Story help?

[rainbowshy]

If this isn't allowed, I'll be happy to delete it.

Anyway, I'm writing a story that is inspired by the movie Frozen. It's basically about this autistic eighteen year old girl who is somewhat isolated from exploring the world around her. The only time she ever gets out is when her mom can't leave her at home. I'm in need of some ideas for this story right now. I don't want her to have any special powers or anything like that. D: 

I just need to have someone who can help me work through this plot and come up with some good ideas. I'm stumped and trying so hard to make this story work, but I don't know what else I can do.

Comments

[agilebrit]

What does she want? What is preventing her from getting it? How will she overcome those obstacles?

Those are the three basic questions that drive Plot. Once you figure the answers to them out, you've got a framework to hang your story on. Then you can get into the motivations of the people around her--for example, is her mother afraid she'll get hurt on the sharp edges of the world, or embarrassed that her daughter isn't neurotypical, and that's why she doesn't let her go out? Some amalgam of both? Something else altogether?

When I'm stuck, I look at my characters and ask questions. Frequently I do this with a pen and paper, the old-fashioned way. I also break the plot down into the seven-point structure to keep myself on track with what needs to happen when.

I hope that helped somewhat. :)

[rainbowshy]

Well, I use my iPad for a lot of my writing stuff. I haven't even thought of asking myself those questions, and now that I have... I realize I don't have a good general idea.

[agilebrit]

Story is a Person in a Place with a Problem. How they solve that problem is Plot. Plot is not just a sequence of events, it has to lead to some goal in the end. Once you figure out what your main character wants, that's half the battle. The length of the thing is also a factor; if it's a short story, her goal can be a lot simpler than if you're trying for novel-length.

I use my netbook for most of my writing, but sometimes using pen and paper unlocks a different part of the brain.

[siofrabunnies]

Could you be more specific as to what you need ideas for? Plot points, character traits, setting? So far we have a character with three traits (age, gender, ability [including no powers]) and a parent with an unfinished trait.

Setting basics: Is this within the Frozen setting, or one like it? Are you borrowing the plot for new characters/setting? What year is it? Where in the world is it? Rural, city, etc? Rich, poor, one of the middle class? I'm sure there are other things, but you'll end up finding them.

How severe is the girl's autism? Is this a story about autism itself? About a parent's struggles with raising a child with such a difficult disorder? Is it just there to be an internal obstacle for the main character? How does she feel about her autism? What do you know (or how much time are you willing to spend learning) about autism? Autism covers only a few bits about a person's personality and life. Fill in the rest of her self.

Start off easy: What does her bedroom look like? (I like the bedroom and the kitchen because it lets you build both character and setting!) Does she have nice, soft pillows with smooth sheets and a heavy blanket, or does it all scratchy and cold? Is it ordered, clean, cluttered, outright dirty? Is her rug bearskin or polyester? What does her window look out to? City, forest, farms, the cute stableboy next door? Is she watching pigeons or squirrels? Does she like looking out the window? If not, why not? Does the world suck, or does she just not like what the view provides her? Maybe she wants to improve what she sees (clean up the streets, replant the forest, stop people from fighting, whatever fits)!

You said she only gets out when her mom can't leave her at home. Why does she leave the girl at home: overprotectiveness, neglect, fear, outright abuse? If so, what caused that reaction? Did something happen, is she afraid of what might happen? Where is the girl left? Does the mom trust her at home, or does she call over the elderly neighbor lady just in case? Where's the dad? Did he die in the war, scarper off with another woman, not know about the child?

If you can't tell, I get a lot of my story written by finding answers to these kinds of questions. I often find the plot via character-/world-building and vice versa. Also, I've not actually seen the movie, so I would be the opposite of helpful in that regard.

[rainbowshy]

Eh... I'll just answer what I can? lol Basically, her autism is more of a mild to moderate form. It depends on her mood. For example, if she's having a bad day, her autism can become more severe for her (IE, causing intense meltdowns and sensory issues). Also, it doesn't actually take place in the frozen setting. I was more inspired by Elsa's character than anything. I haven't actually decided much in the setting, but I really like the idea of it being in New York City, especially right across from Central Park as well.

As for her father, I have actually been thinking of this. I think that after Fiona (her name) was diagnosed with autism, he took off and left her and her mother. I'll take some of those questions into consideration though. It's always harder for me to develop a very good plot at times.

[siofrabunnies]

I'm just trying to give you ideas to get your brain moving. I know how frustrating it can be to have an idea and nothing to do with it! Sorry, I do tend to get carried away. I didn't notice how wall-of-text-y it was until I posted the comment.

Like above, Person, Place, Problem. They all inform each other to an extent, so start with what you have and build on it. You have your person, you have a great idea for a place, now give her a problem to solve. New York's a wonderful setting for problems, since it's so huge and varied.

Maybe she's new in town (or the area) and is trying to make friends while dealing with her mom, deal with a job, whatever. Maybe she's trying to solve an external problem, like activism or the mean, nasty landlord. Maybe Fiona's trying to prove herself in a career, and has to fight against stigma from being a young, autistic girl.

Maybe Fiona is trying to find the father she never knew? You could get a lot of juice out of that. Like, her mother goes to work or whatever, and Fiona just runs away to find him (which could also involve her mom's POV searching for Fiona!). NYC is a great setting for runaways, too.

Maybe you could try a prompt generator to help you fill in the blank spots?

[rainbowshy]

I can't see her having much interest in her father. I feel as though she'd be smart enough to figure out that he doesn't want to see her or want her. I was hoping it could be more of a slice of life story where she tries to prove to people she's not a monster like they make her out to be or whatever.

[serria]

Hmm, so it's not a fanfic at all, you were inspired by the theme of isolated young woman (who I assume struggles with the thing that makes her different) and decided to branch out from there? I think that's an awesome theme. Of course, it's pretty vague, so the question is, do you want to make a Frozen story by changing names and details (instead of ice power, your female character is autistic, instead of in a magical kingdom, it's in New York, etc) or are you open?

I'd first think of what really draws you to this story. What is it that you see in your head when you imagine this story? Is it key scenes? For example, your protagonist figuratively belting "Let It Go" as she tries to come to terms with herself, after perhaps humiliating herself/scaring away her peers? Or is it a story about autism itself, in which you want to explore things that people with autism face? Maybe are you imagining relationships, like with her and a sister? Or do you want an epic plot?

I mean, having a protagonist with autism can be anything from the very foundation of the story itself, or it can be a single detail about her that makes her a more unique and fleshed out character, but doesn't necessarily affect the story at all. Still, though, if she is a character like Elsa, which I am imagining, I'd guess she was a very anxious girl whose parents were scared for her - and maybe even scared of her - and do everything they can to hide her autism by teaching her to hide it. What happens next? Does something happen where she is forced to leave her home and interact with the outside world on her own, without a parent's help? That could certainly be a "journey."

[rainbowshy]

Well, I was thinking that maybe the movie Frozen could play a good part. Like, maybe she sees Elsa as a rolemodel of sorts or something. Like, when she's upset or having one of her meltdowns or whatever, her mom could sing Let it Go to her to calm her down.

Also, I thought that the mother could be afraid that no one would understand her daughter. THat's why she isolates her a lot. I thought exactly what you were thinking that her mother is scared for her or whatever. She's not afraid of her daughter because it's more like Elsa and her sister. The mom knows that her daughter isn't violent as people think she is. Most people with autism are perceived as being violent or whatever. A lot of them wouldn't even hurt a fly and that's the kind of person I want the character to be.

I did think of that last part. I can't really think of anything in mind for that unless things got out of hand with her autism and she was taken away from her mother. Maybe she runs away from the place the put her in to find her mother... idk. D: