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Topic: Short Story Plot Ideas

Vital Stats

The Brain has inferred the following facts from reading text collected on the topic:

Favorite activity(s):

Writing stories, Going to the movies, Coloring in

Intelligence:

Stupid

Bad point(s):

Greedy

Favorite movie(s):

Good Will Hunting, Psycho, Harry Potter

Dream job(s):

Comic book artist

Favorite author(s):

Graham Greene, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl

Favorite era(s):

1990s

Favorite TV show(s):

The Craft, Anime stuff

Favorite quote(s):

"There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher." - Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)

Expert Talk

The Brain has selected interesting relevant sentences from the web. It automatically assigned them to some of our fictitious experts based on their personalities.

Steve Riggins,
Software Deveoper

Design stories are relatively short stories explaining a design or idea people have found useful in solving a problem.
Short stories are difficult to write as you have so much to say in a limited time look at previous examples in the magazine or website for ideas of what standard we expect 7.
Short Story Analysis Outline Form: Use the site's handy table to fill in your ideas for your own personal short story.

Athena Mondale,
Spiritual Consultant

The two short stories on witches, which Bardhan translated from Bengali, provide some insight into Indian ideas of witches and witchcraft.

Todd Porter,
Gym Attendent

While the serial idea is still alive, I would like to focus on another issue related to the short stories in this forum.

Bori Gonbutoren,
Reindeer Herder

This short story by Antoinette Moses explores some ideas about contemporary Britain, and in particular cultural stereotypes and misconceptions.

Adam Findley,
Professional Motivator

Short stories with wisdom, compassion wonder; constructive ideas for workplace changes; ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Anita Ganesh,
Poet

These ideas appear as themes in poetry, short stories, plays, and nonfiction from 1865 to the present.
The notebook contained a collection of short stories, book ideas, poems and journals that I wrote before my marriage, and shortly thereafter.
Rowling had been writing short stories and working on two unpublished novels for adults, but now the idea of Harry Potter took over her writing time.

User Talk

Comments from our users:

From: Ashley 2004-11-04 20:50:46	what is a good idea to write a short story on for my english class ?
From: green 2005-03-14 04:11:52	how can i get the plot of my story? "Because Life Is Too Short: call-girl (aka Sonia) are meeting for a McQuickie, th barb_wyr9: , the equivalent of the Big Mac taken at midday. SONIA: (in a voice Mina Sorvino used in Woody Allen's movie Mighty Aphrodite). And where, Señor Presidente, is your small room? HENERAL: Please, just call me General. (Points to the C.R. and makes as if to accompany her) SONIA: (raises a hand as if to say "don't bother") I'll be back in a sec! Get yourself ready. We don't have much time. (enters the C. R., toting what looks like a lady's make-up kit) (EL HENERAL primps up: takes out a comb and fixes his Elvis Presley hair, loosens his tie, applies cologne, freshens his breath barb_wyr9: with a mouthwash spray, opens the front door, and talks to someone on the other side of the door) HENERAL: No calls---nothing and nobody---until one thirty. (HENERAL locks the door from inside and draws the curtains on all the windows. He is about to remove his coat when SONIA returns from the C.R., brandishing a high-caliber automatic handgun which he aims pointblank at a spot between the General's eyes.) SONIA: (in her Mina Sorvino voice) Surprise! Surprise! HENERAL: (really surprised) Hey! Careful there! barb_wyr9: (SONIA takes off her wig and we see YOMA in a drag make-up that matches his/her mini-skirt and high heels. He keeps the handgun aimed at the HENERAL all the time) HENERAL: (regaining his composure) That . . . surely was . . . the quickest sex change ever! YOMA: (speaking in his male voice for the first time) You know who I am? Do I have to shed this off? HENERAL: Yoma! What's this trick? YOMA: This is no trick or treat. HENERAL: (points to handgun) Not one unauthorized firearm has been found inside El Palacio since I took office. How did that pass my security? YOMA: Remember when Al Pacino goes to the C.R. in Godfather and comes out with gun blazing? HENERAL: I'm not too fond of movies. YOMA: Then see Godfather. It's a classic: a lesson on how to run an empire. HENERAL: May I? (in barb_wyr9: HENERAL: May I? (indicates phone) barb_wyr9: YOMA: Sure, you're allowed one call. (coolly takes one of the chairs in front of the table, all the time keeping the gun pointed steadily at the HENERAL) HENERAL: (He lifts the phone, rattles it once or twice, and finds it dead. He feels under his desk to press a secret button but it gives no sound) You've cut all lines---who did this for you---planted the gun---and--- barb_wyr9: YOMA: That's my secret M.O. Now, as per your instructions, no one will bother us for the next half-hour while we make love---here on this table? Do you have a daybed tucked in here somewhere? HENERAL: Cut that out! YOMA: I'd keep my voice low if I were you barb_wyr9: HENERAL: What do you want? YOMA: I'll be brief. Call off your plans to stay in office. The constitution limits you to eight years---not one day more. HENERAL: But if the people want me--- YOMA: Yes, the people want you . . . out! HENERAL: But the polls say--- YOMA: All your inventions. HENERAL: And the media---there's not a freer press in the whole world! barb_wyr9: YOMA: Nor one more corrupt. You've bought all of them. As you are trying to do with the Camara so they'll amend the constitution to extend your term. HENERAL: But what if that's what the people want? And the Camara and the Cabinet? barb_wyr9: YOMA: All your creations, and all to perpetuate your stay in El Palacio! HENERAL: I may have got some people to want me to stay, but can you blame me if everyone wants me to continue in power? YOMA: Everyone? HENERAL: Well, almost everyone. The millions who signed the petitions! barb_wyr9: YOMA: All stamped "bought, sold, and paid for." If one had ten billion pesetas---which your Banco Central can print in one weekend like bottle labels---it can buy you anything, or anyone. For small change, enough to buy them a Big Mac at McDo; the poor millions will sell their votes and elect the monkey in the Palacio petting zoo as President, or vote you to succeed yourself! HENERAL: Yoma! I bailed you out when you were down and out. Your movies were not making money. You could not even run the film academy well. I offered you to be my defense secretary, or any Cabinet post. Instead, you ran to the hills, plotted against my government, and staged one unsuccessful coup after another! YOMA: Señor, we don't have much time left. Your security will be knocking in a few minutes. barb_wyr9: HENERAL: Yoma, give this up before the joke turns serious. (he tries to rise) YOMA: Uh-uh. Stay seated! Don't make me nervous. HENERAL: Look, Yoma, I know how to forgive---how to be grateful. You may have anything you want---anyone---any woman---or any man if that's your--- YOMA: The Proverbial Offer You Can't Refuse! HENERAL: I can buy you an island, well-furnished---or even a small country! barb_wyr9: YOMA: Here's my counter-offer you can't refuse. I want you to abdicate. Give everything up, except what you and your family will need in the next 50 years---you may live in comfort in any country of your choice. It's all here, just sign on the dotted line. HENERAL: And if I don't? YOMA: Again, let me quote from the Godfather movie. "Your signature on the dotted line, or your brains." HENERAL: Didn't you even think, that thing can make quite a noise---you won't get out of the palace grounds alive! YOMA: You wanna bet? (with his free hand takes out a silencer from his make-up kit and screws it on without relaxing his aim) barb_wyr9: HENERAL: (panicking only now) You know me well, Yoma. I'm the immovable wall to your unstoppable bullet. But we can still strike a deal. Drop that gun and you can walk out of here, past my security and through the palace gates and out of the city. Or I can make you a "designer amnesty" right now, in my own handwriting. Run under my party and I'll make you President, after my term. I'll annoint you. As sure as the sun rises, you get elected, you get to run this country anyway you want to. YOMA: After you've sucked it dry? Leaving the country--- HENERAL: Why think of the country at this moment? Think of yourself, your family. Be what you can be! YOMA: All I wanted was to be mayor of Quezon City. I know my limitations, mentally, intellectually. barb_wyr9: HENERAL: Why let the people in on it? Why be . . . limited? YOMA: Stop brainwashing me. I want your signature here---now! HENERAL: OK, so I sign. What then? YOMA: That piece of paper, with your signature, is your passport! HENERAL: And if I don't? When my secretary and my security enter, you're kaput. You're a dead man walking. That movie I saw, did you . . . (They hear footsteps and voices outside the door. Both panic. Knocks on the door) HENERAL: Yoma! Time's running out! If I don't open the door a minute after 1:30, you're DEAD! barb_wyr9: YOMA: SIGN! SIGN NOW! HENERAL: OVER MY DEAD BODY! YOMA: AS YOU WISH, SIR! (The clock on the wall rings 1:30. At close range YOMA shoots the HENERAL once between his eyes. The HENERAL's blood splatters on the paper on the table) YOMA/SONIA: (in a Mina Sorvina voice, looking at the audience) Who was the playwright who once wrote, "If you bring in a gun on stage, it must be fired"? (YOMA/SONIA quickly puts on his/her wig, and fixing his/her mini-skirt and makeup walks up to the door as knocks and the first voices [the secretary's and the security's] are heard) YOMA/SONIA: I'm coming out! (opens the door just a foot wide) Just on time! (points to the HENERAL slumped on the table but looking as if he were only taking a nap) The President's resting as you can see. barb_wyr9: (The secretary offers a thick envelope to YOMA/SONIA. A security man tries to enter but is stopped by the hesitant secretary blocking the way and by YOMA/SONIA holding the door back) YOMA/SONIA: If I were you, I wouldn't wake him up yet. Let him finish his siesta. When he wakes up, he will be a young buck again. Here's my card, in case he calls for me, and I know he will. I made sure he will. (The secretary again offers the envelope to him) YOMA/SONIA: (refuses the envelope) Oh, no, no, Ma'am, no. This is different, not what you think! If you'll let me pass, I have to meet someone else in the palace and I'll need someone to lead me. (SHE/HE holds the arm of a security man) Will you do me the favor? (Then, clinging to the security man's arm, SHE/HE walks through the door, past the secret"
From: green 2005-03-14 04:15:41	how can i get the plot of my story? "Because Life Is Too Short: call-girl (aka Sonia) are meeting for a McQuickie, th barb_wyr9: , the equivalent of the Big Mac taken at midday. SONIA: (in a voice Mina Sorvino used in Woody Allen's movie Mighty Aphrodite). And where, Señor Presidente, is your small room? HENERAL: Please, just call me General. (Points to the C.R. and makes as if to accompany her) SONIA: (raises a hand as if to say "don't bother") I'll be back in a sec! Get yourself ready. We don't have much time. (enters the C. R., toting what looks like a lady's make-up kit) (EL HENERAL primps up: takes out a comb and fixes his Elvis Presley hair, loosens his tie, applies cologne, freshens his breath barb_wyr9: with a mouthwash spray, opens the front door, and talks to someone on the other side of the door) HENERAL: No calls---nothing and nobody---until one thirty. (HENERAL locks the door from inside and draws the curtains on all the windows. He is about to remove his coat when SONIA returns from the C.R., brandishing a high-caliber automatic handgun which he aims pointblank at a spot between the General's eyes.) SONIA: (in her Mina Sorvino voice) Surprise! Surprise! HENERAL: (really surprised) Hey! Careful there! barb_wyr9: (SONIA takes off her wig and we see YOMA in a drag make-up that matches his/her mini-skirt and high heels. He keeps the handgun aimed at the HENERAL all the time) HENERAL: (regaining his composure) That . . . surely was . . . the quickest sex change ever! YOMA: (speaking in his male voice for the first time) You know who I am? Do I have to shed this off? HENERAL: Yoma! What's this trick? YOMA: This is no trick or treat. HENERAL: (points to handgun) Not one unauthorized firearm has been found inside El Palacio since I took office. How did that pass my security? YOMA: Remember when Al Pacino goes to the C.R. in Godfather and comes out with gun blazing? HENERAL: I'm not too fond of movies. YOMA: Then see Godfather. It's a classic: a lesson on how to run an empire. HENERAL: May I? (in barb_wyr9: HENERAL: May I? (indicates phone) barb_wyr9: YOMA: Sure, you're allowed one call. (coolly takes one of the chairs in front of the table, all the time keeping the gun pointed steadily at the HENERAL) HENERAL: (He lifts the phone, rattles it once or twice, and finds it dead. He feels under his desk to press a secret button but it gives no sound) You've cut all lines---who did this for you---planted the gun---and--- barb_wyr9: YOMA: That's my secret M.O. Now, as per your instructions, no one will bother us for the next half-hour while we make love---here on this table? Do you have a daybed tucked in here somewhere? HENERAL: Cut that out! YOMA: I'd keep my voice low if I were you barb_wyr9: HENERAL: What do you want? YOMA: I'll be brief. Call off your plans to stay in office. The constitution limits you to eight years---not one day more. HENERAL: But if the people want me--- YOMA: Yes, the people want you . . . out! HENERAL: But the polls say--- YOMA: All your inventions. HENERAL: And the media---there's not a freer press in the whole world! barb_wyr9: YOMA: Nor one more corrupt. You've bought all of them. As you are trying to do with the Camara so they'll amend the constitution to extend your term. HENERAL: But what if that's what the people want? And the Camara and the Cabinet? barb_wyr9: YOMA: All your creations, and all to perpetuate your stay in El Palacio! HENERAL: I may have got some people to want me to stay, but can you blame me if everyone wants me to continue in power? YOMA: Everyone? HENERAL: Well, almost everyone. The millions who signed the petitions! barb_wyr9: YOMA: All stamped "bought, sold, and paid for." If one had ten billion pesetas---which your Banco Central can print in one weekend like bottle labels---it can buy you anything, or anyone. For small change, enough to buy them a Big Mac at McDo; the poor millions will sell their votes and elect the monkey in the Palacio petting zoo as President, or vote you to succeed yourself! HENERAL: Yoma! I bailed you out when you were down and out. Your movies were not making money. You could not even run the film academy well. I offered you to be my defense secretary, or any Cabinet post. Instead, you ran to the hills, plotted against my government, and staged one unsuccessful coup after another! YOMA: Señor, we don't have much time left. Your security will be knocking in a few minutes. barb_wyr9: HENERAL: Yoma, give this up before the joke turns serious. (he tries to rise) YOMA: Uh-uh. Stay seated! Don't make me nervous. HENERAL: Look, Yoma, I know how to forgive---how to be grateful. You may have anything you want---anyone---any woman---or any man if that's your--- YOMA: The Proverbial Offer You Can't Refuse! HENERAL: I can buy you an island, well-furnished---or even a small country! barb_wyr9: YOMA: Here's my counter-offer you can't refuse. I want you to abdicate. Give everything up, except what you and your family will need in the next 50 years---you may live in comfort in any country of your choice. It's all here, just sign on the dotted line. HENERAL: And if I don't? YOMA: Again, let me quote from the Godfather movie. "Your signature on the dotted line, or your brains." HENERAL: Didn't you even think, that thing can make quite a noise---you won't get out of the palace grounds alive! YOMA: You wanna bet? (with his free hand takes out a silencer from his make-up kit and screws it on without relaxing his aim) barb_wyr9: HENERAL: (panicking only now) You know me well, Yoma. I'm the immovable wall to your unstoppable bullet. But we can still strike a deal. Drop that gun and you can walk out of here, past my security and through the palace gates and out of the city. Or I can make you a "designer amnesty" right now, in my own handwriting. Run under my party and I'll make you President, after my term. I'll annoint you. As sure as the sun rises, you get elected, you get to run this country anyway you want to. YOMA: After you've sucked it dry? Leaving the country--- HENERAL: Why think of the country at this moment? Think of yourself, your family. Be what you can be! YOMA: All I wanted was to be mayor of Quezon City. I know my limitations, mentally, intellectually. barb_wyr9: HENERAL: Why let the people in on it? Why be . . . limited? YOMA: Stop brainwashing me. I want your signature here---now! HENERAL: OK, so I sign. What then? YOMA: That piece of paper, with your signature, is your passport! HENERAL: And if I don't? When my secretary and my security enter, you're kaput. You're a dead man walking. That movie I saw, did you . . . (They hear footsteps and voices outside the door. Both panic. Knocks on the door) HENERAL: Yoma! Time's running out! If I don't open the door a minute after 1:30, you're DEAD! barb_wyr9: YOMA: SIGN! SIGN NOW! HENERAL: OVER MY DEAD BODY! YOMA: AS YOU WISH, SIR! (The clock on the wall rings 1:30. At close range YOMA shoots the HENERAL once between his eyes. The HENERAL's blood splatters on the paper on the table) YOMA/SONIA: (in a Mina Sorvina voice, looking at the audience) Who was the playwright who once wrote, "If you bring in a gun on stage, it must be fired"? (YOMA/SONIA quickly puts on his/her wig, and fixing his/her mini-skirt and makeup walks up to the door as knocks and the first voices [the secretary's and the security's] are heard) YOMA/SONIA: I'm coming out! (opens the door just a foot wide) Just on time! (points to the HENERAL slumped on the table but looking as if he were only taking a nap) The President's resting as you can see. barb_wyr9: (The secretary offers a thick envelope to YOMA/SONIA. A security man tries to enter but is stopped by the hesitant secretary blocking the way and by YOMA/SONIA holding the door back) YOMA/SONIA: If I were you, I wouldn't wake him up yet. Let him finish his siesta. When he wakes up, he will be a young buck again. Here's my card, in case he calls for me, and I know he will. I made sure he will. (The secretary again offers the envelope to him) YOMA/SONIA: (refuses the envelope) Oh, no, no, Ma'am, no. This is different, not what you think! If you'll let me pass, I have to meet someone else in the palace and I'll need someone to lead me. (SHE/HE holds the arm of a security man) Will you do me the favor? (Then, clinging to the security man's arm, SHE/HE walks through the door, past the secret" please, i really nid your help...
From: Regina 2009-06-28 01:22:00	what ideas do you have to write a story called Don't Get tricked?
From: Kacey 2009-11-04 15:44:50	English homework: To write an original short story on a topic your choice buy my teacher was very damnding for it not to be a romance novel. I need a plot that can be solved and written within 2-3 pages. - pleassseee help!!

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