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Filling out your story is something I struggle with a lot. It generally comes when I have an idea, but then I realise that I only have the beginning (the thing that sets off a chain of events leading to the ending) the important point in the middle (where something is generally discovered that leads to the climax) and then the end (where everything is sorted out).
And, although that's definitely the way to start planning your story you need more than just that.
Some people, once they've got those three things just seem to be able to wing it and write whatever comes to mind, but I have trouble with this and I'm sure some of you guys do to. Because it's hard writing a story when you don't really know what the small things that are gonna happen in it are.
Like, I can't just have a story where there are no filler chapters, but I have so much trouble coming up with ideas for filler chapters. And then I have to somehow make them relevant to the story and uGH.... It's just the worst.
So here is a list of things that you can use to make your story longer instead of having everything happen really fast. It fills out your story, makes it seem like more things are happening and adds mystery (I suppose?)
DREAMS
They're kind of cliche at this point, but what isn't? You can use a dream after your character has been through a traumatic event. You could have them trying to figure out something and eventually the answer worms it's way into their sleep. They could be clairvoyant and get flashes of the future in their dreams (although I would advise against this as it's not very original anymore). You could use dreams for a number of things and it's always just kinda fun to do.
NEWS
You could have your character see something on the news that impacts the story, that makes then decide they'll do something. If they're a superhero then they'll have to go help the people (if it's like a hostage situation or something) and what happens next could make your plot move forwards. It's really up to you guys with this one.
DESCRIPTIONS
This is if you're just searching for a way to up your word count and make your story a little less dull and full of small paragraphs.
Instead of writing 'he picked up the phone' you could change that to a paragraph about how anxious he was to do so. His palms were sweating, he scratched the back of his neck. He almost walked away, but turned just before he left the room and ran to the phone again etc etc etc.
Just look over your story and see what you think needs to be changed. Just don't go overboard, it's okay to have some simple sentences in there. Not everything has to be described in minuscule detail.
MEMORIES
Have someone recount something which happened to/was told to him years ago, which may or may not tie in with the plot. I would advise that it tie into the plot and not just to fill your book with random stuff that is completely useless to the actual story. A few things that don't have much significance are okay, but not a whole book full of them.
DIALOGUE
Add a few red herrings, dead ends, misunderstandings and topic jumping in the dialogues. You can also add it in the description as well as dialogue by mentioning an object (however insignificant it may seem at the time) or a place or event or person. That way when the readers find out that it was very important all along it makes it more fun for them to look back and go "Oh my god, I can't believe it!"
REPEAT STUFF AS A FLASHBACK
That's recycling stuff which you've already described once. Have someone remember it and describe it again. Or if they're trying to find out what 'really happened' then, or something, the situation can be recycled many times, as the protagonist ponders what took place then. Each time they could remember it a little differently and that only serves to confuse them.
FLASHBACKS
Also just have regular flashbacks that are of importance to the story or character development. A scene from their childhood, happy or sad. Anything that you think is relevant or that the readers might find interesting.
ADD CONFLICTS/SUB PLOTS
While everything in your story is generally about reaching the one true goal (the revealing of the secrets, the defeat of the bad guy, whatever shape or form they take) the rest of your story is all about leading up to that moment, the climax. And there's normally a lot of things that happen and they are the reason the climax turns out the way it does.
Your character could be having a fight with their parents or significant other and they could storm out of the house and get kidnapped. Anything could happen, that could be the reason the final confrontation happens.
Have your character fall out with their friends, break up with their boyfriend (or girlfriend), get together with someone, fail a test. Anything at all, just try and have it tie into what happens next.
Tony Stark was kidnapped by terrorists and he made the first Iron Man suit to escape. That prompted him to stop selling weapons and to become the hero Iron Man. And he started trying to figure out who in his company had betrayed him. (I think... I haven't watched Iron Man in a long time...) And it all was leading up to him finding out it was Obadiah Stane and then the final battle between them.
In Homecoming Peter Parker had a crush on Liz Allen and he then found out that the villain he was hunting was her father. And quickly after that her father realised Peter was Spiderman and that led to the final confrontation.
It's really just small details that people don't think much of until they realise how important those details are to the story. Liz was just a detail until her father turned out to be the Vulture and then she became a whole different level of important.
Like how we got end credits scenes with Thanos in for YEARS before IW. I, as someone who hasn't read many comic books (I'M STARTING TO, DON'T JUDGE ME) had no idea who he was at all, so it kept me on my toes. And now I wish someone would step on him, but that's besides the point.
So drop hints that make your readers go 'oh, I think it's this person who's behind it all!' even if the hint is a complete red herring (a red herring, in case you didn't know, is a misleading piece of information, a false trail designed to make you think something other than the truth is the truth.)
I know this isn't really a tip that's pointed directly at Marvel related stuff. It's more just a general writing tip, but I decided to put it in here anyway because it's just something that a lot of people struggle with.
