One of the compliments I get most often in my never ending quest for glory and immortality is: “Wow! You are so creative!” Well, my friends, I’m going to let you in on a secret:

I’m not very creative. In fact…you are every bit as creative as me, or more so!

Some of you more egotistically inclined people already agree with me. To the rest of you, I’m going to prove it. In fact, I’m going to put my money where my mouth is:

I’ll make you a deal:

If you follow my instructions, you are going to have created the basis for a brand new story, worth writing, by the time you finish reading this blog post. If I’m right, (and I am) you have to rush over to Amazon.com to buy my book on writing, called How I are Becomed a Very Much Gooder Author ($8.99)

But, if I am wrong, then you can e-mail me and tell me so at sev@sevwinters.com and I will send you a copy of my military thriller “Wolf’s Rise,” Absolutely free. (I’m counting on your honesty)

If you are willing to accept the terms of that deal, keep reading. If you aren’t, why are you reading this?

Let’s get started (Do not skim. Do not look ahead):

Story Formula

Pick a number between 1 and 4

Write your choice down on a piece of paper (Yes, paper! This isn’t enjoyment reading. There’s money on the line! And creativity is work!)

Pick a number between 1 and 12 (Yes, Yes! Write it down!)

Pick a number between 1 and 10

Pick a number between 1 and 10

Pick a number between 1 and 5

Pick a number between 1 and 4

Pick a number between 1 and 12

Pick a number between 1 and 10

Pick a number between 1 and 10

Got all your numbers? Okay Now…. Using the numbers you just wrote down:

Select the coinciding numbered item in the list of genders below to learn the gender of your protagonist. Write it down.

List of Genders

1. Male
2. Female
3. Neutral
4. Secret

Now again, using your list of pre-chosen numbers (stay in order), select, from the list of motivators below what your protagonist most wants in the world. Write it down.

List of motivators

1. To find true love
2. To avenge the death of a loved one
3. To find the holy grail
4. To find a missing child
5. To make a perfect omelette
6. To break free from an abusive relationship
7. To win a date with Eva Longoria
8. To get the job
9. To keep the job
10. To rescue a loved one
11. To rob a bad guy
12. To own a bakery

Now, use your next number to find out what is prohibiting the protagonist from having what they want, from the list of challenges below. (Don’t cheat. You chose your numbers in advance to make it random)

List of Challenges

1)  The protagonist is dead

2)  The protagonist is wheelchair-bound

3)  A debilitating stutter

4)  Agoraphobia

5)  An intrusive family member

6)  Only three weeks to live

7)  Paparazzi

8)  imprisonment

9)  About to lose their home

10)Mentally challenged

Every character has quirks. Apply the number you chose to the list of quirks below, to find out what makes your protagonist quirky.

List of Quirks

1)   nose picker

2)   uncontrolled flatulence

3)   fear of the color purple

4)   in love with cow print

5)   compelled to take pictures

6)   has Tourette Syndrome

7)   right eye twitches when nervous

8)   compulsive gambler

9)   likes to pop other people’s pimples

10)  Loves cats, but deathly afraid of kittens

Now it’s time to find out when the story happened. Same deal from the list below:

Times and places

1. France, 1648
2. Chicago, 1974
3. Haiti, Present Day
4. Key West Florida, 2037
5. The DMZ, 1950

Okay….. now…. Characters need best friends…. even if they don’t end up being in the story, so

Align your next number with the list of genders.

Now the list of motivators

Now the list of challenges

Now the list of quirks

Okay…. You have the basis now, of what your story will be made of. In my case, I ended up just now with the following:

In my case, I have a female protagonist that wants the job, but is having trouble getting it because she only has 3 weeks to live. She’s afraid of the color purple and the story takes place in present day Haiti. Her best friend, also female, wants to own a bakery, but since she’s agoraphobic, she finds that rather difficult. And she’s a major shutterbug.

Your list is, I’m sure, different. But knowing these things about my characters, it’s time to find the story. I rarely find it on the first pass. Now, I have to caution you: Your story may or may not include every element that we just found. The goal of this exercise is not to find that story, but a story. Sometimes it’s lurking somewhere close by. It’s our job to find it.

Michelangelo was credited with claiming that sculpting is easy. “You just chip away everything that isn’t the sculpture.” So it is with story.

Given my parameters I’m working with, the first thing I want to know is more!

So I am going to start asking questions. The first question I want to know is “Why is she dying?” Is she sick? Is she on death row? The answers won’t necessarily lead me to my story, but they might. Also, what sort of job does a person want if she’s only got three weeks to live? I can presume that she knows how much time she has, because it’s presenting a problem for her in getting what she wants. As I start eliminating options, options become more clear. Does my protagonist’s storyline intersect with that of her best friend? If so, to what degree? If not, why not?

By the way, I’m just thinking out loud here. Asking questions is part of the process of creative action.

So far (and this may not be where I end up) I’m thinking that probably the protagonist and her best friend are sisters…. The protagonist, is on death row and a film crew is coming to town to talk to Haiti’s death row inmates. She’s never been able to tell her story, and this is her chance! Moreover, the interview comes with payment for the family of the inmate…enough money for her sister to buy the permits and equipment to start a bakery from home…. (I don’t know… I’m just spit-balling) but now, I’m intrigued. I want to know more. Maybe you do too.

But nevermind that, What about your story? You know… the one on the piece of paper in front of you. We still have work to do.

I have to make this fair…because, after all, we made a deal. So look away from the monitor and think through the questions related to your story formula parameters. Set a timer and come back to this article in 15 minutes. Spend those fifteen minutes asking the questions that you need to ask in order to eliminate what’s not story… and to find what is. Time starts NOW.

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Has it been 15 minutes? If not, why are you reading this? Go find your story! If it has been 15 minutes, read on———->

Okay, my friend, the time of truth has come. It’s just you, me and our mutual trust

Did you find something fun, and worthy of writing? (I suspect you did) If so, pay up!

CLICK HERE to get your copy of How I are Becomed a Very Much Gooder Author

and if not, (and I will be surprised to see my e-mail light up) e-mail me at sev@sevwinters.com and claim your pot. Fair is fair.

See? I told you that you’re just as creative as me! Creativity isn’t a character trait. It’s the result of action. Anyone can be creative. It just takes work. Thanks for reading!

Sev

P.S. Please, if you had fun with this exercise, Tweet it around!!