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Writer's pictureAndrew Movitz

Three Words / Horror Story Ideas

When it comes to writing stories, I like a challenge. I'd even go so far as to say I write in the same way I cook: limitations breed innovation. I've come up with an interesting method for generating concepts for stories and it only uses three words! This method works best if you can find someone to give you three words, but not just any will do.


First, you need a location. I don't mean like Memphis, TN. I mean a more generic location like school or river. This is the word that sets the foundation for the story. As with each word, the more abstract, the better. In fact this word doesn't have to even be what you might consider a location. It could be something like murder or fire.


Next, you need an action. This is the driving force of the story. This word should be something like romance or warning. Some kind of action one might perform.


Finally, you need a result. This word should be something that describes an outcome and, optimally, has no relation to the location/action words. It can be something like explosion or travel.


Now, you simply put the three words together and try to connect them. Let's say, for example, you have Restroom / Shatter / Freedom. This story takes place in a restroom, involves something breaking, and ends with some kind of freedom. Now, from here you can twist the meaning of any of the words if you want. Say maybe you want shatter to mean something cannot break or freedom means a desire to be free while still imprisoned. The words are your guide, not your cage.


For this example I would have put together a grungy restroom in a truck stop, a man shattering a mirror, and something other than himself gaining freedom. The end result is my story, Rima.


Using this method, I have written many stories and it's quite the enjoyable challenge to take three ostensibly unrelated puzzle pieces and fit them together. I suggest playing around with this framework and see what you can get out of it!

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