From Chapter 4. Storyforming From A Premise

Question: I've got a [hopefully] simple question.  Do you have a list of premises? Yeah, I know that there isn't a golden list, but I've been having trouble thinking up new premises to apply to your "Storyforming From A Premise" exercise.  I would love to get a list (10, 20, 30...) different premises.  

Answer: I don't have a list, but I can point you to a couple of very good books that not only list premises, but also explain clearly how to create them, analyze them and work with them.

The standard on this topic is Lajos Egri's "The Art Of Dramatic Writing."  This is the book that first introduced the term "premise" to fiction writing and made it a rule for editors and producers everywhere.  Another book by this author is "The Art Of Creative Writing," it's an expansion on his first book.

For a more modern and practical approach, try James N. Frey's "How To Write A Damn Good Novel."  This guy takes off where Egri finishes and goes far beyond.  Plus, he lists and analyses the premises of a bunch of modern and classic novels.