Story Institute Imagine, Enhance, & Grow Your Stories

A multitude of ideas and suggestions for short stories, poems, and writing tips.

Unid was a shaman for an ancient tribe. Unfortunately, the tribe had recently vanished. Right before the disappearance, the skies grew dark and Unid lay napping under a poonta tree. When he woke and strolled back to the village, he noticed very little. However, when he got within sight of the moving city, he did notice that no one was moving…He looked around, still a bit groggy from his respite. He searched many of his neighbors’ houses and found no one.

What happened to the village? What happened to Unid? Where did everyone go? Or, was it Unid that disappeared? Why is he still a bit of a sleepy-head? What does Unid do next? Does he just accept the situation and go about his daily routine? Does he try to concoct something to find out the true story? Do we hear any back stories about the village before the vanishing? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

The online community is full of friends we may never meet. However, it is also filled with those who have other intentions…Choose a person, male or female. Choose an age, teenager or younger, senior citizen or younger. Choose a reason that individual was online. Allow them to venture into a forum. Describe the messages. Describe the context of the site. Describe the dialogue that occurs within a topic. Delve into the steps the person takes within the forum and outside the group.

Does the character tell her in-person friends about the group online? Does the character interact with the online group? Or, does he just log on and read? Is there a get together that causes concern? Is this group a pleasant place to share ideas? Or, is a place where predators lurk? Use your online experiences to drive the story. The cloud can be full or darkness and rain, but it can also be a bright place as well. It is where we choose to travel that makes the difference. Where does your character choose? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Time stands still when you do not carry a watch. Time also stands still when you do not know what time is…We can hide from reality and even be put in places to help us pretend more. However, we can not dismiss reality when the lights around us signify changes. Tessa went into the home when she was 12 and has not seen others since then. Her room provides all she needs. It is a small, three-sectioned room that changes with Tessa’s imagination. When she needs to go outside, she exits through one section and ends up in another, viewing trees and feeling the breeze. She interacts with the creations she has drawn or described out loud. The main computer provides the rest. On one particular day, an actual visitor somehow crept into the room…

Who was this visitor? How did Tessa get here in the first place? What is this place? How long has it lasted in this location? Who runs the place? Where did this computer come from? How does it recreate the creatures of Tessa’s imagination? Decide on the path. Decide on the storyline. Decide on the imaginary creatures that enter and exit the space. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Traincor was a tree bender. He has served as the royal tree bender for the last 20 years. Usually, his life is simple. Usually, he completes his tasks, spends time with his family, and helps neighbors with simple tasks. Usually, he doesn’t see the Czartin, the ruler of the realm. This is not a usually day. This day is different. Today, the Czartin needed the services that only the top tree bender in the realm. A neighboring world had recently contacted the Czartin, sharing their worries, problems, and possibilities of cooperating. Without a partnership, the peace that has lasted for centuries would be at risk. Traincor seemed to be one who could help build the partnership.

Who was this neighboring world? What were the worries, problems, and possibilities? How has peace reigned for as long as it has? What does the realm Traincor lives in look like? What is a tree bender? How can a tree bender help with the challenges? What about Traincor’s family? Where are they? How will they impact his decision to help? What type of person is the Czartin? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Smithy was also a bit on the heavy side, but he was not too large. He was definitely an over-eater who had hoped at various moments to control his appetite. This was to no avail. Every attempt Smithy made to stop eating caused the desire to grow even more. He never left a meal without eating dessert. After one meal at a new restaurant, his usually painful and immediate heartburn did not return. As he finished his appetizer, he reached for his medication in his top pocket. As he was about to take it, he realized that he did not feel any pain. He put the pill back in his pocket and moved to his main dish. As he continued to eat, he searched for the familiar pain. Nothing…Smithy began to wonder what had happened.

What did he eat? Where was the pain? Why did he not feel the gurgling? Why did he continue to dwell on this? What else did Smithy order? How long did he stay at this new restaurant? What is this place? When did it open? Describe the servers, Describe the ambiance. Describe the food and its taste. Try to stay in the restaurant during this story. Try to be particular about the interactions with others. Try to create a unique ending. ? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

All Hallows Eve brings up many visions and expectations from most. From little children to aged adults, this evening conjures many thoughts and pictures of the ghoulish, the spirit world, and the supernatural. What is you are one of those creatures. You know, the scary members of the night. The great part for you on this evening is that you can finally blend in with the others. You can finally have a normal life for one day. Your entire year is spent planning for this one day…planning for this one opportunity to be a part of something different…yet, the same. This night is an opportunity to see and experience new adventures. Unlike most days, there are only hours that you have not a complete 24. The missions will need to be limited to around 6 hours.

What can this creature accomplish during this brief time period? What type of creature –plays the part of the adventurer? Is it a vampire? A zombie? A spirit? A werewolf? Or, perhaps a new, yet to be identified ghoul? Why does the party-goer wish to just blend in? What does he/she hope to get out of the evening? Is there a series of Halloweens that can represent the attempts this entity makes to be a part of a different story? Could the stories be based on year and what has happened? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Jason’s and Jennifer’s father was a quiet man. He never yelled or struck his children. He never had to discipline his children. Their mother would simply say, “wait until your father gets home,” and they would calm down long before he ever did arrive home. He would ask about their days and watch tv, but that was all. He seemed to be extremely busy at work as he was usually gone before they woke up and returned right as dinner was being put on the table. Jason and Jennifer never even knew where he worked and their mother never talked about it.

Decide on their father’s name. Decide on their living conditions. Decide on what their father does. Decide how Jason and Jennifer find out what their father does. Decide if their mother knows. Decide if there are other characters involved such as Jennifer’s and Jason’s friends. Decide on the short version of this tale and think about the longer possibilities. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Derek had been raised by his father. Once, when Derek was eight, he asked where his mother was. His father simply replied, she is no longer with us, frowned and went about his day. For an eight-year old, this meant that she had died. Not wanting to know how or why, Derek, never asked again. That is until he was 17 and applying for a job. On the application was a spot for his mother’s maiden name. He never knew it. In fact, he never knew anyone from his mother’s family. Derek took the application home and was determined to ask his father again about his mother.

Decide how Derek asks his father about this mother. Decide if she is still alive and what adventure he may create to find details. Decide if this is a short story, a novella, or a novel. Decide why there are no pictures of his mother and no contact with her family. Decide why his father never discussed this with him. Decide on the path and why he would follow it. Decide if he ever asks his father, or simply leaves the line blank and thinks about the answer in various settings. Decide if Derek ever does apply for the job.

Where does this take place? What is the family’s financial situation? Has Derek’s father had girlfriends? Does Derek see any member of his father’s family? Do they have any pets? Does Derek share any of his thoughts with his friends? What are their names? How long has he known them? Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

When the Jill’s pet rabbit went missing, her friends jumped to help her find him. He was last seen in his cage chomping on a carrot. Small signs of how he got out, escaped, or was taken away still remain on his home. Tiny strips of fabric, bright green cloth are trapped on the cage lock. Jill’s friends start asking questions of everyone in Jill’s family and neighbors. They find bunny footprints in the dirt leading toward the fence. They also find…

Decide on the other characters. Decide on the name for each character, including the bunny. Decide on the stories shared by each person interviewed. Decide on extra evidence found. Decide on the path the sleuths take to find the furry friend. Decide on the storyline. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

The clouds cleared and the rainbow made its way across the sky. Tiny feet scurried trying to locate the end of the brightly colored ribbon of light. When you lose the magic that brought you to this land and have no other way back to your own home, you keep trying no matter how long it has been between rainbows. Sure, you have maintained those simple party tricks with playing cards, pulling one coin out of random places, and basic mind-reading, but you lack the direction to find the end and true pot of gold…the path back home.

Decide on how you got here in the first place. Decide if you will truly tell this tale in the first person. Decide on the characters met along this most recent path to the end. Decide if the tale continues or silences after this episode. Decide how long this lost soul has remained without his own country. Decide on your path. Decide on your direction. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Valentine’s Day is a romantic day for most. Fred, however, has tried to be romantic. He has set blind dates. He has written poems, bought flowers, and arranged numerous carriage rides…all for other people. Fred always seemed to be there to help most of his friends connect with their romantic counterpart. He has decided to ignore the topic all together for himself. That is until his close friend, Sadie, comes to him for help. She asks Fred to arrange a carriage ride where her date does not show up. She asks for dinner to be arranged using some of Fred’s contact and friends in the restaurant business. However, her date doesn’t show up again. Then, Valentine’s Day arrives…

Decide if Sadie had a bad series of romantic opportunities or has other intentions. Decide how Fred feels about these instances. Decide if Fred understands the situation or simply goes with the flow as usual. Decide if relationships develop due to much effort or through random circumstance. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

What if the groundhog was actually the controller of the weather instead of just the predictor of a shortened Winter? What if the groundhog had an extensive series of tunnels that were used to influence the direction of the clouds, the strength of the wind, the flow of the rain upon a dryer earth? What if…what if…

Decide if this story is meant for an adult or child to read. Decide if the groundhog is an ancient creature. Or, is it a very family-oriented culture that has used technology to create the patterns of weather for centuries? Decide if the groundhogs evolved quicker or came from another world to help and influence the progression of our little planet. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

It was New Year’s Eve. Ted thought that things could not be worse than last year. In fact, he was not taking any chances. He decided to stay home, watch the celebrations on tv, and go straight to bed shortly after midnight. The doors were locked. The windows sealed shut as the cold tried to reach inside and chill everything within its grasp. Ted did not want to face the same path he did last year. He did not want to see the faces on any of the party-goers this time as he did last year. It was a mess.

Why was Ted so concerned? What happened last year that caused Ted to keep things simple? Was it a girl? Or, did something erupt within him bringing about a Ted than anyone had ever seen? Why was the cold so cold?

Decide on the path. Decide on the past. Decide on the other characters who may call, stop by, or make their way back into the memory of Ted. Decide on the history. Decide on the future. Decide if Ted makes it to bed on time. Decide on the story and write. Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Happiness is a special emotion and unique to each individual. We each experience happiness in our own way. We relate to this word differently depending on our experiences and connections to others. We feel the word based on our internal dictionary. A dictionary created by our own sense of happiness. What is yours? Write about the emotions and post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Happiness is shared here through what we identify with…

Wondrous Happiness

My heart alone can not sustain this wondrous happiness,
But, together alone, the inner greatness may grow,
And emotions sealed long ago, will continue to show.
Stay with me as we share this special journey,
For then the true intensity we may see.
As we tread forward into the future we create,
Let this bond we make test the depths of fate.
Our love will undoubtedly blossom into a full and beautiful flower,
Until then, let us be immersed in the pulsing power
Of the sustained togetherness and wondrous happiness.

This verse is also found: http://www.storyinstitute.com/2008/04/14/poem-wondrous-happiness/

Peace is a concept with an opposite that provides more damage, quicker than peace can achieve goodness. A sense of peace is different than a state of peace. Calmness, solemnity, lack of violence are all parts that reflect this graceful word. When do we realize the true sense of the word? When do we have time to reflect on the concepts? When is it time to look into the eyes of country men, our family, our children, and share a sense of relief and hope that didn’t reside in their minds before.

Think of the simple words that align to the concepts of peace. Think of the connections you may make with your own country. Are you at war? Are you at peace? Perhaps, you are somewhere in between. What helps bridge the gap? What brings about the reality of peace for you? Decide on the vision of what peace is to you and post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…