Writing 3 Ways to Build a Story
Here are several tips to help new fictional writers work through developing a short story or novel. There are several ways a work of fiction can begin in the writer’s mind. Some stories spring from an idea or theme, others from an interesting character, still others from childhood. Writing 3 Ways to Build a Story.
Developing a Short Story or Novel from a Specific Theme
There are several ways a work of fiction can begin in the writer’s mind. Some stories spring from an idea or theme, others from an interesting character, still others from a specific dramatic scene the writer has witnessed and feels might make a good story.
The Theme-Based Story
Theme-based stories usually occur when a writer has a point or moral theme he is anxious to share with the world and believes the best way to do this is in a fictional form. Writers who start with a theme are lucky in a sense, as the theme is like the foundation to a house—the sooner it is established and the more solid it is, the stronger the story will be.
The theme might be a very complex message or a simple one. An example of a complex theme might be—is it morally wrong to kill an evil person, such as a mad dictator, for a good cause? Is murder ever a good deed rather than a bad one?
A simpler theme might be crime doesn’t pay, or it’s human nature to want more than you have.
The Character-Based Story
Not all writers have a specific theme in mind when they start a new work of fiction. Some prefer starting with a character and writ to a little free-hand to see just where that character takes them.
Perhaps the writer had a teacher who was a great inspiration. Mr. Crowley was strict but kind and taught him discipline and he owes his success to him. In order to have a successful story, this great teacher must be someone the reader can identify with. He must become everyman’s ideal teacher.
