WHAT IF?!?!?!?!

 Lists of What Ifs

    Today is not just another post of writing prompts. I want to go over the craziest "What Ifs" and how this magic phrase can help your writing. Currently, I am writing a whole novel on the craziest "What If" I can think of. 

Today's Rundown 

• How can one simple question help your writing?
• How to apply your What Ifs? 
• Brainstorming "What Ifs" 
• List of "What Ifs"

How Can 1 Simple Question Help Your Writing?

    Personally, I don't always use questions to start my writing. However, questions can get the inspiration juices flowing. Although you may struggle to find the right questions to ask, "what ifs" always seem to pop into our mind. I know when I ever thought of "What Ifs" that I would get worried and anxious. Now I used my busy mind that never rests to my advantage. So "What If" the sky is falling. I can either worry about it or write about. Now, this may not work for everyone, but it works for me, and I'll show you how. 

    You may start to think of your worries, say "What if I don't get an A on my exam today?" 

    Well what would happen if you didn't get an A on your exam? Would you flunk the class? Would you binge eat at your favorite restaurant? Would you have less of a chance to plot world domination and be taken serious? All of these are valid questions that follow after your first "what if". Allow them to take over, and the plot of your story will soon unfold. 

How to Apply "What Ifs" 

    Applying "what ifs" to your writing may be simple some days and challenging the next. Since the questions is completely basic along with the questions that follow, it is your job to fill in the blanks. Lets take our example from earlier:

  What if I don't get an A on my exam? 

    Okay, so you have your topic. You, or your character desires above all else to get an A on their exam. BOOM you have your "desire" or "goal in your writing. 

    Let's look at the following questions that may follow what will happen to you/your character if you don't get an A on that exam. 

• Flunk the class 
• Binge eat at your favorite restaurant 
• Have less of a chance to plot world domination and be taken seriously

    Depending on which sub-question you choose will lead the journey of you/your character. I'm going to pick my favorite and least simple of the three: Have less of a chance to plot world domination and be taken seriously. 

    The desire of your character has now deepened because his/her/their wants is no longer just: "What if I don't get an A on my exam? There is a deep layer to the character. Since you/the character are plotting world domination and want to be taken seriously, this will lead to the character's backstory. How will that hinder or help the process of getting an A on the exam. This will also give you room to state the age of the character and the class they are taking. Perhaps you/the character are in a super-villain course and is currently struggling to remember the names of older/long gone superheroes? 

    See how more questions open the door to new structures of your writing? 

Brainstorming "What Ifs" 

    "What ifs" can range from the simple "What if I don't get an A on this exam?" to the most complex thoughts one can imagine. The key is finding ways to brainstorm. Since "What ifs" can historically be overwhelming (at least for me), writing them down is very helpful. Making post-it notes with your "What ifs" or even writing them on small pieces of paper and pulling them out of a hat. These can serve as writing prompts for later or serve as just a surge of inspiration. I used to keep mine in glass spice jars. You never know when you need a "What if". If you want, you can even story board your "What ifs" if that is something you like to do. Personally, I'm not that organized. 

List of "What Ifs"

    I know thinking of "What ifs" can be challenging, especially if you don't worry that much. For those that worry, make it work for your writing. There as to be some good that comes out of it. Below I have listed some random "What ifs" that can get your brain churning and ready to storm. 

1. What if I could see in the dark?
2. What if I can't remember my passwords?
3. What if I win the football game?
4. What if I can't cure the incurable?
5. What if I become the world's greatest superhero?
6. What if I never eat chocolate again? (me internally screaming) 
7. What if my true love's kiss doesn't break the spell?
8. What if hugging caused sicknesses? 
9. What if an illness took over the world? 
10. What if a cat took over the world?
11. What if I dog was chased by a squirrel? 
12. What if pickles were named something else? 
13. What if man never made it to the moon?
14. What if you were the first person on the moon?
15. What if you name was Shelby? 
16. What if you spoke every language in the world?
17. What if you never spoke?
18. What if you couldn't hear?
19. What if you lost what meant most to you?
20. What if you blew up the sun?
21. What if you blew up Mars?
22. What if Mars was never found?
23. What if gravity wasn't a concept?
24. What if the last thing you ate, ate you?
25. What if you never saw this post? 
26. What if you turned into a fairy?
    
    
    
27. What if you were a mermaid?
28. What if you were a werewolf?
29. What if you archenemy was a vampire?
30. What if your mother was a vampire and your father was a werewolf?
31. What if you were the "normal one"? 
32. What if October wasn't a month?
33. What if the year of your birth disappeared?
34. What if you could sing?
35. What if you couldn't sing but were forced to sing in front of others?

Feel free to post more "What ifs" in the comments below! 

Source: Pinterest (Image 1), lovethispic.com (Image 2), Grant Snider-laughingsquid.com (Image 3), art station.com (Image 4), lecturesdetarologa.wordpress.com (Image 5), resimlerin-dili.tumblr.com (Image 6)