I need to figure out my plot lines for my story - can you help?

Question

I've tried outlining my story idea several times, but always get stuck feeling as though my plot idea is merely fit for a subplot.

So far, I've come to this:

~somewhere along the way (preferably towards the end, perhaps at the climax of the story) there is a house fire involving the MC.

~this near-death experience sort of leads to a plot point where she finds her way out of a love triangle that has been building up throughout the story.

I don't want my story to be a romance, I don't want it to be mushy, and I definitely don't wish to have a MC who just complains about boys the whole time. So this can not become the main plot.
Also, I've realized that the fire really only works as a subplot, not as the full plot as I had originally intended.

I'm currently in the process of brainstorming ideas for a plot. The only reason I haven't ditched these ideas yet to find a new theme is because I'm set on this character and feel like a story must be told for her - including the house fire and love triangle.
Perhaps this is a weird question but I'd very much appreciate any ideas you can think of that'd help fuel this story, preferably intertwining the 2 subplots I have in mind. My ideas so far have been increasingly more ridiculous and I could use a little help. Thank you all so much, any ideas are appreciated.

*My novel is contemporary fiction.

norcekri · Accepted Answer

Katy, you left out some critical stuff.  In your mind, you're basing this story on the MC's character, but you didn't bother to tell us what is so compelling about her -- or anything about her at all, except for these few plot elements that simply happen to her.  I can come up with a variety of plot elements you might find useful, but they generally depend on the character.  For instance ...

What is this story about her that needs to be told?
Why is she the compelling one to be the subject of the story?
What are the ethical elements you want the reader to take away after "The end"?

"Contemporary" is a start.  Where does the story take place?  Is it in one city or town, or can you write competently about other locations?

You mention a love triangle, but you tell us *zilch* about it.  I don't know whether this woman is the hypotenuse, long leg, or short leg.  Even more complex, does this involve any same-sex urges that could confuse the issue even more?
What is this triangle escape you envision?  Is she removed from the arena of Venus altogether, or does she get successfully paired up with someone?

What is the ultimate emotional angst of the story?  I learned from Spider Robinson that you should be able to reduce your main point to a single emotional cry.  His example was a real-life story, but he and Jeanne wrote a novel around the theme of "My love, how can you want to go where I cannot follow?"
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Anonymous · Answer

You aren't a creator when you are not able to even believe of an notion. Good lord. You cant purchase or 'borrow' creativity, its both you bought it or no longer. THINK! It does no longer harm to THINK. I'm sorry for my rudeness however those style of query are simply simple STUPID.

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I need to figure out my plot lines for my story - can you help?

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