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A plot generator is either: A plot generator (sense 1) allows writers to introduce any idea they want (and hence it is almost by definition restricted to the science fiction and fantasy genres). Examples of plot generators (fictional devices) The idea of plot generators is explored by Nick Lowe in his article The Well Tempered Plot Device. Examples he gives include "red kryptonite", which has an unpredictable effect on Superman for 48 hours (conveniently the time period covered by most episodes). The TARDIS in the Doctor Who television series is the epitome of a plot generator, in that it can take the Doctor anywhere in space and time, where he can encounter anything the writers want him to encounter. The Holodeck, introduced in the pilot of Star Trek: The Next Generation, could also be viewed as a plot generator, as its open ended nature allowed the show's writers to construct a number of stories later in the series. Law & Order, and to a lesser extent its spinoffs, has a structure that serves as a plot generator: few episodes are about the characters' interactions with each other; nearly all are about the detectives solving, and the lawyers prosecuting, the mystery at hand. The Sunnydale Hellmouth in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Cardiff spacetime rift in Torchwood act as literal plot generators, explaining the presence of incredibly evil humans, demons, erratic behaviour, magical anomalies etc. or the presence of alien technology, extraterrestrial life, psychic powers and time abnormalities respectively. Random plot generator The second type of plot generator is often referred to as a random plot generator, which is represented by a device such as a chart with multiple columns, a book composed of panels that flip independently of one another, or a set of several adjacent reels that spin independently of one another, allowing a writer to randomly select elements of a narrative plot. Such a device can be created for virtually any genre, although it tends to produce formulaic and hackneyed situations. Examples of random plot generators An example from The Official Movie Plot Generator has three vertical boxes. The top specifies a specific type of protagonist, “A cop who doesn't play by the rules.” The middle box specifies a specific action on the part of the protagonist--”fights crime.” The bottom box specifies a specific type of antagonist, “with a mischievous orangutan.” By piecing these three elements together, the user obtains the odd sentence, “A cop who doesn't play by the rules fights crime with a mischievous orangutan.” This plot sounds absurd, and it is — but it is also the plot of a movie starring Clint Eastwood — Every Which Way But Loose. To select different plot elements, the user clicks on any of the buttons (“Previous” or “Next”) adjacent to the boxes. In this manner, the user can change any one of the elements (protagonist, conflict, or antagonist) or all three of them by clicking the appropriate button. For example, clicking the “Next” button next to the protagonist button might change “A cop who doesn't play by the rules” to “A single mom”; clicking the “Next” button adjacent to the conflict box might change “fights crime” to “raises a baby.” If the user stops at this point, the new ploy will read, “A single mom raises a baby with a mischievous orangutan.” However, if the button beside the antagonist box is also clicked, “with a mischievous orangutan” might become “while juggling work, parenthood, and finding personal fulfillment,” so that the entire newly generated plot reads, “A single mom raises a baby while juggling work, parenthood, and finding personal fulfillment.” The Official Movie Plot Generator is also sold as a book, the intent of which is more tongue in cheek than earnest, as its subtitle, “27,000 Hilarious Movie Plot Combinations,” indicates. TV series-specific random plot generators Some random plot generators are designed with particular television series in mind. For example, The Law and Order Random Plot Generator allows its user to select different narrative elements by refreshing the screen. One plot for an episode might read, "A dead infant is discovered in a seedy basement by the perpetrator. Lenny and Curtis initially pin the crime on a local celebrity, but after a visit to the crime lab, they arrest Lenny himself. McCoy and Kincaid prosecute, but McCoy must not push for the death penalty to win. The old DA looks annoyed and says 'A wise person cares not for what he cannot have, but for what he can.' Sting guest stars." By refreshing the screen, the plot reads "A dead taxi driver is discovered in an abandoned van by a police sting. Lenny and Curtis initially pin the crime on a local celebrity, but after Curtis uses an internet chat room, they arrest a co-worker. McCoy and Kincaid prosecute, but McCoy must convict of a lesser crime to win. The old DA looks annoyed and says 'A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.' Michael Dorn guest stars." Random plot generators for fan fiction writers Fans of various literary and cinematographic works have also created random plot generators for use in developing fan fiction. One such random plot generator is The LOTR Random Ficplot Generator. Its tongue-in-cheek character is evident in its creator's assurance to its users that the device will allow them to "put the same amount of thought and logic into your plots as the typical 14-year-old LOTR fic writer." To use this particular random plot generator, the user clicks a button labeled "Generate Plot," and a plot appears on the screen, which can be replaced by another click of the "Generate Plot" button. An example reads, "Gollum is the long-lost twin of the Balrog! Figwit becomes a prostitute! It's a hurt/comfort fic where the Fellowship is sent to modern-day Earth!" A similar random plot generator has been created for users who want to write stories for the Hercules TV show. The Incredible Hercules Random Plot Generator allegedly cures "writer's block" by generating instant plots involving characters of the series which starred Kevin Sorbo. An example is "Artemis gets part of the Chronos stone and gives it to Hephaestus," which can be replaced, with a click of the site's "Click here for another plot!" button with "Sisyphus strikes down Iphicles." For Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans, http://www.randomplots.com offers random plot generators for each of the following TV shows: | |||||||
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