You Have to Know the Story Before You Can Tell It

Getting Started; Scene, Plot, and Characters

You might think writing a story is easy, which if you have a story to tell, can be.  After all what does it take; a scene, a plot and a few main characters.  Put them all together and viola!  You have a story.

But first before you actually start writing your story you have to know the story, it would apply to telling the story also: 

You might want to ask why you want to tell a story in the first place and what makes you think someone would be interested in the story you want to write about as much as you. If you can’t find a reason why anyone would be interested, or even why you yourself want to tell or write it, don’t waste your or anyone else’s time, put the pen down or stop typing. 

Then after you’re sure why you want to tell or write a story and only then can you start: 

First: Think of a scene. Anyplace at anytime, on earth or on another planet, maybe a dimension, even heaven or hell. Familiar or fantasy make sure you know why you want to select it. It’s for that crazy story running around in your head. Describe it? If you’re familiar go for accuracy, if you’re just imagining this place, let your imagination run wild.  Is it pretty, daytime or night, stormy or starry? Detail. That’s what is important. Detail. Go on and on. Rest, go back, add, add, add.

Second:  Think of a plot, the action, what’s happening, what just happened and why. Go into depth again, change it to almost nearly happened. How about never, ever happened? Or, could happen, might happen, should happen, won’t happened.  Did it happen? Will it happen again, when, how, and why?  What is this scene used for? Don’t stop writing until you’re satisfied. The more info the better.  The more you know about the story you want to tell, the easier it is to tell it.

Thirdly:  Choose your characters, visualize them in your head if they are fictional, describe them. Go wild, look at other examples of characters in other books you’ve read.  What was so interesting, hateful, loveable about the person. Go into detail as much as possible. Write write write, describe describe.

If your story is good this draft should have 160 thousand words or more. 


Now, start cutting. Cut everything not needed. Chop chop chop, edit edit edit. Leave about half of it on the cutting room floor. Only use what's relevant and driving your story forward.  Drop anything that makes the story lag, or dull, things that sounds silly, cut things that are not important to know, worthless info, who cares type of stuff! Spelling, punctuation all that.

Your back to 80,000 words.

Now, start writing your story, using your rough draft as a guide.

Dog Brindle