The art of story-writing is a never-ending road. Start with the characters, they’re important! Give them unique designs, striking personalities, and characteristics that sing their own tune. Make sure to research, research, research any cultures you’re not familiar with!
Don’t forget about the world—is it our home planet, or the fruits of your imagination? What kind of terrain does the world have? Tall, looming mountains, or a grassy plain? An abandoned planet, full of craters? A lost civilization, advanced beyond their years, uncovered thousands of years later? The looks of the place are important too! Again, research, research, research any cultures that you aren’t familiar with! Maybe even find an artist to bring your ideas (or word vomit) to life! That’s just one piece of the puzzle, what’s next?
The plot, don’t make it boring! Does it need a unique premise, or should it be a parody of another well-loved story? Should the world be magical and mystical or just like our own? So many questions, yet only the author can answer. The exposition, or perhaps an ominous prologue? Does it begin in the past, or the future? The rising action! What problems do the characters face? Is there romance? Or do any relationships die out before they can come to fruition? Saving the world isn’t easy with relationship issues! Perhaps they need to put their differences aside and work together. The climax, the peak of the story! Who lives? Who dies? Questions bounce from one side of the brain to the other.
It doesn’t end there! Literary devices should also be taken into consideration. Dramatic irony, metaphors, onomatopoeia, what fun! What else needs to be added, what can go? All is up to the author, the one who decides the flow. Maybe it should be illustrated, or left to interpretation by chance? Questions, questions, but where are the answers?
Story-writing, how special you are to me! So many decisions to be made, in such a varied timeline. Questions, questions, and oh-so-many answers. But no need to worry, we have all the time we need, so open your eyes and get to writing—it all starts with a dream.
Photo Credit: The New York Times
