A good story is able to grab the reader's attention and make them curious. To compose a good story, you must be willing to revise your writing so that all sentences have weight. Start by creating the characters and outline the plot. Then, write the first draft from start to finish. Once the first draft is complete, refine it with some writing strategies. Finally, make revisions to create a final draft.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Developing the Characters and Plot
Step 1. Find inspiration to create interesting characters or plots
The specialty of the story can come from characters that you find charming, interesting places, or plot concepts. Record your thoughts or create a mind map to generate ideas. Then, choose one to develop into a story. Here's some inspiration you can use:
- Life experience
- Stories I've heard
- Family story
- “what if” scenario
- New story
- Dream
- interesting people
- Photo
- Art
Step 2. Develop a character with a character profile sheet
Character is the most essential element in the story. The reader must be able to understand the character's point of view, and the character must be able to move the story. Create a character profile by writing name, personal details, description, traits, habits, desires and uniqueness. Provide as many details as possible.
- Create a profile for the protagonist first. Then, create profiles for other main characters, such as the antagonist. Main characters are characters who play important roles, such as influencing the protagonist or plot.
- State what the characters want or what their motivations are. Then, create a plot based on the characters, by making them get what they want or not.
- You can make your own character profile sheets or search the internet for templates.
Step 3. Choose a story setting
Setting is the place and time of the story. Setting should influence the story so you have to choose the one that adds value to the plot. Consider how this setting affects the characters and their relationships.
- For example, the story of a girl who wants to become a doctor will be very different in 1920 and 2019. The character must face and overcome obstacles, such as sexism, associated with the setting. You can use this setting if the theme is persistence because it can show how a character pursues their dreams against social norms.
- For example, a background story about camping in the jungle will create a very different feel from camping in the backyard. A forest setting may focus on how the character survives in the wild, while camping in the backyard may focus on the character's family relationships.
Warning:
When choosing a setting, be careful to define an unfamiliar time period or place. Sometimes, writers get the details wrong, and the reader will notice the error.
Step 4. Outline the plot
The plot outline helps you determine what to write next. In addition, the outline also helps you fill in the gaps in the plot. Use idea notes and character profile sheets to create storylines. Here's how to create an outline:
- Create a plot diagram consisting of exposition, triggering incident, action increase, climax, action decrease, and resolution.
- Create a traditional outline with the main points as a separate backdrop.
- Summarize each plot in the list.
Step 5. Choose a first or third person point of view
Point of view or POV for short, from point-of-view, can change the whole perspective of a story. So, choose wisely. Choose the first person POV to get closer to the story. Use limited third-person POV if you want to focus on a single character, but keep enough distance from the story to add interpretation to events. Alternatively, choose a third person who knows everything if you want to tell everything that happened.
- First person POV – One character tells the story from his own perspective. Because the story is true according to this one character, his account of events may not be reliable. For example, “I tiptoe step by step, hoping that he won't be bothered.”
- Third person limited – The narrator tells the events, but is limited to his perspective. When you use this POV, you can't provide the thoughts or feelings of another character, but you can add interpretation to the setting or events. For example, “He was tiptoeing step by step, his whole body tense from trying not to make a sound.”
- The third person who knows everything – The all-seeing narrator can tell everything that happened, including the thoughts and actions of each character. For example, “As the girl tiptoes step by step, she pretends to be asleep. The girl thought her slow steps were unobtrusive, but she was wrong. Under the blanket, the man clenched his fists."
Part 2 of 4: Drafting the Story
Step 1. Set the setting and introduce the characters at the beginning
Write the first 2-3 paragraphs to describe the setting. First, place the character in the setting. Then, give a basic description of the place, and enter details to indicate the era. Provide enough information so readers can visualize the setting in their minds.
You could start a story like this, “Ester took her medical book out of the mud, gently wiping the cover with the edge of her shirt. The boys laughed as they cycled, leaving him the last mile to the hospital alone. The sun shone on the drenched ground, turning the morning puddles into a humid afternoon mist. The heat made him want to rest, but he knew that his instructors would use being late as an excuse to kick him out of the program.”
Step 2. Introduce the problem in the first few paragraphs
Problems serve as trigger incidents that move the plot and make the reader follow the characters. Think about what the character wants, and why he can't get it. Then, create a scene that shows how he dealt with the problem.
For example, Esther's class had the opportunity to treat a patient, and she wanted to be selected as one of the students who had that opportunity. However, when she arrived at the hospital, she could only enter as a nurse. This creates a plot about Esther trying to get a place as a doctor in training
Step 3. Fill the middle of the story with action enhancements
Show how the characters solve problems. To make the story more interesting, include 2-3 challenges he faces while moving towards the climax. This builds up the reader's suspense before you reveal what happened.
For example, Esther walks into a hospital as a nurse, looks for her colleagues, changes clothes, almost gets caught, and then meets a patient who needs help
Step 4. Provide a problem-solving climax
Climax is the climax of the story. Create events that force the character to fight for what he wants. Then, indicate whether he won or lost.
In Esther's story, the climax may be when she is caught trying to treat a collapsed patient. When the hospital tried to get him out, he shouted the correct diagnosis so the senior doctor asked him to be released
Step 5. Use action descent to lead the reader to a conclusion
This action is brief because the reader will not be motivated to continue reading after the climax. Use the last few paragraphs to end the plot and summarize what happened after solving the problem.
For example, the senior doctor at the hospital praised Esther and offered to be her mentor
Step 6. Write an ending that makes the reader think
There's no need to worry about whether the ending was good in the first draft. Instead, focus on presenting the theme and implying what the characters will do next. This will make the reader think about the story.
Esther's story may end with her starting training with a new mentor. He might contemplate the opportunities that might be lost had he not defied the rules in pursuit of a goal
Part 3 of 4: Fixing the Story
Step 1. Start the story as close to the end as possible
The reader does not need to read all the events that lead to the character's problem. The reader wants to see a summary of the character's life. Choose a triggering incident that quickly leads the reader into the plot. This ensures the story doesn't move slowly.
For example, starting the story with Esther walking to the hospital is better than when she applied for medical school. However, it might be better to start with the scene of him arriving at the hospital
Step 2. Enter a dialogue that reveals something about the character
Dialogue will break up paragraphs, helping the reader's eye to keep moving down the page. In addition, dialogue tells the reader's thoughts in his own words without having to include a lot of internal monologue. Use dialogue throughout the story to convey the character's thoughts. However, make sure each dialogue moves the plot.
For example, a dialogue like this would indicate that Esther was frustrated: “But I'm the number one student in my class,” Esther pleaded. "Why are they allowed to examine patients, not me?"
Step 3. Build suspense by letting bad things happen to the characters
It's hard to let good characters go wrong, but the story would be boring without bad events. Provide obstacles or difficulties that keep the character from what he wants. Thus, there was something that had to be done in order for him to get that wish.
For example, being barred from entering the hospital as a doctor was a terrible event for Esther. Being held by a security guard was equally scary for him
Step 4. Stimulate the reader's senses by including sensory details
Use the senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and taste to engage the reader in the story. Make the setting more dynamic by showing the voices the reader will hear, the scents they will smell, and the sensations they will feel. This will make the story more interesting.
For example, Esther reacts to the smell of a hospital or the sound of an engine beeping
Step 5. Use emotion to engage the reader
Try to make the reader feel what the character feels. The trick is to connect what the characters experience with something universal. Emotions will draw the reader into the story.
For example, Esther tried very hard only to be rejected due to technical problems. Many people have experienced this kind of failure
Part 4 of 4: Ending and Finishing the Story
Step 1. Set aside the finished story at least a day before the revision
It's hard to revise the story right after it's finished because you won't be able to notice any errors and gaps in the plot. Leave it for a day or so so that you can check again with a fresh mind.
- You can print it so you can see it from a different perspective. Please try in the revision step.
- It's fine to leave the story aside for a while, but not so long that you lose interest.
Step 2. Read aloud to hear the parts that need improvement
With a loud voice, you can get a different perspective. This helps you to spot non-fluent parts of the plot or rambling sentences. Read and note the parts that need revision.
You can also read stories to other people and ask for their advice
Step 3. Ask for input from other authors or people who read frequently
Once ready, share your story with other authors, instructors, or friends. If you can, take it to a critic or writing training. Ask readers for honest feedback so you can improve it.
- Those closest to you, such as parents or friends, may not provide the best input because they want to keep your feelings in check.
- To be helpful with feedback, you need to be open. If you think you've written the most perfect story in the world, you're less likely to listen to other people's suggestions.
- Make sure you present your story to the right readers. If you're writing science fiction, but are dedicating it to a writer friend who loves literary fiction, you may not get the best feedback.
Tip:
You can find writing critic groups on Meetup.com or perhaps in the library.
Step 4. Remove anything that doesn't reveal character details or develop a plot
This may mean cutting out parts that you think are well written. However, the reader is only interested in the details that are important to the story. When revising, make sure all the sentences show something about the characters or move the plot forward. Delete irrelevant sentences.
For example, there is a passage where Esther meets a girl in the hospital who reminds her of her sister. While they may seem interesting, these details do not move the plot forward or are relevant to Esther's story. So, it's best to just delete it
Tips
- Take a notebook with you wherever you go so that any ideas that come up can be written down right away.
- Don't edit right away as you probably won't see any plot errors or gaps. Wait a few days until you can judge with a fresh mind.
- Draft before the final essay. This is very helpful for editing.
- Dialogue and details are essential to writing a compelling story. Put the reader in the position of the character.
Warning
- Don't slow down the story by including extra information that doesn't need plot or character development.
- Don't edit while writing as that will slow down the process.
- Make sure the sentence length varies.
- Do not copy parts of other books because it is plagiarism.
