I already have descriptions for the characters i have now and what they want but i just need help coming up with the storyline so how can i come up with a GREAT story plot for the synopsis?

From Michael Hauge, who had a more detailed version online at on point, comes the basic structure which can be applied to nearly every screenplay. Flesh out what you have until you can write at least one long and detailed paragraph for each step. That’s your starting point.

01STAGE I: SETUP (0-10%)
02TURNING POINT 1: THE OPPORTUNITY (at 10%)
03STAGE II: THE NEW SITUATION (10-25%)
04TURNING POINT 2: THE CHANGE OF PLANS (25%)
05STAGE III: PROGRESS (25-50%)
06TURNING POINT 3: THE POINT OF NO RETURN (50%)
07STAGE IV: COMPLICATIONS AND HIGHER STAKES (50-75%)
08TURNING POINT 4: THE MAJOR SETBACK (75%)
09STAGE V: THE FINAL PUSH (75-90/99%)
10TURNING POINT 5: THE CLIMAX (90 – 99%)
11STAGE VI: THE AFTERMATH

I’m doing thriller and suspense.

Well I won’t give you a plot straight out…but I can give you a few tips on how to make your plot interesting.

Tips…
1.) Give it something new. If it is an old plot, like, boy saves girls life, girl comes along for the ride to destroy whatever scary thing is terrorizing them, make it new. Perhaps they work together the entire time and then he turns out to be working for the scary thing, and he hands her up as a sacrifice…Idk, just something new. Don’t make it the same old predictable story.

2.) Make the ‘scary thing’ truly scary. Not a gooey swamp monster, not a murderer in a mask, not a killer that can only hurt you in your dreams. Make it a psychopathic killer that is truly ****** up and has serious problems. He’ll have a back story, a reason for the madness. Just like in Saw, when JigSaw had a reason for the crazy things he did. Make this ‘scary guy/thing’ truly messed up in the head. He doesn’t have to look scary, to scare the living **** out of a person.

3.) Make the lead actor a girl…I mean, in every scary movie (most of them) a guy runs into something scary and then has to save the girl, because she inevitably gets involved. Well maybe she gets involved first this time. And then maybe it’s her sister that gets involved, and the guy comes along later..something to get away from the ‘I’m the helpless womaaaaan’ role.

4.) SURPRISE!!! You have to shock your audience. If they’re expecting it, they aren’t going to be shocked, surprised, or scared. Throw in twists, unexpected turns, loud noises…make you jump and pee a little surprises.

I hope this helps, good luck

Don’t bother answering if you not gonna give me any serious helpful answers!

A plot… as in a place.. well what about a quiet… country.. a country like the Vatican.. or someplace where not a lot of people live. Or you can use a city like new york… i dunno.. its your choice.

Tip: when making a scary movie, don’t make half of the movie just people talking. Make sure they is lots of parts where scary things happen … then leave the hanging there till the end.. make sure its a good ending that will leave people happy.

Hope this helps!!!

Hypothetical situation: Johnny sees Billy attacking someone to the point where Johnny is in fear for the victim’s life. Johnny tells Billy to stop, but he doesn’t, and Johnny ends up killing him. The victim and another witness can varify that Johnny killed Billy to save the victim.

What I’m wondering:

Would police arrest Johnny on the spot?
Would Johnny just be taken in for questioning?
Would the prosecutors press charges against Johnny?
Would the witnesses be taken in for questioning also, or interviewed at the scene?

Thanks!

I had a real life case almost identical to that scenario.

In your example, Johnny would be immediately detained and taken in for questioning. He would be advised of his Miranda warnings, because he is undoubtedly in custody (he is not free to go). If he is smart, he will waive his rights to remain silent and to have an attorney present, and he will tell his story. His statement will be reduced to type written form. That is what happened in my real life version.

The witness and the the victim would also be taken in for questioning, and detailed typed statements taken.

While the interviews are in progress, the crime scene unit will be scrupulously documenting the scene and collecting physical evidence. They will be in contact with the interviewers and anything that is discovered which verifies or contradicts the statements will be carefully scrutinized.

Another team of investigators will be researching Billy’s, Johnny’s, the victim’s and the witness’ backgrounds. Do they have criminal records, if yes, for what. What are their reputations in the community. What are their relationships?

Billy’s body is taken to the Morgue, where a forensic pathologist will do an autosy and determine the cause and manner of death, Of course, the manner will be "Homicide" because he was undoubtedly killed by another. Does the condition of the body verify or refute the statements of the accused, victim and witness?

When all of the interviews, autopsy and scene processing are done, the detective assigned will run the case by his supervsior, and then by the District Attorney. The DA will make the decision to charge or not. Nobody will be allowed to go any place (including the victim and witness, who are of course there "voluntarily")

When the DA makes the decison that it was a justifiable Homicide, committed in defense of the life of another, the police will cut everybody loose.

Just a couple things to note. In real life, Homicides are slow work, and labor intensive. Nobody gets intervewed at the scene, they all get taken back to Homicide for statements. Statements are all written or typed out, not just taken verbally. Some states take taped statements, but in ours, we want them signed before anybody leaves Homicide. In this scenario, Johny will clearly get a "walk". But, suppose he beat Billy far beyond what was necessary to save the victim? Then it is for sure he would get arrested and at a minimum get charged with manslaughter.

In my similar case, the bad guy was dispatched by a single knife wound while he was choking and beating his elderly landlord. The stabber was out in less than eight hours. In two days, I caught two jobs that were both ruled justifiable homicides by the DA. I got a lot of teasing out of that.

You have plenty of ideas already. You may not think they’re that great, but once you get into the swing of writing and your creative juices get flowing, you’ll be amazed how your plot starts to develop without you even trying. Writing is the best way to develop ideas and to come up with new ones. You may write some total rubbish in the process, but who cares?

Another way I sometimes get inspiration is by channel-hopping on TV. Watch just a few moments at random of any film or TV show then switch off. Think about what you saw and heard and try to imagine what might have been going on. Think of as many ideas as you can from those few seconds.

Hope it’s not too late. Is it due Friday the 3rd?
Good luck.

Good Luck