Writing isn’t easy.
And if we are talking about jotting down a good storyline, it becomes even more difficult.
When I was a child, I almost always used to wonder how Pixar was successful in developing great films year after year. However, then I found out – each of these movies took six years to get to the theater. And most of the time was solely spent on creating the storyline.
In this article, I’m going to talk about how you can follow the same path and write a brilliant story on your own. It’ll be an informative 3-step guide. So, bear with me till the end.
Writing a Compelling Storyline – How to Begin?
Since I’ve started writing, I have gone through a lot of things to better my skillset and overall judgment on how a story should look. Here’s what I have learned over the years.
1. Write It All in a Single Sitting
Whether you’re working on a not-so-simple short story or a fascinating novel – it’s important to write the first draft in a single sitting. Yes, it might not be well-written or have plot holes.
But, at least you will have an idea of what you are trying to develop.
The first draft of a story almost works like a discovery process. You are kinda like an explorer or an archeologist who’s trying to unearth an ancient city from the ground.
Yes, you might have a clue or two. So, use all of them to create your first draft, preferably in a single sitting. Then, you can take your time and explore how you want to progress later on.
2. Focus on Your Protagonist
A story should always be about a protagonist. So, if he or she is not well-written, your story is not going to feel compelling enough to the person reading it.
Usually, when you’re creating the main character of your story, you should focus on 3 things –
- The person should be able to decide a turning point in the story.
- There should be a crisis point in their life.
- They have to find a way to get out of it.
Once you are done with creating your protagonist, you can focus on developing someone who is a complete opposite to them. This person will be the villain of your story. Now, finally, you will need to create someone who will work as a comic relief of the book. It might be someone who is close to the protagonist or a simple, sidekick fool who makes everything hilarious.
3. Edit. Edit. Edit.
Almost every professional writer considers writing three or more drafts before they provide or publish the final draft of their write-up. In this case,
- The first one is known as the Vomit Draft. It’s all about writing the outline of the story and exploring it further. Make sure not to share it with anyone.
- The second one should be a bit more formal and have a better sense of writing. But it’s still far away from the final piece and, therefore, can affect a reader’s first impression.
- The third draft is usually more usable and, therefore, can feel more mature. However, if you still feel like there’s something left unexplored, you may create another one.
Usually, after this one, your story will begin to gel together and you will feel confident about publishing it. But I will still ask you not to get carried away and spend a little more time on it.
How to Use the Storywriting Charm in Application Essays?
Writing an application essay in college is almost like writing a story.
In this case, you’ll need to reflect on your own life and convince the professors that you’re the right person to enter the institution. Here’s how you can develop the story to your advantage.
- There should be a beginning, a mid section, and a conclusive end to your storyline. It’s going to have a realistic tone too, as it essentially depicts your own life.
- The protagonist in the story is going to be you, naturally. Therefore, it might be best to ensure that you are developing your character properly. Make sure to pick a significant stage in your life and write about how it has changed you as a human being.
- Ensure that you are writing about your struggles relating to the phase as clearly as you can. This way, it will be easier for the readers to empathize with you.
- The story should end on a positive note and reflect how mature you’ve become thanks to that incident. Don’t forget to explain how you got out of the mess unscathed too.
- Finally, try not to show yourself at fault. Even if you do, make sure to portray that you have acknowledged what you have done and learned from the same.
As per Ivory Research, if you’re writing a story about your life, it has to be written in a first person format. You may create another individual there to support your decisions. But, when a story is being written from a first-person viewpoint, it becomes easier for people to relate to it.
And when you are writing a story, that is what you will want to do – connect people with your journey and allow them to explore it. The more visceral your writing style is, the better.
A Story to Call You Own
Writing a story, whether in an essay or something else, will be difficult. And, if you have zero idea about the flow and all, you might end up messing everything up.
Therefore, it might be best to opt for someone who has written a story before or is efficient in jotting down essays. That way, you will be able to create a masterpiece of your own.
In any case, that will be all for this article. If there’s something else you want to know, be sure to comment below. I’ll try my best to help you out in any way I can.
And yes, if you want me to add anything in the article, let me know about that too. I will try to ensure that it’s the right thing to write and, if possible, will add that as well.