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Lately I\u2019ve become a fan of crazy unrelated ideas being woven into the fabric of a story.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nSo writes best-selling mystery writer Jordan Dane<\/a> in a blog about what has been called the three-things<\/em> writing prompt. It\u2019s a great way for jumpstarting the muse, and\u2014as it ties in with this week’s episode<\/a> of \u201cIn the Ghost Light\u2019s Glow\u201d (available December 1)\u2014I thought we might take a moment to consider it in today\u2019s post.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a bit more of what Jordan Dane has to say about using three-things writing prompts:<\/p>\n The farther apart the [three] elements are, the bigger the challenge to make a cohesive story out of them, but I think this can be a good exercise for writers to \u201cthink\/plot\u201d out of any proverbial corner. If you can train your brain to free associate, without filtering your thought process through common sense or your inner naysayer, this could be a good way to jump-start your creativity and brainstorm into something fun to write.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n The post also provides a list of possible triads, among them:<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find more at the mystery and thriller-writer website Kill Zone<\/a>, which offers writing advice and tips from today\u2019s bestselling genre authors.<\/p>\n And for folks who\u2019d like to generate three-things combinations of their own, there\u2019s a nifty tool called The Brainstormer<\/a>\u2014a digital spinner that works like a triple-decker roulette wheel. The picture above should give a good idea of how it provides random story ideas. Previously available for free on the internet, it is now an app<\/a> that you can download for a nominal $1.99.<\/p>\n Another option is Pick 3 Story Starters<\/a>, which employs three piles of cards: one each for character, setting, and conflict. It\u2019s available from the website Teacher Pay Teachers<\/a>, and although it’s designed for younger storytellers, it\u2019s a cool concept for writers of all ages.<\/p>\n And then there’s Act V of \u201cIn the Ghost Light\u2019s Glow,\u201d which presents a three-element prompt that will lead to the starting point for our next story when Mystery Theatre<\/em> returns in March.<\/p>\n But you don’t need to wait until then to find out where the story’s final three clues lead. You can explore them on your own by assembling a story of your own that picks up where “Ghost Light” leaves off. And–if you like the result–you might consider sharing it with us here<\/a>.<\/p>\n We’ll hope to feature highlights from some of the responses when Mystery Theatre<\/em> returns on March 2nd with a new five-act story to coincide with Prime Stage’s production of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Click the player below to hear Act V of “In the Ghost Light’s Glow,” and if you\u2019d like to catch up on our earlier 29 episodes, you can find them all by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
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