How to brainstorm a Fic. · 4:33pm Jun 27th, 2012
So I was talking with TheEpicPegasister http://www.fimfiction.net/user/TheEpicPegasister to help suggest some fic ideas. She wanted a idea for a war fic and I did not have any.
So in a attempt to help people come up with ideas in general I created this guide to help create ideas for new readers. The example I will use will be the steps I take to come up with at least 1 idea for TheEpicPegasister.
Here is what she said she was interested in "I was thinking some kind of war. But no clopfics. Like a war against "EoH vs. Discord and Nightmare Moon" or something like that. Just some fun stories."
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When deciding what type of fic to write you need to start with a idea, either a inspiration or a concept of what you want to write.
In this case War.
Now what flavor of story:
She described the story as "Just some fun stories." This makes me think that perhaps she wants a story that includes several mini stories. This could also being reference to me giving her a few ideas. So the suggestion will be either a story focused on one character doing one thing, or a couple of characters doing things at the same time creating several stories within a story.
The other aspect to this question is the categories. While war stories do not have to be dark they usually are. EQD classifies war as grimdark by default. I will suggest adventure to fulfill the aspect of fun stories. Alt universe is pretty much a given for most war stories. Possibly sad tragic or comedy but I feel these rely more on the authors style so I will leave these out of my suggestion.
Who will the characters focus on:
I normally do not put this question this early in the process. However since the MLP community can be picky about oc's vs cannon characters. We also already have a answer so lets get this out of the way. The elements of harmony. Now this can be interpreted 2 ways. Either the main 6 in the show. Or possibly the previous main 6.
Since the success of stories in the mlp community often comes down to unique of stand out ideas or styles, the idea that Nightmare Moon was banished by the 6 previous holders of the elements of harmony is something that I have not scene so this is one possible unique suggestion. This diverges from the show but the show leaves enough room for interpretation. The book in episode 1 could be written by a pony who understood "wielded the elements of harmony as Celestia controlling them. However we could interpret this line as Celestia directed the elements of harmony in a war against Nightmare Moon. Like saying Harry Trueman dropped the atomic bombs when he directed others to drop the bombs.
Lets pause for a minute and collect our thoughts.
A grim war adventure story focusing on one event or a collection of related events. Centered around the previous elements of harmony or the main 6
From here I have enough to let my mind wander and come up with a good description that TheEpicPegasister can hopefully work with. This is brainstorming and putting ideas on paper. I will skip to the coherent summary otherwise it wont make since.
When Nightmare Moon initially starting grabbing power she build a small castle on top of a mountain. The castle would eventually be turned into Canterlot and the palace. The prologue occurs when Celestia tries to convince her sister to lower the moon. Nightmare moon stalls while her forces attack the old sister's castle in what is now the everfree forest. Nightmare moon wards her castle to prevent messages from being sent to Celestia. When they return to a place where Celestia can see the attack in progress, Nightmare moon confronts her with her plans (classic or semi classic villain monologue). She explains that she will let Celestia leave so that she may see Nightmare Moon rise and dominate the pony species and claim victory over Celestia. Celestia is unable to deal with Nightmare Moon there and then due to A) internal conflict and surprise/lack of preparedness against a prepared foe, B) Nightmare moon has her guards ready to assist while Celestia is alone.
The rest of the story takes place a few days later. The elements of harmony are somewhat scattered, for various reasons included attempted capture, in the undeveloped white tail woods which are a lot larger than the show as they have not been harvested for timber. The elements personalities are similar but not quite the same as the elements in the show but the show provides a good start.
The overwhelming surprise attack used hydra's and manticors and other hideous beasts released upon the castle and the royal guard by night mare moon's minions. These creatures were not well controlled and were released to cause massive fear and destruction. A fair portion of the story takes place in the woods where the elements fight for survival and try to meet up. Along the way they encounter monsters they both have seen like timber wolves, and things they have not like the manticors. They also encounter griffin mercenaries who are searching for the elements. Since both hope and loss are important to connecting with characters in war stories the characters will meet up with guards, servants, and family. Some will die, or already be in bad shape. Others will get separated. While some of the elements may have started together they will eventually meet up along with some others like the guards. Celestia will also meet up with them.
The climax comes when Celestia, the elements, remaining guards, and peasantry who is unhappy with what Nightmare Moon has done set up a plan similar to the Star Wars episode 1 final battles. A small force assaults the castle while Celestia, the elements, and some guards sneak in to ambush Nightmare Moon.
The elements at this point do not know they are the elements. Nightmare Moon could have had the elements taken from the castle as a trophy but she might not expect normal ponies to be able to use them, thinking Alicorns are only capable because they are superior.
At some point Celestia becomes separated. Perhaps she was with the assaulting forces in the first place. The elements find the elements and decide to ware them as symbols of all they hope to lose, and of what Nightmare Moon opposes. When they make it around to the battle Celestia is surprised to see them waring the elements. Nightmare moon mocks them. They activate there elements out of love for what they have to loose. when they see Celestia and the assault having trouble and on the verge of destruction.
The elements activate but because they have been tainted by war instead of freeing Nightmare moon, they banish her as punishment, expressing the true feelings of the 6 elements.
The last part of suggesting stories for others is to point out for them to do what they want, what fits their style, and what they are inspired to write. There is so much good MLP fan fiction because it is inspiring, that is the goal of a suggestion.
I also offer my services to TheEpicPegasister since the first fic is the hardest to write and I would like to see what she does with the story if she uses it,
Hopefully not showing the list and rapid fire brainstorming did not detract for explaining how to expand the content of a basic story idea. Know that in addition to listing ideas in a sequence that would make since to follow in the story I also went back to; Delete/change ideas, add story arcs, and flush out ideas to make them match with sequences later in the story.
This took me a hour and a half until now but i was also watching tv a little a the time. I would estimate about 1 hour total for this blog post.
Thanks for the ideas, my friend.