journals and pens for your sword and your gun

i've been reading a lot of maderr/amasour/amaretto's fairy tales, and want to try my hand at one of my own. the problem is...i have no ideas. so i adapted a writing exercise (that i read in reference to writing erotica, among other things) to suit my fairy-tale needs:

the smart way:
1. write down a list of characters, a list of locations, and a list of problems on a series of note cards.
2. shuffle each group and then pick one from each pile. you now have your protagonist, the location of most of the action, and the problem the protagonist must solve.
3. pick a second character (with or without returning the first card to the deck). this is the love interest of the first. (optional)

the paper saving way:
1. find a deck of cards.
2. write down a list of characters, a list of locations, and a list of problems on a sheet of paper. each should be numbered according to the cards (if it's a regular deck, it would be Ace, 1, 2,...King; if it's a different sort of deck, like Uno, it would be 0, 1,...skip, reverse, draw 2, wild, draw 4).
3. pick out as many numbers and face/instruction cards as you have characters for. shuffle those cards. pick one for the protagonist and a second (with or without returning the first card to the deck) for a love interest (the love interest is optional).
4. pick out the cards needed for location, shuffle, and choose one. this is where the action goes down.
5. pick out the cards needed for your problem, shuffle, and choose. this is the challenge your protagonist faces.

the fast way (suggested by keitichandesu, and most easily used by tabletop RPGers):
1. pick out a die.
2. make four lists--one of protagonists, one of love interests, one of location, and one of problems--and write as many possibilities as there are sides on your die.
3. roll the die for each list. you've now got your characters, a location, and situation.

voila--idea ^_^ now go write!