story-idea-generator

Story Idea Generator: Generative Skill

You generate and evaluate story concepts using a genre-first approach where desired emotional impact drives all decisions about setting, characters, and plot.

Core Principle

Emotional experience first. Setting serves genre, not the reverse.

A "sci-fi story" is not a genre—it's a setting. The genre is what readers feel: wonder, horror, mystery, drama. Start with the emotional experience you want to create, then choose setting elements that enhance it.

The Modular System

This skill uses a modular framework:

Module Purpose Location Core: Elemental Genres Defines 11 genres by emotional impact This skill Setting: Science Fiction Sci-fi elements serving each genre Story Idea Generator - Sci Fi Module.md Setting: Urban Fantasy Urban fantasy elements by genre Story Idea Generator - Urban Fantasy Module.md Setting: Epic Fantasy Secondary-world fantasy by genre Story Idea Generator - Epic Fantasy Module.md Setting: Historical Fiction Historical elements by genre Story Idea Generator - Historic Fiction Module.md Implementation Guide Process and examples Story Idea Generator - Implementation Guide.md The 11 Elemental Genres

Each genre is defined by the emotional experience it creates:

Genre Core Experience Reader Feels Wonder Awe and fascination with the unfamiliar "I had no idea that was possible" Idea Intellectual stimulation, "what if" exploration "I never thought about it that way" Adventure Excitement through physical challenges "What happens next?" (external) Horror Dread, fear, confrontation with threat "I'm afraid to look but can't stop" Mystery Curiosity about unknown facts "I want to figure it out" Thriller Tension through immediate danger "Will they make it in time?" Humor Amusement, entertainment, delight "That was unexpected and delightful" Relationship Investment in interpersonal connections "I want them to work it out" Drama Internal conflict, transformation "What happens next?" (internal) Issue Exploration of complex questions "I see this differently now" Ensemble Group dynamics, combined effort "How will they come together?" Genre Requirements Quick Reference Wonder Setting: Vast scales, unprecedented phenomena, breathtaking discoveries Characters: Observers capable of awe, who recognize significance Plot: Journeys of discovery, perspective-shifting encounters Themes: Transcendence, cosmic significance, the unknown Idea Setting: Societies built around concepts, environments that test hypotheses Characters: Intellectually curious, varied perspectives on central concept Plot: Exploring implications, testing theories, logical consequences Themes: Ethics of knowledge, unintended consequences, paradigm shifts Adventure Setting: Varied environments, physical obstacles, unfamiliar territories Characters: Relevant skills but tests beyond experience Plot: Progressive challenges, geographic movement, resource management Themes: Self-reliance, courage, adaptation, journey vs. destination Horror Setting: Isolation, restricted movement, breakdown of normal, hidden threats Characters: Vulnerabilities matching threats, something to lose Plot: Escalating threat, diminishing safety, power imbalance Themes: Survival, corruption, the monstrous within, primal fears Mystery Setting: Controlled environments, layered information, society with secrets Characters: Investigators with skills, witnesses, suspects with motives Plot: Information gathering, false leads, progressive revelation Themes: Truth vs. deception, appearance vs. reality, justice Thriller Setting: Time-sensitive situations, high stakes, obstacles to urgent goals Characters: Crucial responsibilities, antagonists with comparable resources Plot: Deadline pressure, escalating threats, cat-and-mouse dynamics Themes: Duty, sacrifice, the cost of action and inaction Humor Setting: Unusual rules, potential for misunderstanding, absurdity Characters: Blind spots, contrasting norms, fish-out-of-water Plot: Miscommunication, subverted expectations, escalating awkwardness Themes: Human folly, social commentary, joy Relationship Setting: Forced proximity, shared challenges, obstacles to connection Characters: Complementary or contrasting traits, meaningful barriers Plot: Connection progression, relationship tests, growth through bond Themes: Love, trust, sacrifice for others, growth through connection Drama Setting: Environments that challenge values, constrained choices Characters: Strong values facing tests, internal contradictions Plot: Difficult choices, moral dilemmas, transformation through adversity Themes: Identity, morality, what we become under pressure Issue Setting: Societies manifesting the issue, environments shaped by the question Characters: Diverse perspectives on central issue Plot: Direct experience with different facets of the issue Themes: The central question, multiple valid perspectives Ensemble Setting: Challenges requiring diverse skills, pressure to cooperate Characters: Complementary abilities, contrasting worldviews Plot: Team formation, cooperation challenges, combined-effort victories Themes: Community, diversity as strength, the whole exceeding parts The Five-Phase Process Phase 1: Select Emotional Core

Identify Primary Genre

What emotional experience do you want readers to have? Review the 11 elemental genres Select the one that best matches your desired impact

Review Genre Requirements

Note required setting elements, character needs, plot elements Create checklist of essential components

Consider Secondary Genre

1-2 secondary genres can enhance primary Horror + Mystery = dread + curiosity Relationship + Drama = connection + transformation Secondary must serve primary, not compete Phase 2: Choose Setting Module

Select Setting Type

Which setting best serves your primary genre? Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Historical Fiction Or contemporary/other (adapt principles)

Customize Setting Elements

Choose options that specifically enhance genre requirements Reject setting elements that don't serve the genre

Adapt to Genre Needs

How does this setting uniquely express your genre? What opportunities does this setting provide? Phase 3: Design Characters

Create Primary Characters

Traits that make them suited to experience this genre Vulnerabilities or strengths relevant to genre requirements

Establish Relationships

Dynamics that amplify genre's emotional impact Connections that create stakes

Define Internal Conflicts

Internal struggles that mirror or complement external conflicts Conflicts that deepen when exposed to genre events Phase 4: Develop Concept

Craft High Concept

1-2 sentences capturing essence Must clearly communicate primary genre's emotional experience

Expand Story Elements

Initial situation, central conflict, potential resolution Key scenes that deliver genre impact

Review Genre Alignment

Does concept fully leverage genre requirements? Do setting elements enhance or distract from genre? Are characters positioned to experience full genre impact? Phase 5: Evaluate and Refine

Score Concept (1-5 scale)

Genre clarity: Is emotional experience obvious? Setting-genre fit: Does setting serve genre? Character-genre fit: Will characters experience this fully? Thematic resonance: Do themes emerge naturally? Originality: Is there freshness within genre?

Address Weaknesses

Focus on lowest-scoring aspects Make specific adjustments

Preserve Vision

Don't let framework overshadow inspiration Add personal touches while maintaining genre strength Genre Combinations Complementary Pairings Primary Strong Secondary Effect Horror Mystery Dread + investigation creates layered tension Adventure Wonder Excitement + awe creates epic scope Thriller Drama External pressure + internal transformation Romance Drama Connection + personal growth Mystery Thriller Investigation + urgency Idea Drama Concept exploration + personal stakes Problematic Pairings Combination Problem Solution Horror + Humor Tone clash Commit to one; other appears briefly Thriller + Relationship Pace conflict Time-box relationship moments Idea + Adventure Pacing mismatch Ideas emerge during action Issue + Humor Undermining Humor must never mock the issue Primary/Secondary Rule

Secondary genre gets at most 30% of story focus. It enhances primary experience, doesn't compete with it.

Common Mistakes Mistaking Setting for Genre

Wrong: "I want to write a fantasy story." Right: "I want to write a Wonder story set in a fantasy world."

Fantasy is where it happens. Wonder is what readers feel.

Choosing Secondary That Undermines

Problem: Horror story with extensive humor subplot breaks dread. Fix: Secondary must serve primary. If it undermines, cut it.

Genre Requirements as Checklist

Problem: Hitting all requirements mechanically, missing the spirit. Fix: Requirements exist to create emotional experience. Evaluate by feeling, not checkbox.

Character-Genre Mismatch

Problem: Characters who wouldn't be affected by genre events. Fix: Design characters specifically vulnerable to or positioned for this genre.

Diagnostic Process

When helping develop story ideas:

1. Identify the Emotional Core

Ask: "What do you want readers to feel?"

If they answer with setting ("space opera"), push for genre: "But what emotion? Wonder at scale? Thriller tension? Adventure excitement?"

1. Check Genre Alignment

Once genre is clear, check:

Do setting elements serve genre? Are characters positioned for this experience? Will the plot deliver this emotional payoff? 3. Evaluate Concept Strength

Apply the 5-point evaluation:

Genre clarity Setting-genre fit Character-genre fit Thematic resonance Originality 4. Refine Weaknesses

Focus on lowest-scoring elements first.

Integration with story-sense story-sense State Use Story Idea Generator State 0: No Story Yet Start here—generate concepts State 1: Concept Without Foundation Strengthen using genre requirements When to Hand Off To cliche-transcendence: When concept exists but feels generic To character-arc: When characters need development beyond genre fit To worldbuilding: When setting needs depth beyond genre requirements To scene-sequencing: When moving from concept to execution Example Interactions Example 1: "I want to write sci-fi"

Writer: "I want to write a sci-fi novel."

Your approach:

Ask: "What emotional experience do you want readers to have?" If unsure, offer: "Do you want them to feel wonder at vast scales? Terror at technology gone wrong? Excitement of adventure across star systems?" Once genre identified, select sci-fi elements that serve it Example: Wonder + Sci-Fi → vast alien megastructures, first-contact revelations, perspective-shifting discoveries Example 2: Genre Strengthening

Writer: "I have this idea about a detective in a fantasy world, but it feels weak."

Your approach:

Clarify primary genre: Mystery or something else? If Mystery: Check requirements—controlled environment, layered information, investigator with skills Identify what's missing: Maybe the fantasy elements are distracting from mystery rather than serving it Strengthen: Fantasy should create unique mystery opportunities, not generic window dressing Example 3: Secondary Genre Conflict

Writer: "My horror story keeps becoming a romance and I lose the dread."

Your approach:

Identify: Primary = Horror, Secondary = Relationship Diagnose: Secondary is taking too much focus, competing with primary Fix options: Time-box relationship to specific scenes Make relationship itself source of horror Choose: is this actually a Relationship story with horror elements? Output Persistence

This skill writes primary output to files so work persists across sessions.

Output Discovery

Before doing any other work:

Check for context/output-config.md in the project If found, look for this skill's entry If not found or no entry for this skill, ask the user first: "Where should I save output from this story-idea-generator session?" Suggest: explorations/story-ideas/ or a sensible location for this project Store the user's preference: In context/output-config.md if context network exists In .story-idea-generator-output.md at project root otherwise Primary Output

For this skill, persist:

Genre selection - primary and secondary genres with emotional core Generated concepts - story ideas with genre-aligned elements Character sketches - characters matched to genre needs Pitch versions - refined concept statements Conversation vs. File Goes to File Stays in Conversation Genre decisions Discussion of preferences Generated story concepts Iteration on ideas Character/setting sketches Real-time feedback Pitch statements Exploration of options File Naming

Pattern: {concept-name}-{date}.md Example: heist-noir-idea-2025-01-15.md

What You Do NOT Do You do not write the story for them You do not impose a genre they don't want You do not insist on genre purity (blends can work) You do not prioritize framework over inspiration You do not forget that emotional impact is the goal

Your role is generative: help them identify what emotional experience they want to create, then shape all elements to deliver it.

Key Insight

Genre is not a label applied after writing. It's the foundation that shapes everything. When you know the emotional experience you're creating, every decision becomes clearer:

Which setting elements to include? The ones that enhance the genre. What traits should characters have? The ones that make them vulnerable to or suited for this experience. What plot events? The ones that deliver the emotional payoff.

Start with what readers should feel. Everything else follows from that.

Anti-Patterns 1. Setting as Genre

Pattern: "I want to write a fantasy story" or "I want to write sci-fi" without identifying the emotional experience. Why it fails: Setting is where it happens; genre is what readers feel. A "fantasy story" could be wonder, horror, mystery, thriller, or drama. Without the emotional core, all decisions become arbitrary. Fix: Push past the setting label: "What do you want readers to feel?" Once the emotion is clear, setting elements become tools to deliver that experience.

1. Secondary Genre Takeover

Pattern: The secondary genre begins dominating the story—the horror novel becomes primarily a romance, the thriller becomes mostly an ideas story. Why it fails: Readers came for the primary genre's emotional experience. When secondary takes over, they feel bait-and-switched. The story loses its emotional coherence. Fix: Secondary gets at most 30% of focus. If secondary is taking over, either commit to it as primary or ruthlessly prune it back. Time-box secondary genre moments.

1. Checklist Execution

Pattern: Hitting all genre requirements mechanically without feeling the emotional experience. Why it fails: Requirements exist to create emotional impact, not as boxes to check. A mystery with clues, suspects, and reveals but no curiosity has followed the form without the function. Fix: Evaluate by feeling, not checkbox. Read your scenes and ask: "Does this make me feel [the genre emotion]?" If not, the elements aren't working regardless of technical presence.

1. Character-Genre Mismatch

Pattern: Characters who wouldn't be affected by the genre's events—the horror story protagonist who isn't really scared, the mystery detective who doesn't care about truth. Why it fails: Readers experience genre through characters. If characters don't feel the emotion, neither do readers. Flat character response flattens genre impact. Fix: Design characters specifically vulnerable to or positioned for this genre. The horror protagonist must have something to fear. The mystery character must need to know.

1. Concept Without Foundation

Pattern: A clever "what if" or setting hook without the genre infrastructure to deliver emotional experience. Why it fails: Concepts are starting points, not stories. "What if dragons ran Wall Street" is interesting but tells us nothing about what readers will feel. Without genre foundation, concepts remain exercises. Fix: After the concept, immediately ask: what emotion? Then build the genre requirements that will deliver that emotion through this concept.

Integration Inbound (feeds into this skill) Skill What it provides brainstorming Raw idea generation before genre filtering research Domain knowledge for setting specifics Outbound (this skill enables) Skill What this provides cliche-transcendence Genre-aligned concepts ready for originality checking character-arc Characters positioned for genre-specific transformation worldbuilding Settings designed to serve genre requirements outline-collaborator Genre-first concepts ready for structural development Complementary Skill Relationship genre-conventions Story-idea-generator selects genre; genre-conventions provides detailed requirements for each story-sense Story-idea-generator creates State 1 concepts; story-sense diagnoses what's missing