When I’m looking for a high concept idea for a thriller, surfing technology articles is a good and scary way to get inspiration.
In a recent Fast Company article, someone has collected an incredible database by mining Facebook.
Ironman meets Tron?
As an exercise:
Even if you’re not writing a tech-based thriller, think of a current statistic/advancement or problem the world faces. Now, set a timer for 10 minutes and write a brief conversation between your hero and any other character where they discuss this issue. Do the two characters agree on the issue or disagree? Is it a comedic conversation like when Meg Ryan & Co. discuss terrorism and marrying over 40 in Sleepless in Seattle? Or a debate over the dangers of knowing your own future in Back To The Future? Or maybe a recap about how the villain did it like at the end of Sherlock Holmes?
By determining where your character stands on an issue, you will learn more about how they will react when you throw obstacles in their way.
