I once heard a quote from a literary writer.

As far as he was concerned, there was a five-step formula for writing a Booker Prize novel.

To paraphrase:

1. Take three or more characters
2. Place them in a location that assures theirtotal isolation from the rest of the world
3. Create a threatening situation whereby all the characters would be forced to face their own mortality
4. Construct a plot that highlights sex, relationships, death, despair and redemption (in that order)
5. Fill the text with lots of metaphor, analogies and references to other literary works

Now, I’m not sure if this is true but it struck me this is also a formula for writing almost any kind of compelling book! Try coming up with your own scenario as an exercise. You never know where it might take you.