Trigger Ideas
Trigger ideas are a fundamental resource for any writer because they help you take the first step in building a story. They are like the spark that ignites the engine of creativity and prevents you from getting stuck on the dreaded blank page.
They are widely used in “writing challenges” such as writing workshops, contests and writing exercises.
Examples of trigger ideas:
🔹 Create a short story that begins or ends with someone standing in the rain.
🔹Write a dramatic story where the weather reflects a character's emotions.
🔹 Set your story during or just before a storm.
🔹 Start or end your story with a breeze brushing someone's skin.
📌 What are trigger ideas for?
They are used to:
✅ Break the initial block and activate the imagination.
✅ Define a clear starting point for the story.
✅ Explore different possibilities before choosing the best one.
✅ Generate an initial plot line on which to build the rest of the story.
✍ ️ How are they used?
1️ Choose a trigger idea : It can be a phrase, a question, a mental image or an intriguing premise.
- Example: “An astronaut wakes up alone on a ship he never boarded.”
2️ Develop a possible continuation : Ask yourself what could happen next.
- How did he get there? Is he really alone? Who sent him?
3️ Expand the idea : Connect the triggering idea with the key elements of a story:
- Character: Who is the protagonist?
- Conflict: What problem must you face?
- Objective: What do you want to achieve?
4️ Write without judging : Don't look for perfection right away, just let the idea take shape in words.
🚀 How do they help build the initial story line?
Trigger ideas work like a compass:
🔹 They give a clear direction to the writer.
🔹 They help make decisions about the tone and genre of the story.
🔹 They allow you to structure the first events that will drive the story forward.
📢 Example in action:
🔹 Trigger idea: “Every night, an unknown person leaves a letter on Sophie’s doorstep.”
🔹 Possible questions: Who sends the letters? Why to her? What do they contain?
🔹 First lines of the story:
“The third letter arrived wrapped in red paper. Sophie shivered before
opening it. This time, there were no words, just a drawing: a key.”
Trigger ideas are powerful tools. Use them to bring your stories to life and let the creativity flow! 🎨 ✍ ️ 😊
Do you have questions? Do you want to expand on these topics?
If you are interested in expanding on these topics, I recommend that you read my articles for writers. There you will find many interesting topics that will help you become a 21st century writer. Here are my notes for writers (use the google translate button - for no-spanish writers-) 🌌✍️
Do you have any questions? You can ask me -in english too- through a google form. Use the "Tu Consulta" button, please:
Good writing! 🚀✍️
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