Ready, Set, Novel!: The Power of What-If

It’s officially #NaNoPrep season! Inspired by the creativity and motivational prompts in Ready, Set, Novel!—written by our own Chris Baty, Lindsay Grant, and Tavia Stewart-Streit—we’re bringing some of our favorite writing exercises to you. Today, we’re asking “What if?”:

Asking what-if is a time-honored writer’s tradition. Famous what-ifs include: “What if a girl volunteered to enter an arena where kids fought to the death?” and “What if the story of Cain and Abel took place in Central California?” 

Having a list of emergency what-ifs can be a lifesaver in November. Here are a few different what-if lists you might construct:

The What-If-You-Were-Here List

Make a list of places that interest you. It can be places you want to travel to, the dark side of the moon, fictional locales… anything. 

When you’re stuck, sometimes tossing a new setting into the mix (or even just the discussion of a new setting—Santa Fe and Jack Kelly, anyone?) can shake loose some inspiration.
The What-If-I-Gave-Myself-No-Limits List 

Make a writer’s bucket list. Include everything you’ve always thought it would be fun, and/or challenging to write that you just haven’t gotten around to yet.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a Jane Bond. Maybe there’s a fanfic rarepair you’ve yet to write. Maybe you want to fictionalize that family history that’s been begging for some literary attention.
The What-If-There-Were-a-Catastrophe List 

List your ten favorite novels, movies, or TV episodes. Then for each story on that list, write down the absolute worst thing that happened in it. Betrayal? An unexpected and unrequited love? An inconsequential, meaningless death?

When you’re bored, subject your characters to this catastrophe. Adapt it, of course, if need be to your novel, but remember this is to help you jog your brain loose! Sometimes it doesn’t have to make complete sense.

Top photo right by Flickr user Mountainbread.