This document outlines a method for developing story ideas using a character-driven plot generator. It asks the reader to start with a character and ordinary act, then pose a series of "why?", "and?", "so?", and "but?" questions to further develop the character, storyline, and potential for drama. An example is provided that follows a British woman through a series of revelations about her deceased husband's secret life after she finds identifying information suggesting he had a mistress in France. The questioning technique leads the woman on a deceitful pursuit for answers that uncovers deeper layers of deception.

1. CHARACTER DRIVEN PLOT GENERATOR
Asking a series of simple questions and coming up with solid but
open answers can develop a story idea from the ordinary world
and ordinary action a world with potentially more drama
(challenges for the hero). Solid answers and actions push story
idea on.
START WITH:
A CHARACTER
AN ‘ORDINARY ACT’
ASK 8 QUESTIONS:
WHY? AND? AND? SO? AND? BUT? SO? BUT?
(Below is using example of opening sequence from feature film After
Love Dir Aleem Khan, 2020 UK)
WHO?
A middle aged white British woman is preparing tea for herself and
her husband.
(Her husband is a ferry captain, making regular journey’s between
England and France)
1 WHY?
This is tradition/habit
She converted to the muslim faith when marrying her muslim Asian
husband approx 35 years ago.
2 AND?
As she makes tea they talk about the family event they have just been
to.
The woman questions the tradition of baby head shaving

2. 3 AND?
Husband replies it is no different from christening ritual
The kettle boils
4 SO?
Woman pours water into pot
5 AND?
Takes tea to her husband whilst talking to him
6 BUT?
He does not reply as he has died
7 SO?
She is unexpectedly left alone, yet within the tight knit community she
adopted
This isolation is a shock to her
8 BUT?
She has to sort out his belongings and formal/official things
1 WHY?
It is lawful requirement & part of grieving process
2 AND?
She goes through the motions of ritual prayer and house cleaning.
3 AND ?
Begins to sort through his belongings
4 SO?
She can begin to face his death
5 AND?
Move through her grief to begin life anew

3. 6 BUT?
She finds the ID Card of a white french woman in husbands wallet, and
there is knock at her door.
7 SO?
She hesitates and listens
8 BUT?
Does not answer the door
1 WHY?
She cannot fathom what she is looking at (ID Card)
She does not want to share the information
2 AND?
She begins to search for more evidence in his things
3 AND?
She notices his mobile phone
4 SO?
She looks through his texts.
5 AND?
They seem to point toward husbands infidelity, which she struggles to
accept.
This shatters her faith in her world
6 BUT?
She wants answers
7 SO?
She starts the journey to France

4. 8 BUT?
When she gets to the french address on the ID card she turns around
and walks away
1 WHY?
She has second thoughts
She needs to know the man she loved and devoted her life to in order
to make sense of her ‘new’ life, yet does not want to open the story
2 AND?
Goes to her hotel
3 AND?
Puts the kettle on
Calls the French woman's number from her own phone
4 SO?
The French woman answers
5 AND?
English woman attempts to speak
6 BUT?
Finds she cannot
7 SO?
She puts phone down
She collects herself and calls again
8 BUT?
Again she cannot speak

5. 1 WHY?
Because she has heard the woman's voice; it is becoming more real
2 AND?
She still had hope that it night all be a mistake
3 AND?
She is still struggling to accept all of this
4 SO?
She returns to the comfort of tea making ritual
5 AND?
She realises that she’s making 2 cups
She is caught in grieving for him and her rising feelings of betrayal
6 BUT?
The feelings of betrayal win out
7 SO?
She fills only one cup
8 BUT?
The grieving returns

6. 1 WHY?
It is the only world she has ever known
2 AND?
She is alone in this new world
3 AND?
She needs answers
4 SO?
She returns to the French woman's address the next day
5 AND?
When the French woman arrives, she makes assumption that the
English woman is a cleaner
6 BUT?
The English woman does not speak
7 SO?
The French woman invites her into her home
8 BUT?
The French woman does not check the Englishwoman’s credentials
1 WHY?
She is moving house and has spoken to a cleaning agency
2 AND?
The English woman goes along with this assumption
3 AND?
Enters the house under the pretence of being a cleaner
4 SO?
She begins to explore this hidden world to find her answers

7. 5 AND?
She has the upper hand as she now has knowledge that the French
woman does not
6 BUT?
A young man arrives
It is the French woman’s son
He is half Asian
He is 15
7 SO?
This new information about her husbands secret life
reveals deeper layers of deception - the stakes have raised
8 BUT?
She still does not clarify who she is
She is compelled to find out more
The stage is set for her deceitful pursuit of the truth