Starting concepts can take many forms. You can have an idea for the general plot; you can have an image of an environment, an outline for the main character, or even smaller, less developed ideas. It does not matter how rough it is, any idea can turn into a full story. Read a lot during your free time to get inspired and get used to a lot of different writing styles. [2] X Expert Source Alicia CookProfessional Writer Expert Interview. 11 December 2020.
For our story about video games, for example, we might develop the concept by asking ourselves who made the futuristic video game. Why are they making it? What happens to those who play?
Try creating a false ad for your book. Include a summary, a cover idea, and the title. This will help you think of ways to make the book appealing. Don’t feel limited: there’s no reason a book about kids playing video games can’t be enjoyable for older people who have never played video games. However, if you intend to write a book that aims at people who have never experienced what you are writing about, you will likely need to give plenty of background information and do an outstanding job at describing the experiences of the characters.
Act structure: The act structure, commonly associated with plays and film, can easily be applied to novels as well. This theory of structure states that stories do well when broken up into clearly identifiable sections. The normal number of sections is three though two and four are common. In the classic three-act structure, the first act introduces the main and secondary characters, the setting, the problem to be conquered, and often some background information (this act usually comprises roughly 25% of the story). [4] X Research source The second act moves through and develops the conflict in the story, usually containing a plot point where the main character faces a major setback. This is the meat and potatoes of the story and usually comprises roughly 50% of the content. The third act is the conclusion, where the hero faces the villain and the story reaches its climax, followed by a rewarding or, at least, less exciting ending scene or series of scenes. [5] X Research source Each of these acts can often be boiled down into three subsections, each with its own arch or mini-story. Monomyth or the Hero’s Journey: This theory of story structure was famously put forward by Joseph Campbell. It states that almost every story with a hero can be boiled down into one main series of archetypes. This begins with a hero who is called to adventure though s/he initially refuses the burden. The hero is given some aid before crossing from the world, s/he has always known into the adventure (where the hero feels lost and alone at first). The hero then undergoes a series of trials, during which they will often encounter helpers, at the end of which the hero goes through some significant personal change. The hero then confronts the main antagonist of the story and returns home, enriched with wisdom and treasure.
Man against nature: This is a story where your main character faces off against some natural phenomena. An example would be stories where the main character becomes lost in the wilderness or the antagonist is an animal. An example of this kind of story would be the film 127 Hours. Man against the supernatural: This is a story where your main character faces off against creatures like ghosts and demons, God himself, or other beings not of this world. The Shining is a good example of this type of conflict. Man against man: This is the most basic story conflict, where your main character faces off against another person. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classic example. Man against society: In this type, your main character faces off against the rules of a society or societal norms. An example would be the novel Fahrenheit 451. Man against self: This is a story where your main character faces off against his own inner demons or his own internal conflict. An example of this would be The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Frank Herbert’s Dune (for example) is not about a guy trying to avenge his family. It’s about the perils of imperialism and Herbert makes it clear that he believes Western powers have become hopelessly entangled in a situation where they do not belong which they cannot hope to control.
Your character’s faults will give you the space necessary to improve them over the course of the story. This is what makes a story good: your character undergoing challenges to make them better human beings in the end. This is what your audience wants to read about, as it helps them believe that they too can be better people at the end of their struggles.
You can tell someone the sky is green, you just have to make them believe it by telling them how at sunset it faded from the pale green of a leaf’s belly to a rich green which made everything seem dull by comparison before darkness set into an almost iridescent color like a crow’s feathers. Make them see it by understanding it well enough yourself that you can explain it.
You can write the text with a pen and paper, type on a typewriter, type on a computer, or use a software program which records your voice as you talk and translates it into typed text. Different medium work best for different people.
How to Write a Book How to Write an Autobiography How to Write a Book As a Teenager How to Write a Children’s Book How to Write a Credible Fantasy Story How to Self Publish a Book How to Publish an Ebook How to Write a Short Story How to Write a Novel How to Write a Short Novel How to Write an End of a Novel How to Plan out a Novel How to Write a Rough Draft How to Prepare for Writing a Book How to Write Your Life Book
