchild, a little bit of a narrowing would really help. From what I have right now, I want to advise you to tie the elements into the protagonists in a subtle way, to where it's not too obvious but it's made clear. I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for, though.

Hi, Sorrel!
When you first made this thread a couple days ago, I wanted to ask you a question but while I was reading it, I totally forgot what it was! 😂😂😂 Since then I have come up with another that I'd like to ask you about, if you wouldn't mind answering? :)

So, I'm currently plotting out a story that I am yet to begin writing, but the core of the story is this. The protagonist's father is a prolific Lord of a certain area of a small country. He is an inventor, which is part of the reason he was granted the title, but when a plague sweeps the coastal city, he is among those who perish. Leaving his only living son, Oliver Pierson with an entire domain to protect and pretty much rule over. On his father's deathbed, he reveals to his son the final project he ever worked on… But here is the problem! I've only come up with one idea for this mysterious creation (An inter-dimensional portal), and I don't know if I should use that or something else! All I know is that it has to be something big, because Oliver after finding out about it is stalked and nearly murdered on multiple occasions by a strange figure that I won't spoil here…

Any and all help or advice you can give me would be much, much appreciated! I've been stuck in such a rut when it comes to writing this story, and I think that maybe, just maybe if I can get this one thing figured out the rest will come easier.

Most of the plot's conflicts are ideals/reality (A recurring theme, represented by paintings) truth/trust and the terrifying beauty of life's unpredictability (The ocean represents this theme, since the story does take place in a coastal city and Oliver himself is a sailor.)

I really, really hope this isn't too lengthy of an ask? I have a tendency to run my mouth (or keyboard, in this case 😂😂😂) too much. Thank you in advance for reading, and I hope you have a great day.

—L.C.

Hi, Sorrel!
When you first made this thread a couple days ago, I wanted to ask you a question but while I was reading it, I totally forgot what it was! 😂😂😂 Since then I have come up with another that I'd like to ask you about, if you wouldn't mind answering? :)

So, I'm currently plotting out a story that I am yet to begin writing, but the core of the story is this. The protagonist's father is a prolific Lord of a certain area of a small country. He is an inventor, which is part of the reason he was granted the title, but when a plague sweeps the coastal city, he is among those who perish. Leaving his only living son, Oliver Pierson with an entire domain to protect and pretty much rule over. On his father's deathbed, he reveals to his son the final project he ever worked on… But here is the problem! I've only come up with one idea for this mysterious creation (An inter-dimensional portal), and I don't know if I should use that or something else! All I know is that it has to be something big, because Oliver after finding out about it is stalked and nearly murdered on multiple occasions by a strange figure that I won't spoil here…

Any and all help or advice you can give me would be much, much appreciated! I've been stuck in such a rut when it comes to writing this story, and I think that maybe, just maybe if I can get this one thing figured out the rest will come easier.

Most of the plot's conflicts are ideals/reality (A recurring theme, represented by paintings) truth/trust and the terrifying beauty of life's unpredictability (The ocean represents this theme, since the story does take place in a coastal city and Oliver himself is a sailor.)

I really, really hope this isn't too lengthy of an ask? I have a tendency to run my mouth (or keyboard, in this case 😂😂😂) too much. Thank you in advance for reading, and I hope you have a great day.

—L.C.

@Cassiopeia, I think that the portal is a wonderful idea. From what I can tell, I would say that I have two other possible inventions that would highly suffice for the inventor's deathbed telling of, but yours seems to top them, massively.. I believe that something with massive power, a weapon of such, would be something nice. It could have been in development to hurt the enemies of your country? Another idea, my personal favorite, could be a shield. A shield that acts like a protective bubble and remains powerful, I guess.

If you go with the portal idea, which I still really feel intrigued by / into, you could further develop your story with a quest. Maybe Oliver doesn't quite know what to do when something big happens, such as the stalking / near murder, so maybe he goes to the portal in search of answers? That would be pretty cool. But don't let me influence your ideas, these are merely suggestions, that's all.

I truly hope that this helps you out, and of course it isn't too long. This is a forum for writing help, the longer the better. Best wishes for now, feel free to ask anything else.

Hey, @Sorrel!
So, I'm writing a story where the entire plot is based off of a prophecy. I'm not really the best poet, so I'm not sure how to go about it. I know that I want six characters, but that's all I really have. I mostly just need help with the form, I think I have some ideas for the content.

@Ash-has-a-One-Piece-problem, I'm quite great at prophecy writing, so you've gained a good aspect of skill here! I would write an eight lined prophecy. Line one would be an introduction, the next six could pertain to specific characters, and the last could be a warning styled closer. Be sure to make sure it doesn't sound impossible to achieve, but don't make it easy, either. I hope this helps, feel free to ask further questions.

Thanks so much!

@Ash-has-a-One-Piece-problem, no problem! <3

Hey there Sorrel! I’ve been struggling with a plot for one of my stories for about four years now, and I think I finally made a breakthrough! But, I still have a lot to develop. So, there’s a giant plant in deep space with a scientific research station inside of it, and it’s sponsored by a Shadowy Dude who is actually using the plant/station for their own purposes. Any idea for what the secret purpose could be? Thank you!

@vidari-is-tired-in-advance, I could see it being used to kill the plant and end the station itself, all the while being concealed as "just a mistake"! It would be an intense plot, one that would shock your readers! Another neat reasoning for his usage of the station could be to create another base/plant thing, itself? He would gain a hella fame for it, and maybe money, too? Who knows. I hope this helped, please feel free to ask any further questions!

Sorrel, you god, you, this thread just saved my life.
I need help with my trilogy, mainly in the plot department.
In my third book, the conclusion's not going well for me, the writer. I can't seem to make anything happen. If I give you a little backstory, a list of characters with basic descriptions, and no context, can you think me up some random ideas? I need stuff that has nothing to do with what's happening currently, to get my creativity pistons pistoning again.

Hey there Sorrel! I’ve been struggling with a plot for one of my stories for about four years now, and I think I finally made a breakthrough! But, I still have a lot to develop. So, there’s a giant plant in deep space with a scientific research station inside of it, and it’s sponsored by a Shadowy Dude who is actually using the plant/station for their own purposes. Any idea for what the secret purpose could be? Thank you!

@vidari-is-tired-in-advance, I could see it being used to kill the plant and end the station itself, all the while being concealed as "just a mistake"! It would be an intense plot, one that would shock your readers! Another neat reasoning for his usage of the station could be to create another base/plant thing, itself? He would gain a hella fame for it, and maybe money, too? Who knows. I hope this helped, please feel free to ask any further questions!

Thanks so much! I think I might go with the first idea as the inciting incident for my story, since my protagonist lives on the research station and that would really throw her off balance if the first thing that happened was that her home blew up!

@vidari-is-tired-in-advance, it's nothing at all! Please feel free to keep me updated, I love stories and really interesting characters!

( @Ash-has-a-One-Piece-problem, sounds good! )

I have a couple of things I need help with, one is a plot problem and the other a character problem. Do you think you can help Sorrel?

I have a couple of things I need help with, one is a plot problem and the other a character problem. Do you think you can help Sorrel?

@ZephirFox8812 of course I can, spill the stuff you want help with!

Is there anything that could be improved in this plot? Anything you could add?
2593, people are already on mars, but they left the only thing that allows them to travel to other planets. The orb. This orb is incredibly important.  It provides the energy needed to travel through the forces of space , or further than the mars. The space agency has to travel back to earth, without foreseeing the consequences. There is a deadly virus in the dirt on earth. If anyone touches the soil, they develop blisters gradually moving from their feet to their neck, causing their skin to bubble and boil. The space agency had no idea what the cause of this deadly disease was. (answer - a chemical in the soil that is gradually infected the air and will eventually infect the whole universe, it can only be removed using an incredibly strong vacuum.)

@ISOBEL, maybe try and develop why the space agency needs to go back to earth. Just 'going back to earth' makes no sense, there's always a motive. How long has the orb existed, and who found it are also good questions left unanswered. That's basically what I can think of.