Brainstorm for Chapter 1

Beats to cover in Chapter 1

Whole beat (666-ish words):

1. The Before Times: Introduce Main Character 1 (MC1) living their normal (yet compelling) life.  They realize something isn’t right and it’s time to become the hero of their own story.  This realization comes from another character or situation, or is motivated by a problem or something they’ve always wanted to accomplish. Main Character 2 (MC2) (the romantic interest) is also introduced, living their normal life.

Half-beat (333-ish words):

2. Nobody’s Perfect: MC1 is hesitant to embark on the adventure because of their weaknesses and fears. The refusal can be resolved through encouragement or realizing what they are missing. The first meeting between the main characters should be memorable and at least one of them should explain (internally or externally) why they will not fall in love with the other.

World Building:

- “Low Magic” World - Magic is rare but is real in this world.

- Basic fairy tale/medieval-style world

Main Character 1 (MC1):

- Lady/Girl (at least 20 years old) lives in a village/town.  Things are good, but something is coming/about to change that makes her want to leave.

  - War coming to town?  Invaders coming?  She wants to leave to defend the town?

  - She wants the life of an adventurer, wants to leave this little town and do something great?  Escape from just working the farm?

  - something about her that was okay as a “child” is now going to be a problem as an “adult” and she’s all like, “I don’t want to change that part of me, I guess I have to go”?

  - Escape an arranged marriage?  Setting up a love triangle?

  - She is magical, but does not know or does not know the extent of her powers or that her intuitions are actually magical??

- Sneaks out in the middle of the night to go to the big city.  Moonlight.

Main Character 2 (MC2):

- lives in the city, plays music at a local bar.  Seems successful and talented to MC1, but really he is mediocre and projects happiness and goodness at music.  Does she misinterpret his talent/fame because she is from a small town and is naive? 

Possible Plot:

- MC1 arrives in the big city, gets her bindle stolen and is about to give up and go back home but she has a few dollaredoos left so she pops into a bar to try some new drink not available at home and MC2 is there playing and everyone loves his music.  She is blown away and has an instinct that he is the one for her or whatever. 

- When she walks into the bar, story break and change to MC2 POV and we see that his life is poopy crap and he is struggling in his career or whatever.

- break.  Back to MC1 POV, she sees him and he is so beautiful and sexy and is making it work in the big city and this re-invigorates her interest and belief in the possibility of living and being herself and being successful in the big city.