Big Ideas.

SoCNoC, this year you could do something grand.

When looking for something to write, many see that there is still alot of time, others will see mere days left.
To me I see alot of time before the challenge starts, mainly because it can take very little time to plot a new story.
Take a basic idea, boy meets girl. We all know that plot twist will not allow them to have an easy time of it.
Depending on what genre you love to write in the twist could be anything.
Lets say the boy gets kidnapped while enroute to the first date movie.
Kidnapped by who you make wonder, lets make it a what instead. Kidnapped by mutant Deer.
Just from choosing that option, you now need to answer the who, why, what, when, where of the Deer.
When those are answered, all that is left is to work out, if the girl is going to rescue the boy OR will the boy manage to escape.
And there you have it a basic plot line that could serve you for the writing challenge.
Ideas should hit you from all directions. Be out walking or shopping and something catches your eye. Make a note of it.
Newspapers, sure they might have some news in them and alot of social pictures but they can help you get a basic plot.
Foiled robbery, con man caught, read the facts, who did they get caught? If that was your character would he have done the same thing?
Putting the robbery in a different genre, instead of conning people, maybe he was conning a newly found alien race.
Switch genders, sometimes what a man cannot get away with a women could or even a child.
Periods in time, write a murder mystery set in Rome times, no CSI back then just basic questioning, footprints and gut reactions.
If you are brave, then have someone else challenge you, allow them to set the plot and just go with what comes to mind.
World Building, there is still time to do this and is a grand thing to do. It does not have to be just for fantasy either, create your own town or county.
When creating your own, you decide how much like real life/real world it is. Add new plants or animals, form a new language or add a new way to deal with politics. Just make your rules and stick to them, no one enjoys it when things change mid read for no obvious reason apart from the author needing an easy out.
 

Above all, your ideas should drive you, make you want to write about them. If you are passionate about a subject - be it knitting, cooking, cats, dogs, ferrets or Star Wars- that might be something you should consider including. When you feel an idea in your heart you can write about it so much better.
This writing challenge is to get a rough draft, get those words out of your head and onto paper so you can go over them.
Write, have fun and strive to win the challenge.

Xengab-

Yes if you wish to use my basic Deer in the Headlights plot line, go right ahead.