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What makes a story “good”? Why do some stories stay with us long after the book is closed, while others leave us feeling unsatisfied? We’ll guide you through everything you need to know about getting the most out of your own story, as well as some pitfalls to avoid.
- 10 Ways to Make A Good Story Succeed
- Give Your Story Strong Dramatic Content
- Vary Rhythm and Structure in Your Prose
- Create Believable, Memorable Characters
- Make The Important Story Sections Effective
- Deepen Your Plot with Subplots
- Make Every Line of Dialogue Count
- Add What Makes A Good Story
- Create Conflict and Tension
- Deliver Knockout Endings
Give your story strong dramatic contentVary rhythm and structure in your proseCreate believable, memorable charactersMake the important story sections effective‘Man has bacon and eggs for breakfast’ is not a story idea that is going to have readers clawing for a copy of your book. It also is highly unlikely this would sustain an entire novel or an entire story. ‘Man has bacon and eggs for breakfast, but the bacon is made from human flesh’ is a story scenario with much more dramatic potential (this could b...
Writing instructors often advise creative writing classes to write shorter, punchier sentences. Short sentences are great for increasing pace and help to make scenes that have tense subject matter tenser in mood. Yet be wary of monotonous writing. Vary sentence length. Tap out the rhythm of your sentences’ syllables every now and then, or read your...
Why do we find some characters more memorable than others? Because they have one or more of the following: 1. Unique voices, personas and expressions 2. Intriguing (or baffling) goals and motivations 3. Flaws and weaknessesas well as strengths 4. Distinctive appearances (including body language, gait and mannerisms) Note that appearance comes last:...
Each part of a story needs to be effective to make it good. Great openings create fascinating introductions to authors’ worlds, characters and plot scenarios. In a brilliant middle, your story might: 1. Introduce new characters who help or hinder your primary character(s) 2. Add subplots that supplement your main story arc (more on this in number 5...
What is the definition of a subplot?
A subplot is ‘a secondary plot, or a strand of the main plot that runs parallel to it and supports it’. An example of a subplot would be the departure of the character Quoyle’s wife in the early chapters of E. Annie Proulx’s novel The Shipping News. This becomes part of the subplot of Quoyle grieving for (and looking for substitute) love. The subplot sets the tragic tone for the novel and the pathos of it, Quoyle’s heartbreak, drives the reader to invest emotionally in his outcome. This is wh...
Make every line of dialogue count. In great dialogue: 1. We gain a sense of characters’ different personalities, views, quirks (everyone has their own voice) 2. Dialogue serves the story (characters don’t just sit around telling each other what they had for breakfast) 3. Dialogue deepens or develops connections between characters such as conflict a...
What makes a story great? Besides unforgettable characters, a crafted plot, engaging action and dialogue? Immersive settings. A great story puts us right in the heart of its scenes, its world. How do you write a great setting? 1. Make place a character.Don’t just give a house a shape and colour. Give it personality. Is it old and dank, shutting out...
When we read the word ‘conflict’ we often think immediately of violence. War, for example, or physical fights between adversaries. But there are many kinds of conflict you can use to improve your story. Characters’ internal conflicts create tensionby making readers wonder whether they will overcome their hurdles. Characters might also grapple with ...
The ending will either entice a reader to seek out other novels you’ve written or donate the book they’ve just finished. Don’t let your book be clutter. End on a lingering impression:
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- Characters. Every story needs characters. Your protagonist is your main character, and they are the primary character interacting with the plot and the conflict.
- Setting. Your story must take place somewhere. Setting is where and when the story takes place, the physical location and time period.. Some stories have only one setting, while others have several settings.
- Theme. Our next story element is theme. You can think of theme as the “why” behind the story. What is the big idea? Why did the author write the story, and what message are they trying to convey?
- Tone. Tone might be the most complicated of all the story elements. Tone is the overall feeling of your story. A mystery might be foreboding. A women’s literature story might feel nostalgic.
- Premise: A premise sets up the location, characters, and circumstances your readers need to understand before you launch into the story’s plot. A premise includes physical location, like an elementary school or hospital, as well as the basic expository information that readers need to understand at the beginning of your story.
- Plot: The plot is the sequence of events that make up the action of your story. Understanding the elements of plot is vital for any writer. A plot progresses chronologically from an inciting incident and rising action to a climax that spills over into falling action followed by resolution.
- Character: Plot cannot exist in a vacuum; it requires different characters who participate in and advance the story. Character development is one of the most important literary elements.
- Prose: The sentence structure and word choices you implement in your writing are also key elements of your story. Deciding whether to write in the vernacular of a first-person narrator or in the more neutral voice of a third-person omniscient narrator is an important decision that will affect your prose.
- CREATE A COMPLEX MAIN CHARACTER. What if everybody were as shallow as their Instagram feeds? You asked them a question, and they responded with a short, inspiring quote and then radio silence for a day.
- INCLUDE A TRANSFORMATION. Cards on the table: this is my favourite element. It’s the reason I love storytelling. Frankly, it’s the reason I love being alive.
- GIVE YOUR MAIN CHARACTER A DEEP DESIRE. I want you. I love you. I must have you. That’s the level of desire your character must have. You can have desire without writing a romance plot.
- ADD OBSTACLES TO YOUR STORY. I wanted an ice cream. I had some money. So I bought it. And dammit, it was delicious ice cream! Worst. Story. Ever. Why is that anecdote (it’s not a story!)
Nov 2, 2021 · To help you better understand how stories come together, here are seven elements you'll find in almost any story: Story Element #1: Theme. Story Element #2: Characters. Story Element #3: Setting. Story Element #4: Plot. Story Element #5: Conflict. Story Element #6: Point of view. Story Element #7: Style. Story Element #1: Theme.
P.S. If you want to learn more about the five major steps you need to complete to write a short story, read this article. What Is a Story? I know a man who consistently tells stories during parties. (Sort of like this guy!) He starts out well but then goes off on tangent after tangent, ultimately not really getting to any sort of point.
