A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 2

This is the 14th year in a row I’ve run this series in April. Why a story idea each day for the month? Several reasons which I’ll work through during this series of posts.

Here’s another one: The only way to find a great story idea is to work your way through a bunch of crap ideas.

Ira Glass (“This American Life”), arguably one of the most knowledgeable people around today re storytelling, said this:

“You have to record and get rid of a lot of crap before you find something special.”

Same thing with screenwriting: You have to generate a bunch of crappy ideas before you find something special. Still don’t believe me? How about the wisdom of Linus Pauling:

“The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.”

Linus Pauling should know, one of the few people to win multiple Nobel Prizes.

So why focus on generating a bunch of story ideas? Because most of the ones you come up with will be crap. However somewhere along the line, you’ll find some that a pure gold.

Today’s story idea: 12 have died since massive snowstorms cut off California mountain towns.

Michelle Hake’s sister had been snowed in for days, alone in her Big Bear home. Her family said it wasn’t clear just how urgent her medical needs had become during last month’s record-setting snowstorms and the treacherous days that followed.

She “needed medical attention in the midst of the storm, and we could not get that to her,” Hake said. Her family called for an emergency wellness check Monday.

“We were too late,” she said.

Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department found Hake’s sister dead just after 9 a.m., agency spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said. A cause of death has not been determined, but Rodriguez said there were no signs of trauma or suspicious circumstances.

What if there were “suspicious circumstances?”

Setup: A freak massive snowstorm hits the low-lying mountains of Southern California. Volunteer rescue worker Phoebe Cutler has been days into the search for survivors as she struggles through enormous snow drifts. She’s managed to save a handful of locals including senior citizens just hours away from dying due to lack of food, water, prescription drugs for chronic medical conditions.

The sun is beginning to set. She should stop for the evening. But she spots a plume of smoke wafting into the sky. A few hundred yards away.

The volunteer coordinator tells her to leave it until tomorrow.

“Tomorrow, they might be dead,” Phoebe says.

For the record, I should note that three years ago, Phoebe was a finalist to represent the United States at the Winter Olympics in the Biathlon: an event which combines skiing and rifle shooting.

Phoebe cross country skis toward the smoke … but she doesn’t have a rifle.

Later, as darkness envelopes the snowed-in forest, Phoebe spots a cabin. Smoke drifting from the chimney.

She makes her way toward it. Knocks on the door. Silence. Glances down at the front doorstep. There’s blood.

The door is ajar. She shoulders it open. Horrified to discover …

Three bodies ripped to shreds.

Sickened by the sight, Phoebe doubles over and vomits into the snow.

Then she hears something …

A raspy voice.

One of the victims is still alive.

Phoebe hurries to her. Terror in her eyes. Pain coursing through her body. She clutches Phoebe closer. Whispers …

“Go.”

Then dies.

Silence.

Phoebe frozen in place. What to do? It’s pitch black. And it’s snowing again. No chance of getting back to base camp. She’s stuck.

That’s when she hears the chuffing of an inhuman creature approaching in the dark …

Wait.

There’s more than one. Many more…

There you go: My second story idea for the month. And it’s yours. Free!

Day 1

What would you do with this story concept?

Each day in April, I invite you to join me in comments to do some brainstorming. Take each day’s story idea and see what it can become when we play around with it. These are valuable skills for a writer to develop.

See you in RESPONSES to hear YOUR take on this story idea. And come back tomorrow for another Story Idea Each Day For A Month.