Thank you for joining us in The Writer’s Playground series!
Here we run through writing games to spark imagination and sharpen your craft.
Today’s Exercise is
The B-Plot
- Objective: To practice weaving subplots into a main narrative.
- How to Play: As a group, quickly outline a simple A-Plot (e.g., “A detective must solve a murder before the killer strikes again”). Each writer is then individually responsible for creating a personal B-Plot for the detective (e.g., “trying to reconnect with an estranged child”). They then write one scene showing how their B-Plot intersects with and complicates the main investigation.
- Best for: Complex plotting, character development, and narrative structure.
Here are some example A-Plots to get you started:
Crime & Thriller
- A detective must catch a serial killer before they strike again.
- An undercover agent must infiltrate a powerful crime syndicate.
- A spy must stop a terrorist plot to detonate a bomb in a major city.
- A lawyer must prove their client’s innocence in a high-profile murder trial.
- A journalist must expose a vast political conspiracy.
- A team of bank robbers must pull off one last, impossible heist.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- A chosen hero must transport a magical artifact to a safe location.
- The captain of a starship must explore a strange and dangerous new nebula.
- A wizard must defeat a dark lord who is conquering the kingdom.
- A rebel pilot must destroy the evil empire’s planet-killing superweapon.
- A scientist must find a cure for a rapidly spreading plague.
- A time traveler must correct a mistake in the past without unraveling reality.
Adventure & Survival
- An explorer must find a lost city in the heart of the Amazon.
- A group of survivors must journey across a post-apocalyptic wasteland to a rumored safe haven.
- A mountain climber must be the first to summit a treacherous, unconquered peak.
- A treasure hunter must find a legendary sunken pirate ship.
- A team of astronauts must survive after crash-landing on a hostile alien planet.
Drama & Competition
- An underdog sports team must win the championship game.
- Two rival business executives must compete for the same CEO position.
- A politician must win a make-or-break election.
- A young musician must win a prestigious competition to save her family’s legacy.
- A bride and groom must navigate the chaotic week leading up to their wedding.
Action & War
- A soldier must deliver a critical message across enemy lines.
- A retired assassin is forced back into the game to protect a loved one.
- A firefighter captain must rescue civilians from a blazing, collapsing skyscraper.
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