Plotchi Gumball

The sun is setting, bike tires humming on the asphalt, while intrigue tingles in the air. Maybe you’re chasing a pirate map like the Goonies, or pedalling furiously, E.T. in your basket, about to take flight against a moonlit sky. Or perhaps you’re investigating mysteries, inspired by Scooby Doo and the gang.

This month, we dive into ‘Kids-on-Bikes’ Adventures. These stories blend nostalgia and a supernatural touch, exploring the journey from childhood to adolescence against a high-stakes backdrop.

From classic books to a certain RPG-infused Netflix show, these stories have a special magic. But what exactly keeps us coming back for more?

1. These stories give young protagonists agency, allowing them to make big decisions without adult intervention.
2. Group dynamics showcase bonds of friendship while creating natural tension and diverse ways to tackle challenges.
3. Ordinary settings transform into extraordinary landscapes through a child’s perspective.

Build Your Bike Squad

So, you’ve assembled your dream team! Whether they’re exploring haunted small towns, or distant galaxies, managing multiple main characters presents a unique narrative challenge: How do you give everyone their due without overwhelming your reader or losing the plot’s momentum?

How your characters bounce off each other–their friendships, rivalries, and shared secrets–brings an ensemble cast to life. When writing a multi-protagonist story, consider:

1. Intergroup Dynamics. Who is each member closest to? Are there any secret crushes? Who is the natural leader?
2. The Conflict. Like real friendships, your characters won’t always agree. Their disagreements and how they handle them reveal more about their personalities than harmony ever could.
3. The Glue. What is it that glues your group together? Is it external pressure? The ‘big bad’? What makes your protagonists go from individuals to working as a team?

Managing viewpoint characters in ensemble casts presents another key challenge. As our wise guru Corey (who probably got it from another wise guru in a chain of writers) taught me:

The POV character should be whoever has the most at stake in the scene.

All rules are meant to be broken, but when managing lots of characters, make sure you give them all the love they deserve.

This month’s prompts explore childhood moments that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

What if…

• Childhood walkie-talkies aren’t just toys, but can pick up coded messages?
• A rare, out-of-print comic book starts depicting real events in your town, but with a monstrous twist only you and your friends recognize?
• You and your friends gain the ability to understand what pets are saying, and the town’s cats are smelling something fishy? 😼
• While digging for ‘dinosaur bones’ in your backyard, you unearth a briefcase, full of evidence about a local cold case?