You crack your head; you whip your hobby horse; you stare at the skies above waiting for inspiration, waiting for that moment of illumination to strike you so that you can write. The Indian festival of lights or Diwali is around the corner. There are many legends behind the celebration of Diwali. Many celebrate Diwali to honor the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana from exile. So this is the right time for you to use the opportunity to write your next story.
Make one of your characters a villain
If you are looking for some great inspirational ideas to kick-start your story, make one of your characters a villain like Ravana in the epic Ramayana. While the demon king Ravana possessed twenty arms and ten heads, you can probably craft your character to be a powerful villain who is feared by many. Equip him/her with some extraordinary powers to turn your story into something magical. You could even make one of your characters a learned one like Ravana. Ravana was a scholar who had mastered the Vedas and Shastras. His ten heads represented his knowledge.
Turn one of your female characters into an alluring beauty
Let’s admit it. We love a story in which there is an alluring woman who can take your breath away. Complement you captivating female character with an equally dashing male character. Lord Rama and his wife Sita were originally good-looking in Ramayana. Infuse some romantic description in your writing; this element lends more appeal to your story. Whether you want to turn your writing into a Mills & Boon piece is your call!
Add a kidnapping angle to the plot
The demon king Ravana kidnapped Sita in his chariot. Add some twist to your story by introducing a kidnapping scene. This will generate more interest in your story. If kidnapping is not your forte, then try adding some other pivotal elements like suspense, crime, or mystery to make your story more exciting.
Introduce an exotic location in your story
Lanka was an idyllic city in Ramayana. People flourished and the kingdom knew no hunger. While this may sound too good to be true now, you can add some realistic elements in your plot to make your story sound credible. An exotic locale adds an increased appeal to your story as it opens up new vistas of imagination in your readers.
Let good triumph over evil
While lived-happily-for-ever stories may sound clichéd, let’s admit that the triumph of good over evil certainly makes us feel happier. The feel-good factor makes your readers feel contented. So, use this to your advantage by making one of your main characters a powerfully good character who vanquishes evil. Lord Rama killed Ravana by using the Brahmashastra. The Puranas describe the Bramashastra as a destructive weapon. It is said that when the Brahmashastra is discharged, a counterattack is not possible unless a Brahmadanda, the rod of Lord Brahma, is used.
Use landscapes to your advantage
Ramayana is rich in beautifully written passages that vividly describe the landscapes, along with the seasonal changes, of India. Description transports your readers to a different realm altogether.
Image credit: McKay Savage on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0