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Spinning the Story Wheel with

Every great story starts with a simple spark - an idea, a character, a world or setting. But developing that initial spark into a fleshed out narrative can be challenging, even for experienced writers. Blank pages and blank minds don't make for compelling tales. That's where the story wheel comes in handy!

 

The story wheel with BravoWheel provides random prompts and inspiration to kickstart your creativity so you can spin up all kinds of stories. Let's explore how using a story wheel can help unlock your narrative ideas and get you crafting superb fiction in no time.

What is the Story Wheel?

The story wheel is a game-like brainstorming tool used by writers of all levels. At its heart, it is a deck of cards or spinning wheel split into different categories. Each category contains a variety of story prompts or phrases that provide the building blocks to craft a narrative.

 

Standard story wheel categories may include:

  • Character names

  • Pokemon Type

  • Character traits

  • Settings

  • World descriptors

  • Plot hooks

  • Objects/magical items

  • Obstacles

  • Stakes

  • Themes

  • Random Word

 

Click into BravoWheel.com to use the story wheel, a writer simply draws category cards at random or spins the wheel to reveal prompts. You then use these prompts as inspiration to start plotting and writing your tale. Let the wheel provide the seeds - you add your imagination and watch the story grow!

Benefits of the Story Wheel

Using a story wheel in your creative process offers many advantages:

 

  • Overcomes writer’s block and blank page paralysis from lack of ideas

  • Provides an element of surprise and randomness to spark new connections

  • Flexes your imagination by meshing unrelated prompts into a cohesive whole

  • Introduces variety so you don’t keep writing the same types of stories

  • Helps you discover new genres, worlds, characters, and plots you may not have considered   before

  • Makes brainstorming feel more playful and game-like rather than overwhelming

  • Allows collaboration by having multiple people contribute wheel prompts

  • Can inspire just a scene, subplot, character or full story depending on need

  • Flexible for any fiction genre - fantasy, scifi, romance, horror, mystery, etc.

Crafting Your Own Story Wheel

You can easily create your own custom story wheel using index cards or a printable wheel template along with these steps:

 

  1. Select your story wheel categories (character, plot, setting, etc.) based on your genre interests. Have at least 5-8 categories.

  2. On individual index cards, write diverse prompts for each category. For example, for characters you can include names, occupations, motivations.

  3. Collect other random words or phrases that can spark ideas. Song lyrics, colors, objects, historical events all make great miscellaneous prompts.

  4. Arrange your categorized index cards around a pinned wheel spoke or piece them together to form your deck.

  5. When ready to brainstorm, simply spin the wheel and draw prompt cards. Let these spark your creativity!

  6. Change up prompts over time to keep your story wheel fresh. Rotate new ideas in as you use up old ones.

  7. Customize and expand your wheel as needed. Add new categories and prompts tailored to your projects.

 

With some imagination and patience creating prompts, your custom story wheel will be brimming with tale-spinning potential!

Using Story Wheels for Character Development

One of the key uses for story wheels is sparking ideas for compelling characters. Bring dimension and uniqueness to your cast with these character-focused tips:

 

  • Include character archetypes on your wheel like hero, villain, sidekick, mentor, trickster. Mix with a random archetype for inspiration.

  • Craft complex backstories by combining prompts like occupations, life-changing events, motivations.

  • Define relationships between characters based on wheel-provided prompts. How might a teacher and astronaut interact?

  • Spin for random traits to showcase the full spectrum of humanity. Flaws, quirks, talents, secrets, fears.

  • Generate character names spanning styles and origins. Surname prompts add realism.

  • Infuse diversity throughout your cast. Include race/ethnicity, gender, age, ability, orientation.

 

With each spin, you uncover new directions to take core characters or develop minor roles. Before you know it, you'll have a vibrant character ensemble ready to propel your narrative forward! Random color picker is the most practical website to choose the best optimal color you want.

 

Spinning Subplots, Settings, and More

Beyond character ideas, give your story wheel a whirl when developing other elements:

 

  • Subplots - Let prompts guide side narratives that complicate the core plot. Romances, rivalries, mysteries.

  • World - Mix prompts to build unique worlds. What's a techy underwater city or a steampunk ghost town like?

  • Magic System - Define supernatural rules and limitations using prompts for consistency.

  • Technology - Spin for random gadgets or innovations to integrate organically.

  • Time Period - Blend historical eras or future dates for creative mashups. How do samurais operate in a sci-fi dystopia?

 

With a story wheel handy whenever you're crafting your next book or short tale, you can overcome writer's block and take your fiction in exciting new directions. So set that wheel spinning and see what captivating stories you can build prompt by prompt!

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