Saturday 4 June 2016

10-Second Story Ideas - Adapt Familiar Titles and Phrases

This ten-second story inspiration comes from clever book titles that promptly created me ask "What is this story about?" These titles are exciting, but additional importantly, they are compelling. How can YOU create similarly quirky titles (and stories) that set the imagination soaring and will drive persons in droves to your book? To answer that, let's appear at the sources of these titles ahead of they have been so cleverly transformed.

TITLES

"The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" is a nod to "The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse," which heralds the finish of the planet as we know it.

"The Major More than Uncomplicated: A Nursery Crime" is a play on words for "The Huge Straightforward" (nickname of New Orleans, Louisiana), and which was a dark film about a police investigation into mob violence and doable police corruption.

"Thursday Subsequent: 1st Amongst Sequels (Book five)" alludes to the British novel and miniseries "Very first Amongst Equals," about 4 politicians vying to grow to be Prime Minister of the UK.

"Duncan Delaney and the Cadillac of Doom" calls to thoughts "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," the quintessential adventure tale with an impending cloud of doom hanging More than it.

Evaluation

Notice how, in the Initial title, juxtaposing chocolate bunnies and the apocalypse tends to make an instant statement. It sets the thoughts to questioning 'What might chocolate bunnies most likely have to do with the finish of the globe?'

In the second title, we can deduce from the reality it is a "nursery crime" getting to do with eggs, that this is almost certainly about Humpty Dumpty, but that he did not just fall. He's been murdered.

With the third title, even if you are not familiar with this delightful novel series, you can inform it has some thing to do with books and politicians vying for position.

Lastly, the last title just jumped out at me with its "Cadillac of Doom" phrasing. I have no concept what this story is about, but I can brainstorm about vehicles of doom for really awhile. Asking what-if is the easiest way to do that.

* What if the Cadillac is a portal into yet another dimension? Sci-Fi / Fantasy

* What if the trunk of an abandoned Cadillac is the entrance to a secret underground facility? Mystery / Thriller

* What if the Cadillac is haunted by the ghost of a girl who spent ten minutes of adolescent passion in its backseat, by no means to hear from the boy once more so she kills herself? Horror

* What if the Cadillac curses its owner with as well significantly excellent luck? Paranormal (with a moral a la "Twilight Zone")

ten-SECOND STORY Thought TIP

Locate a phrase or title that is practically universally recognized. Right here are 2 examples: "A Tale of 2 Cities" and "It was a dark and stormy evening." We start by substituting words to alter the which means.

1. Use a play on words - "A Tail of 2 Cities" --- "It Was a Dark and Stormy Knight."

two. Substitute similar-sounding words - "A Tale of 2 Cityslickers" --- "It Was a Dark and Smarmy Sight."

three. Juxtapose vivid contrasts - "A Tale of 2 and a Half Cities" --- "It Was a Dark and Stormy and Cushy Small Playpen"

You could come up with your own devices to transform a familiar title or phrase into anything clever. What ever approach you employ, the point is to have enjoyable with it. And, of course, to inspire your writing!

NOTE: Longer phrases can be less difficult to transform than, say, 2-word titles like "Excellent Expectations." But the beauty is -- there are NO guidelines.

The possibilities from this one strategy are just about endless. So set your imagination free of charge!

In addition to this approach for locating story suggestions, I invite you to take a look at The Story Tips Virtuoso weblog, exactly where you will Uncover many approaches to inspire your writing in this and other articles: Lessons Hurricane Ike Taught Me

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