You could base your fictional story on a dream. Maybe you dreamed of a strange forest where the trees have faces and can talk. Develop a story around a protagonist who gets lost in this forest and has to make a deal with the trees to find their way out. Or, think about a world where emotions are physical objects. People carry their joys, sorrows, and angers around with them. A story could revolve around a character who loses their most precious emotion - object and has to go on a journey to retrieve it.
You could write a story about a friendship between a human and an alien. The human discovers the alien in a hidden place on Earth. At first, they are both scared and suspicious of each other. But as time passes, they start to understand and trust one another. Their friendship is tested when the government or other humans find out about the alien and want to capture it. The two friends then have to fight to stay together. Also, think about a story where two friends have a shared secret that they can't tell anyone else. This secret could be something magical or dangerous, and it affects their relationship in different ways as they grow up.
A vengeful ghost. This bad guy was brutally murdered in the past and now haunts the place of his death. He lures people to the location and then terrifies them to death, relishing in their fear.
A group of friends find an old map that leads them to a forgotten island. On this island, there are ancient ruins and mysterious creatures. They encounter a series of challenges like solving riddles left by long - gone civilizations and facing guardians that protect the island's most precious magic item. Along the way, they learn about friendship and the power of unity.
One way to start could be with a strange discovery. For example, the main character finds an old, mysterious key in their attic that seems to have some sort of strange glow. This discovery could lead them on a journey to find out what the key unlocks, whether it's a hidden door in an ancient building or a magical box. It immediately grabs the reader's attention as they'll be curious to know more about this strange object and where it will lead the character.
Myths and legends are great sources. For instance, Greek mythology has a plethora of characters and stories that can be reimagined. You could take the story of Perseus and put a modern twist on it, like making him a young skateboarder in a big city who has to use his wits and a magical skateboard to defeat a modern - day Medusa.
You could consider a story about a time traveler who tries to prevent a major disaster. It's exciting and full of possibilities for adventure and mystery.
Imagine a post - apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed most of the cities. The main character is a lone scavenger who discovers a hidden garden in the middle of a ruined skyscraper. It's a place of beauty and tranquility, but also a source of conflict as other survivors want to claim it for themselves. The story could be about the scavenger's fight to protect this small piece of paradise.
Perhaps the time - traveling detective is trying to prevent a crime that will have far - reaching consequences in the future. He travels to different time periods, from ancient Rome to the future itself, following a trail of clues left by the criminal. Along the way, he meets various characters who either help or hinder his mission, and he has to constantly adapt to the different cultures and time - specific challenges.