{"id":236,"date":"2013-10-08T00:57:54","date_gmt":"2013-10-08T08:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.writinghope.com\/?p=236"},"modified":"2018-09-26T08:50:25","modified_gmt":"2018-09-26T16:50:25","slug":"pick-a-problem-nano-prep-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/untanglingtales.com\/WritingHope\/pick-a-problem-nano-prep-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Pick a Problem (NaNo Prep 8)"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you can\u2019t solve it, it\u2019s not a problem\u2013it\u2019s reality. — Barbara Colorose<\/p>\n

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for power equal to your tasks. — Phillips Brooks<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You really need to pick a problem. It’s not optional.<\/p>\n

Better yet, have a series of problems in mind. Because, really, problems are what make a story.<\/p>\n

Here are a few problem types to brainstorm:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
  2. The first big surprise<\/strong>. aka first plot point<\/a>. SOMETHING comes along and slaps the MC upside the head so s\/he has to make a big choice<\/strong>. This is what spins him or her off into the story idea: that exciting idea that made you want to write the book.<\/li>\n
  3. The problem of what the MC is going to do with problem #1.<\/strong> Star Wars squished problem #1 by charbaking Luke’s reason to stay home (the people who raised him), but there are other options as well.\u00a0 Combining goals is one of them. Another tension-building option is to have old goals and new goals in conflict, and having to choose between two goods.<\/li>\n
  4. The Problem that will have to be solved before the end.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    One of my favorite “formulas” for a story (a way of defining is this a story?<\/em>) is to look for the PPP&O.\u00a0 Does it have:<\/p>\n