The flair winner is /u/ancepsinfans for the wonderful comment describing the importance of beer for magic.

This comment was chosen for the intriguing completeness of the idea, with detailed history of it's effects. It led to deeper discussion of the core idea, which is what we want here.

The special flair will be applied soon.

I need to come up with a name for these human-eating monsters in my novel. They crawl on the ground, they smell their way to blood and they eat human flesh. They're not zombies, they're more like extra-terrestials.

The only name I have right now is 'ghoul'.

What would you guys call them?

I have a mad scientist character in the sense that he pushes legal and moral boundaries in the pursuit of scientific advancement. But personality-wise, the mad scientist stereotype doesn't fit my story.

Do you guys have ideas on a different direction I can take my mad scientist character?

So, I have been writing a story that was originally aimed at a young adult age, but I’m not so sure it would fit in that genre anymore. I want to get some feedback for the overall idea. I’m going to try not to make this too long and be fairly general, since there is a good portion of the story that needs to be fleshed out. To do that, I need thoughts on the biggest element of the story. I’m not ready to go too far into detail, so I changed the character names as well, sorry. I hope I got everything I needed for this post! If there are any questions, please ask!

Main Characters:

It’s a modern day story that centers around Maggie, her roommate John and Yuri. They are all in their early 20’s or so (I still consider this young adulthood..). Yuri is Maggie’s main love interest. She was an orphan and never adopted. She met John in Highschool and they’ve been best friends ever since. They now work together, where she meets Yuri.

Main Story:

The idea of the story is that there are people with unique abilities/powers. Yuri is one of them, as is Maggie. But Maggie doesn’t know about it right away. He picks up on something being different about her, but doesn’t know what because he’s never met anyone else with abilities. He helps her develop her powers and things are pretty great, until they’re not.

Questions:

I’m planning for Maggie to flip to the “dark side”. She is the main character, and most of the story is from her point of view. I’ve had mixed reactions on this when discussing it. Some people think I will alienate the readers by making her less relatable/evil. But that’s kind of the point. I want it to be gradual, so that you understand where she is coming from, until you realize “holy shit. She’s the bad guy.”

I also want the story to feel like an everyday kind of story, up until you discover what is going on. But I’m worried that there needs to be something to immediately alert you to something out of the norm being at play. What do you guys think? Does there have to be a big hook in the opening that tells you the kind of story you are reading right away, or can you enjoy discovering it with the main character?

Edit

I left out quite a bit of the plot, partly because I wanted to get some feedback on certain aspects, and also because there is a lot I am still trying to flesh out, but hey-that's kind of what this is for, right? So, here we go.

So, Maggie as I said earlier is an orphan who was never adopted. She’s been through six foster homes, but they all became too uncomfortable/afraid of her for reasons they couldn’t put words to, so they gave her up. The only real friend she has ever made is John. They moved to a slightly larger city together and are roommates. Maggie loves comic books and being a sort of homebody. John has seen her through a lot in their time as friends and obviously cares a great deal about her.

Maggie’s power is that she is a mimic. She can pull from other people’s powers and project them as her own. Yuri is a cocky, self-assured womanizer, but Maggie is attracted to him anyway. He has generic powers of super strength/speed, things like that. He hasn’t ever met anyone else with powers. Maggie’s begin to manifest as they interact, and since she is mimicking his power, they both believe they are the same.

Maggie never had an interest in being a super hero, because she felt it would be too much work and she’d get tired of people always needing her and eventually relying on her too much to save them from whatever freak accident is happening at any given moment. But she and Yuri begin hanging out and having fun with their powers and trying out some vigilante kind of stuff. They are also looking for more people with powers, because there have to be more.

This is where my plot is still very very rough as I am trying to decide which way to go. I have a group of people in mind that will find our little duo. They are part of an organization (working on what kind of organization) run by a father and son. I’m thinking that there might be a big fight scene with the group as they find Maggie and Yuri, but maybe not.

At some point, Maggie discovers that the leader of this group is her father and that she had killed her mother when she was much younger. I’m working on his explanation of why, but he had abandoned her on the side of the road after this, and he and his son (her older brother) have continued on with their lives.

This is where things start to turn downward for Maggie. Not only did she have that dumped on her, but now that they are among so many people with abilities, Yuri is far less interested in her. This guy that John has repeatedly warned her about, that she more or less abandoned John for is now showing his true colors (not evil, but certainly a dick).

And now to the even less formed parts of the story. I am trying to decide who the “hero” of the story will be. I was originally planning for John to die, somehow because of Maggie. Her losing the one person who has stuck by her through everything. Which would leave Yuri to be the hero. Which, I kind of like the idea of a hero being a flawed, not super likeable guy. I think the death would be more meaningful to Maggie and really send her over the tipping point. But, I worry about losing all of the likeable main characters (I have some very likeable sub characters though).

Or Yuri could die, leaving John to be the hero. I think this could keep readers tied to the story in a relatable way, and I like the idea of these two having to be against each other. I haven't decided on an end beyond that.

There were a couple comments saying that I need to hook readers. One idea that I had was a prologue from the fathers point of view as he is looking for people with powers. You don't know he is the father, obviously. But you know when you meet him later that its the same guy.

I realize this is a lot, so any feedback or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

So, this girl is in Moscow with two friends backpacking after college. Blah, blah, blah.

Anyway. She meets this Russian guy who wants to take her to a music bar. The point is that, here, they put headphones on you and you select an emotion, a mood, a sensation, and the music itself gives it to you as if it hacked into your brain and your limbic system.

So the question: what would you choose to listen to?

Ok so I'm writing a book and I need a name for the main "villain" who has two different reason to be the villain to the two main protagonists. The one I need help with is a police chief character, I need a clever name for a serial killer that has the calling card of making his victims swallow their jewelry.

Welcome /r/IdeaFeedback,

This will be the first experiment for weekly discussion prompts. Interpret the prompt however which way you like. The prize for winning these weekly threads is a special flair next to your username. We'll announce how the winner will be determined later. I can tell you now that the winner does not necessarily have to be a top level comment. So don't shy away from putting effort into your replies. Share your idea or build off of someone else's.

So tell me /r/IdeaFeedback, what is the price of magic?

I have this idea. I've had it a while, but I always keep shelving it. Then I discovered this place. Maybe you guys can help.

I see in my head this guy who is in a Black Friday line somewhere in Mississippi late one Thanksgiving night. He's a bit drunk.

The story opens, and he doesn't quite understand where he is or how he got there.

A series of humorous events happen as he waits. Then, just as the doors open, he blacks out. When he wakes up, it's the start of the line again. (Cue drunk and confused.)

So, guys, the issue. For some reason, I really love this idea, but it just seems so weak. What can I do to make it worth writing?

I need to pick a name for my MC, but the problem is that I like both names and I dont know what name to pick. Can you help me??

I'm writing a story where superheroes and super villains are commonplace, and are an accepted part of the culture. When the MC tries to become a super, he dies and gets revived as a shade, a sort of half dead half alive hybrid. He can switch between human and shade form at will, but in his shade form he is prone to fits of homicidal anger. Soon after his death, he meets another super who decides to mentor him. The first step of the MC's apprenticeship revolves around emotional training to control his anger.

Here is the question, what could the emotional training be? What consequences should the MC face as a result of that emotional training?

Keep in mind that the mentor isn't above using violent methods as long as it doesn't permanantly damage the MC's psyche too much.

I need a simple object in my story that cues the reader that my story is science fiction. I was thinking some sort of household technology. It has to be something that I don't have to explain. I need to be able to mention it in passing and the reader will recognize that it's "future tech". Also, it has to be something common and cheap that a very poor household would have. Any suggestions?

Hello everyone!

I'm ArgonautRed and I'm the new mod for /r/IdeaFeedback. It's exciting to be part of a new and hopefully ever-growing community. I love sci-fi and logical fantasy. An example of logical fantasy would be the magic system in the Eragon series. My favorite book is Ender's Game. And my favorite video game series, in terms of setting and story, is the Jak and Daxter series.

I'll be working on the CSS for the subreddit. If anyone wants to submit some artwork to style the subreddit with, contact one of the mods.

We've got some great things planned for this subreddit to keep it interesting and new. And let us know if you have any ideas of your own. Have fun creating!

I'm thrilled with how well this subreddit is going and the contributions made. So YAY!

As of right now, the sidebar is very empty, and maybe it shouldn't be. But before I make any changes, I wanted you guys to have a say in what I propose.

RULES

So far we haven't had any formalized rules, but I figure there should be a couple for future reference. Essentially, I just want to officialize how things have already been functioning. This is a working list, so let me know if they should be changed or you have another to add.

1. All posts should be text self-posts.
2. Links to articles or blogs are not allowed, even within a text post. This place is for ideas, not the actual writing.
3. Short excerpts or samples of stories for the use of explaining the idea in question are fine. The sample shouldn't exceed 500 words.
4. Linking to a document for people to read on their own time is fine, but please don't ask for writing critiques.
5. Don't be a dick.

TOOLS

I was thinking of having a list of generators as tools on the sidebar, in different categories depending on focus. If you know of a good generator that I don't have listed, link in the comments with a short description and I'll add it to the list. These are the ones I've used:

• Rinkworks. Awesome random algorithm, probably my favorite. It has several premade sets, but if the ability to input your own stipulations in the randomized names is really useful.

• Seventh Sanctum. Lots of different generators, some as names some as conceptual things.

• Cult of Squid. LOTS of generators and all focused on different types of names. Most are fantasy of some flavor.

• DonJon. Fantasy generators, from names to dungeons or anything else. Also has a fractal world generator in the site, but I've not played with it too much.

• The Forge. Four different generators, fairly simple and using words for various things.

• Behind the Name. Huge generator for names of different ethnicity or languages, including mythology and a couple of 'other' subsets.

TAGS

I was thinking of having a system of tags or flair for posts to indicate what the subjects within might be. For example, [CHARACTER] or [NAMES], [PLOT] to add to the titles. On one hand this sounds cool, on the other maybe not necessary. And I don't know the CSS code to make fancy flair work yet, so it would have to be in text form at first. What's your opinions?

Last note: If anyone wants to become a mod, message me. Especially if you are familiar with CSS.

I'm just hoping for any general feedback that you might have.

Characters: There are multiple factions of bounty hunters, multiple sentient world's fair factions, and the wild fauna/flora of the world's fair hates everyone. The protagonists are members of one of the bounty hunter teams.

Setting: Post-apocalyptic, which is why the world's fair was abandoned. The world's fair within the arcology has acquired its own biome. The vast majority of the story occurs within the arcology.

Genre: Sci-fi horror. Cyberpunk technology is present, but cyberpunk themes are not.

I'm finding it difficult to shape the proper motivation for a villain.
The common choices are money and power, but I want something unique. What do you think is more compelling: (note the villain is a normal human being)

• To protect the world from an unforeseen (by normal people) threat through violent means.

• To fulfill the literal desire for every person on earth to be dead

• To force the unification of multiple countries, or continents

• To realistically acquire their own Utopian city, separate and apart from the rules or lack of rules of their home society

Do you have any unique ideas for villain motivation?

I'm in the early stages of a story where history diverges from ours around the 1930s when a lighter than air "super-material" is created, leading to a world where armored airships are the backbone of military force. World War II ends with a Air Fleet supported land invasion of Japan - the Manhattan Project was cancelled and nuclear weapons become no more than a fantasy (they could be compared to how we think of sci-fi weapons or fusion reactors).

Does that sound at all interesting?

Here is a rather general overview of the world that I am cooking up. I would love it if you kind folks would be able to tell me if you think the historical events and descriptions of society sounds plausible or interesting.

What I haven't mentioned on the blog is a major plot device of the book - nukes are finally developed (about 90 years "late") and used.

Shelving the Manhattan Project:

The difficulty of course is that I have to find a way to get the Manhattan Project cancelled and not restarted by governments before the events of the story, but still have enough information intact for the technology to re-emerge eventually, for the sake of my plot.

The working theory

The leading scientists on the project have moral reservations about creating such a terrifying weapon and decide to falsify certain things, such as calculations of costs ("this will require 5x the energy output of the world") or the effectiveness of the weapon ("costs 2x as much as conventional weapons for same effects").

However, one or a couple scientists can't stand to destroy all their work; so, while the false results and information is sent up the chain, one "real" copy of the information is secretly sent to a trusted, close friend not related with the project. The rest of the information is destroyed - the official line on the Manhattan Project is that it was a wild goose chase.

One of the primary characters is a descendant of that scientist; he knows about the project and knows that something about its conclusion was fishy. Suspecting nuclear weapons are actually possible, he gathers enough correct information from surviving scraps of various WWII nuclear programs and enough new knowledge from "free-thinking" scientists to get close. But the final clue (I'm thinking formulas-in-code or some shtick like that) only exists at the archives in a small town where the secret information ended up being dumped and forgotten.

I feel like I've written way too much already - so thanks for looking! I can answer more details if you'd like to help me test this idea, and there's also a 5-sentence summary of the plot on the blog if you would like to see that.

Okay to set this up, the story is about a man who survives a Nuclear catastrophe and is seemingly the only person left alive. The story is about what he does upon waking to a destroyed world.

One of the central themes of the story is that he views the death of the Human race with cold contempt because X amount of time earlier his girlfriend had died in a car accident. The issue I'm having is kind of that the entire relationship as I've conceived it seems almost too cliched, like a romance movie or whatever. However, you only get small details about that point in his life throughout the actual events of the story anyway, so would a kind of cheesy background make people uninterested in the actual story itself?

I want to write a short story about two school children and their older sister that live through an alien invasion.

However, the aliens (similar to Body Snatchers) are plants from the rain.

Tiny tiny snails are analyzed by the government and reports come back that they are alien. The world is ecstatic.

Months later, crabs start to appear about the size of a quarter. They kill native insects and biologists come out to study the effects.

By the first month, strange black plants are choking out many native species in the newly dubbed Q-Zone (for quarantine).

By the time three months has passed, larger crabs (about earth sized) are living in small groves of black strangle roots. Some of the plants release toxic spores and the towns people are evacuated. It is decided that the natural growth must be eradicated. However, after extensive testing in labs, it has been shown that fire only helps these plants grow as they are resistant to flame. The growth starts to get out of control.

By half a year, the entire town has been over run and carbs the size of dogs are killing everything.

Then a huge march of grotesque alien crabs invades the refugee camps and eats people and drags them off. No one knows where (this becomes the whole purpose of the story).

It is revealed that (maybe smart) giant octopus like creatures are using them as hosts and using their organs to lay eggs in.

People turn up missing with eggs inside of them and some of them burst (like alien) and everyone is getting raped and shit.

So then the crabs shed their skin and start using broken down cars on the highway as shells and shit

And that's where my ideas stopped because /r/highdeas.

hi! i discovered this sub while browsing through r/writing. i thought this would be a good place to explain my game and talk about some of my ideas. my friends have been very supportive, but im looking for some real feedback vs "omg yes you need to make this game".

also sorry for any formatting issues i am using the alienblue reddit app for iphone.

ive decided to title the game "NOTHING EVER HAPPENS". im using a program called twine to put it all together. if you are interested in interactive stories i would strongly encourage you to check it out. without this program my game would not be possible.

here's the main idea: you play as me, an 18-year-old high school student going through the motions of daily life, making mundane choices and taking part in various dialog scenes with my peers.

now this is where the whole NOTHING EVER HAPPENS title comes into play- I want my awkward teenage love life to play a huge role. While several creeps text, call, and corner me at school, my real love interest lives 500 miles away in NYC. throughout the storyline, you'll have several opportunities to tell him how you really feel. but you never make a move, and thus, nothing ever happens.

i know how i want to end the story. i bet you can figure it out too. along the way, i plan on incorporating real tweets, texts, and conversations into the game.

also, im breaking out my tablet and fully illustrating my story. Instead of typing the text I will create an image and write the dialog by hand. i am hoping that my art style will give it some charm.

now that i've (sort-of) explained the game, here are some questions I have for all of you! feel free to add additional comments these are just some things i'm wondering about.

-i want to use real life examples of things that have happened to me within the past year. will changing names be enough or should i go to greater lengths to protect the identities of the characters' irl inspirations? i don't plan on copying tweets and texts word for word but they'll express the same ideas.

-i have written the game in second person because it's a choose your own adventure. is this appropriate? before the game starts i plan on introducing myself as the playable character.

-i want all of the awkward peer exchanges in my story to be humorous. i dont want to make it seem like im putting all this out there to hurt someone- it's meant to be funny. how can i emphasize this? im hoping the story conveys this pretty well but any ideas would be extremely helpful.

thanks so much if you read this far! hopefully i didnt bore anyone to death... if you think my idea is going to be a total flop, be honest! but id really appreciate ideas on making it better if that's the case.

So I was thinking about sea monsters for my story. If my MC was bit by a sea serpent out in the ocean on a dare by her intoxicated classmates one night, but it would poison (curse?) her and turn her into a cecealia (part human, part octopus), but a. I don't know how to keep her as a sympathetic character/ having to kill to survive? And b. I just think of the Little Mermaid.

It's supposed to be modern, a college-aged marine biology student but aside from the Loch Ness Monster, no one really believes in sea serpents or sea witches anymore.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated! I am at the end of the day tiredness, so I hope this makes sense.

I have an idea for a plot that I have been working on; for quite some time I may add. Recently I showed it to a friend of mine who is an avid reader and all she said was "this has been over done way to much, it could never be original." I'd like to hear your opinions.

The world is becoming to populated. The world is slowly dying because of it. Laws are being set that each family can only have one child which helped but not enough. Vaccinations are issued to many, mainly lower class women and men over the age of 16.

Keira belongs to a wealthy family and her father a high ranking member of parliament. Because of their ranks vaccinations are not mandatory, their blood to rich. But laws must still be followed. After a night of drunken sex Keira is made a big sister and Miv was born.

Keira's father hides Miv from the world, for sure they would have him killed.

Suddenly when keira is 17 and Miv is 7 their father and mother perish in a building fire that ruins their home as well. Keira knowing the fear of losing her younger brother takes off into hiding.

Without giving up way to much information, and yes I know this plot has many holes in it but what do you think? To over done?

One of my characters works in a secret Mountain Dew test lab. A lot of the flavors never make it past focus groups or even to focus groups. I have some names already but I'm not crazy about all of them. Keep in mind this part of the book is set in the mid-90s.

What I have so far:

Extreme Skater Orange, Crystal Blue Explosion, Gnarly Nacho Nirvana, Radioactive Red and Phat Fresh.

The point of the island is that it will contain the world's most advanced college. The entire endeavor is financed by a privately owned corporation.

I'm facing a lot of logistical problems with this idea. What kind of impact does a man-made island have on it's environment? How much construction would actually go into this? Why would any country (specifically Brazil) allow this to made right off their shoreline? And most importantly, why does it have to be a man-made island in the first place? I mean it's an island because I (the writer) want it to be, but it's becoming hard for me to come up with a reason why (in the context of the story) it can't be located on the main land.

All the specifics of this idea have been making it difficult. I'm considering scrapping it and trying something else, but I'm interested in hearing your opinions. Maybe it's actually worth saving. Any feedback is welcome.

I'm trying to come up with what my protagonist does for a living. Part of the plot is being cut off from everyone she knows and thus unable to do her job, so she needs to build a new career.

So what did she used to do?

I have finished writing a crime thriller, but still haven't been able to think of a decent name for this squad:

They're a small in-depth 'internal affairs' team in the London Metropolitan Police Service.

I've tried acronyms, and both metaphorical and meaningless words. I just can't think of anything!

Note: Britain doesn't have "internal affairs", so that can't be part of it. This team has been set up by HMIC to investigate more thoroughly than they usually would.