I have a short story Idea, but would love some help!

[Victoria]

I have to write a short story, and need a bit of advice. I figured I might as well ask the people I thought were best for the job... Nerdfighters! 

My short story is about a girl who doesn't know what to write. It starts off in English class, and I want to end it with her sitting down to write the story.  I need a bit ( or.. a lot) of help with the middle.  I quite like this idea, but I am not sure what to do with the middle of this story. How does she decide what to write? Does she have some major life adventure? Does she meet an influential person? As you can see, I have no real ideas. I am stuck! 

If you could help me, I would appreciate it so much. I will take just about any suggestion, and I am looking forward to reading them! 

Thank you once again everybody. I owe you one.

[Neha Rahman]

Well, you already have some ideas with really good potential. But only you can elaborate upon them. Adventure? Sounds awesome, where can she go? Where does she live? Maybe she can also meet this influential person on her adventure? 

See, what always helps me with my plot is first establishing my character. So, create your character first and then worry about the plot later. Of course, your plot does not have to be character-driven. But then you'd have to have a more fantasy-or-dystopian-original-world-kind of plot. 

I hope this helps. I look forward to maybe reading this story when you write it? It really is a good basic idea, it's just some details you need to fill in. :)

[Victoria]

I suppose the elaboration is the part I am having the most trouble with. I have no idea where she could go... or what kind of person she could even meet. I am not the best with Creative Writing, and am having trouble coming up with ideas. 

I made the character opposite of myself. She is very into the math and science aspects of school, and is not very good at English. She prefers the logical side of things. I suppose I could use that in the "revelation" part of this story. 

I suppose I am just not very good at organizing my ideas...whenever I do come up with some. 

[Neha Rahman]

Okay, so if she's all mathy and logical minded, why is she writing a story?

*nudge nudge* plooooot poiiiint!!

So here are some ideas, what if she's somehow (or will later be) romantically involved with the influential person she meets? Romance is very easy to write, I gather, from the abundance of love songs everywhere and how every other poem is always about love. 

Also, adventures are really easy to write if you pick places you know. Or even places you wish you knew. If she's the opposite of you, make her live in a country you do not. 

You've already thought of the main goal she seeks to accomplish. 

And if you need help organizing ideas, one word.

Lists.

Make dozens and dozens of lists. Trust me, I had organization issues too, but lists really help. 

[Victoria]

She is writing the short story for English class. I mention most of this in the introduction I wrote.  She is sitting in her desk with a blank piece of paper in front of her, and her teacher is explaining how this story is a big part of the grade or whatever. I think that if one was to actually read what I wrote, it would make more sense then what I explained. I apparently left some stuff out :)  

Thank you for the advice! 

[Nate Pez]

For organization of ideas, I like to do "mind-mapping", where you just make a big bubble-chart, with a main idea in the middle, maybe the title of your story, and then ideas branching out from there.  This allows you to see how ideas connect with each other in ways that might not be obvious at first, and allows you to come up with new connections as you go along, that will help you flesh out your ideas of what you actually do want to write about, because you can tell what connections are organically there between different ideas.  It's worked wonders for me.

If my explanation doesn't make sense, I can upload an example of mine.  :)

Best wishes!

[Natalia Sierra C.]

I think this is a good idea so far. :)

How about this: Maybe there is a new student in her English class, and he/she is seated next to her. This new student is maybe enlightening to some extent, or simply an inspiring character. Or maybe he/she is just going to flat-out give her some ideas. Something about them, though, should get your character to sit down and write about something.

 Hope this helps! :)

[Nate Pez]

How about, on the bus ride home, she finds a notebook wedged between the seat and the side of the bus, that has some writing in it?

Maybe she writes in it, maybe just whining about how she has no inspiration to write, and then wedges it back in there, and then the next day, there's more mysterious writing in it, elaborating on what she wrote?

[Michael (Steven Hyde)]

Use yourself as an idea for the story.... say the girl is stuck for what to write, but she finds an online community that gives her inspiration :)

[Ali M]

Well, in your situation, I would have her meet someone influential to her. You said she likes to see the more logical side of things, so maybe this person helps her see the imaginative side. Along with this comes a life changing epiphany of some sort. Or maybe just inspiration. Or something like that.

But it's your story! You can do whatever you want with it.

[Alexander]

Victoria...don't you get it?...don't you realize this itself may contribute to your story?  --You yourself reached out to fellow writers, a like-minded community, we'll say, & were given a diverse array of suggestions & advice; these opinions can be melded together creatively, possibly comically as the story...Cripes! I just noticed Michael (Steven Hyde) has provided the identical idea, nevermind. 

[Zombie Timelord]

Write about your own experiences with writing this story. :P