Situations
Now, a story also needs a place for the action to take place,
or for some event to have just occurred to trigger off the action.
Some of these are not a specific place, but more a time just after an event has occurred.
on a desert island - large enough to be interesting
on a spaceship or space station (could be one you've seen on television or in a movie)
at your workplace or an imaginary workplace
in a time machine and whenever it takes you
in any unknown area of space or in a previously undiscovered area on Earth (Yeah, okay, so that's not likely - well then, MAKE ONE UP!!)
in a role playing game of some kind
on another planet (maybe one you read about or saw on television or in a movie)
in a suburb of a city in whichever state or country you live
a real city on Earth - specify which one (Research might be necessary here)
Earth, after a (fictional) World War Three or a major worldwide disaster
in the Age of the Dinosaurs
or in any other Prehistoric Age
in a place you have read about in a fantasy or science fiction novel
in a deserted, but probably haunted, castle
in a real small town in your state, but not where you live
in a cave or cave system (or tunnels under a city, not necessarily on Earth)
any real historical building or setting that you have been to at least once.
in a truly dreadful hotel
on a train (where is it going? Who is on it? What sort of train?)
the power has just gone out
marooned on a desert island
the main character hasn't got a clue where he/she is
in a museum of some kind
during an earthquake
on Earth, while it is being invaded by aliens
just after the hero has found a million dollars in a suitcase
the day after World War Three
at a concert of some kind (classical, pop, jazz, school, whatever...)
at a sporting event
at the circus
travelling in a time machine
during a bank robbery
in an extremely posh casino or hotel
at an archaeological site where a great discovery has just been made
in a huge block of flats
some place where a large, interesting looking parcel has just been delivered
the main character has suddenly been transported in time
in a television studio
during a crisis of some kind
in a theatre during a romantic movie
on a spaceship or an alien planet
on a mountain where a dragon lives (and has just popped up its nasty, snouty, scaly head...and it's hungry!)
during any real historical occasion
at a society wedding
it is dark, and the hero has just fallen over a corpse
something totally impossible has just happened
during a caving trip or expedition
the main character has just received an important message
at the front door of an enormous mansion
in a very busy hospital
inside an enormous cathedral
the main character has just encountered his/her worst enemy
the main character has forgotten something extremely important
midnight, cold and wet and windy
during a boring dinner party
at the markets
in a stranded lift
the main character has just been granted three wishes
an explosion has just occurred
the main character has just woken up...but is not in his/her bed
the main character has just come out a door, or is just about to go through a doorway
in a very small town (a fictitious one, but you might like to base it on some place you know)
in the main character's home or place of dwelling
in a busy department store, Christmas Eve
a very loud noise - but not an explosion - is heard
an animal has escaped from the zoo (or maybe ALL the animals have escaped!)
the postman brings an important letter
on an ocean liner (NOT the Titanic!)
a dramatic interruption to a dull lecture or lesson has just occurred - or is about to occur
the main character is totally and utterly broke
the main character has just forgotten his/her best friend's or spouse's birthday
at a funeral
at the scene of an accident (don't lay on the blood and gore too heavily!)
in a submarine (and maybe your character has claustrophobia?)
at an art show (or a display of craft goods, sculpture, quilts, etc...)
during a wild storm
on a busy street
during the filming of a movie