How to Write a Good Story

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This article was co-written by Lucy V. Hay. Lucy V. Hay is an author, script editor and blogger who helps other authors through seminars, writing courses and her blog Bang2Write. Lucy is a producer on two horror movies and her debut crime novel, The Other Twin, is being adapted for the screen by Sky’s Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Agatha Raisin (Free@Last TV).

There are 7 references cited in this article that you can see at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 155,717 times.

A compelling story will engage readers and make them curious to read more. To write a good story, you need to be willing to edit each sentence to make sense. Let’s start with character building and plot outline, then start writing the first draft from the beginning to the end of the story. Once the first draft has taken shape, you can refine it with a number of writing techniques. Finally, review to complete the final draft.

Table of Contents

Character and plot development

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Brainstorm to find a good character or plot. Your story can take shape from a character you find interesting, a fascinating place, or a concept that makes up a plot. Write down your thoughts or create a mind map to generate ideas and choose one of them to develop into a story. Here are a few suggestions that you can apply: ^{[1] X Research Sources}

Experiences in your life
A story with hidden, scary or mysterious content
A story you’ve heard
Family story
A “what if” scenario
A news story
A dream
An interesting person you met
Pictures
Art theme

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Build characters by making character sketches. Character is the most important element in the story. Readers will identify with the characters, and the characters will lead your story. Create a profile for the characters by naming them, describing their personal details, appearance, traits, habits, desires, and interesting habits. Write down as much detail as possible. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Sketch the main character first. This is followed by sketches of other main characters, such as villains. Characters are considered main if they play a major role in the story, such as influencing the main character or influencing the plot.
Ask yourself what your characters want or what their motivations are, then build the plot around them and work out that either they get what they want, or they don’t. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
You can create your own sketches or find templates online.

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Choose a setting for the story. The setting is the time and place where the story takes place. It has to impact the story in some way, so you need to choose a setting that complements the story. Consider how that setting affects the characters and their relationships. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

For example, the story of a girl who dreams of becoming a doctor when told in the 1920s will be far different from 2019. The character will have to overcome other obstacles as well, such as gender bias. , depending on the context. However, you can use this setting if your subject is perseverance, as it allows you to portray a character who perseveres in pursuing his dreams in the face of social prejudice.
As another example, the setting of a campground story set deep in an unfamiliar forest will create a different mood than when set in the protagonist’s backyard. The forest setting can focus on the protagonist’s ability to survive, while the backyard setting can focus on the character’s family relationships.

Warning: When choosing a setting, you should be cautious about a time or place that is unfamiliar to you. The details are easy to go wrong, and the reader will likely spot your mistake.

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Outline the main outline of the plot. A plot sketch will help you know what to write next. Besides, it also helps you fill in the holes in the plot before you start writing. You can use brainstorming and character sketching to build a plot. Here are a few ways to do this: ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Create plot diagrams including intro, initiating event, climax, climax, descending, and ending.
Create a traditional outline with key points for each scene.
Summarize each plot and turn it into a bulleted list.

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Choose from a first-person or third-person perspective. The point of view can completely change the perspective of a story, so choose wisely. Choose a first-person perspective to stick to the story. Use a limited third-person perspective if you want to focus on one character but want to keep your distance to give your own interpretation of the details. Alternatively, you can use the third person fluently if you want to share everything that happens in the story. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

First Person Perspective – Each character tells the story from their point of view. Because the story is told from the subjective point of view of the first person, their narrative may not be true. For example, “I tiptoed softly on the floor, hoping he doesn’t wake up.”
Limited third person perspective – A narrator narrates the events of the story, but the perspective is limited to one character. Using this perspective, you can’t add the thoughts or feelings of other characters, but still include your interpretations of the setting or events in the story. For example, “She crept on the floor, her whole body tense, trying her best not to make a sound.”
Clear Third Person Perspective – An eyewitness narrator recounts all of the events that occurred in the story, including the thoughts and actions of each character. For example, “When she tiptoed across the room, he pretended to be asleep. She thought her smooth footsteps didn’t wake him up, but she was wrong. Lying under the blanket, he was clenching his fists.”

Draft a story

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Set the scene and introduce the characters in the opening. Allow two or three paragraphs to immerse the reader in the context. First, you put the character in the context, followed by a brief description of the place and combined with other details to introduce the era in which the story is taking place. Provide just enough information for the reader to picture the picture. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You could start the story like this: “Esther picked up the medical book from the mud, carefully wiping the cover with the hem of her skirt. The smiling boy rode his bike away, leaving her to walk the remaining two kilometers to the hospital. The sun sheds light on the rain-soaked landscape, turning morning puddles into midday wet mist. The heat made her want to stop and rest, but she knew the instructor would make excuses that she was late to take her out of the program.”

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Introduce the problem in the first few paragraphs. The problem in the story will act as an event that kicks off the plot and keeps the reader interested. Think about what your characters want, and why they don’t get it. Next, let’s create a scene depicting them confronting the problem. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

For example, suppose Esther’s class is about to have an internship with a patient, and she hopes to be one of the selected students, but when she arrives at the hospital, she learns that she is only interning with a patient. role as a nurse. This detail establishes the plot of Esther’s struggle to get an internship as a doctor.

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Bringing conflict into the middle of the story. Describe the character trying to solve the problem. To make the story more engaging, you should include two or three challenges they face as they move towards the climax of the story. This part will give the reader a sense of suspense before you reveal how the story unfolds. ^{[9] X Research Source}

For example, Esther might go to the hospital as a nurse, find colleagues, change clothes, almost get discovered, and then meet a patient in need of treatment.

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Create a climax to solve the problem. The climax is the climax of the story. You need to create an event that forces your character to fight for his or her goal, then show that the character either succeeds or fails. ^{[10] X Research Source}

In Esther’s story, the climax can come when she is caught trying to treat a patient who has just collapsed. When she was dragged away by hospital security, she shouted the correct diagnosis, causing a senior doctor to overhear her and order her release.

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Use descending conflict to bring the reader to the end. The descending conflict should be brief, as the reader will no longer be tempted to continue reading after the climax. You could write two paragraphs to close the plot and summarize what happened after the problem-solving section. ^{[11] X Research Source}

For example, a senior doctor might commend Esther and offer to be her mentor.

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Write a conclusion that gives the reader something to ponder. In the first draft, don’t worry about creating a good ending. Instead, focus on presenting the theme and suggesting the character’s next action. This will make the reader think about the story. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Esther’s story may end with her starting to work with her new mentor. She could reflect on what she would have missed if she hadn’t defied the rules in pursuit of her goal.

Sharpen the story

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The beginning of the story is as close to the ending as possible. The reader does not need to know all the facts leading up to the problem the character is facing. They just want to see a snapshot of the character’s life. You should choose an initiating event that can quickly lead the reader into the plot. That way your story doesn’t move too slowly. ^{[13] X Research Source}

For example, it would be better to start the story with Esther on her way to the hospital than with her entering medical school. It could have been even better if the story unfolded when she had just arrived at the hospital.

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Use dialogue to reveal a little about the characters. Dialogues separate paragraphs, helping the reader to skim the page from top to bottom. Furthermore, they will also allow you to express your character’s thoughts in their own words without the need for a lot of internal monologue. You can use dialogue throughout the story to convey the character’s thoughts. However, make sure every piece of dialogue leads the plot. ^{[14] X Research Source}

For example, the following dialogue describes Esther’s frustration: “But you’re the top student in class,” pleaded Esther. “Why are the other students able to see patients, but not me?”

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Create tension by bad situations happening to the character. It’s hard to put your character in extreme situations, but otherwise your story will be boring. Put obstacles or tough challenges to separate them from what they want. As such, you will have problems to solve and help the character reach his dream. ^{[15] X Research Source}

For example, not being admitted to the hospital as an intern was terrible for Esther. Similarly, the situation where she was grabbed by security personnel at the hospital was also a terrifying experience.

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Stimulate the reader’s five senses with sensory details. Use sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste to lead the reader into the story. The context of the story will be more vivid with the sounds, smells and sensations that the reader feels. These details will make your story more interesting. ^{[16] X Research Source}

For example, Esther might react to odors in a hospital or the beeping sound of devices.

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Evoke emotions to help readers relate to the story. Try to make the reader feel the character’s emotions. You can do this by connecting the things the character is going through with the common things in life. Emotions draw the reader into the story. ^{[17] X Research Source}

For example, Esther worked hard, and then got rejected because of a technical problem. Most readers have experienced this feeling of failure.

Review and complete the story

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Rest for at least a day before reviewing the story. It is difficult to be effective if you review the story immediately after writing the draft, because then you will not be able to spot errors and holes in the plot. Set aside the story for at least a day so you can revisit it in a new light. ^{[18] X Trusted Source University of North Carpina Writing Center Go to source}

Printing the story on paper can also help you look at the story in a new light. Try using this method when reviewing the story.
Taking a break is fine, but don’t take it so long that you lose interest.

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Read the story out loud to hear what parts need editing. When you read it out loud, you will see your story from a different angle. This will help you spot passages that don’t flow well or sentences that sound awkward. Read the story to yourself and notice where you need to edit. ^{[19] X Trusted Source University of North Carpina Writing Center Go to source}

You can also read stories to others and ask for their feedback.

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Get feedback from other authors or regular readers. When you’re ready, give your story to everyone to read, such as your fellow writers, instructors, classmates or friends. If possible, bring to seminars or critiques of the work. Ask for honest feedback from readers so you can edit the story to make it more complete. ^{[20] X Trusted Source University of North Carpina Writing Center Go to source}

The people closest to you like your parents or best friends may not be able to provide the best response, because they are too concerned with your feelings.
For feedback to be effective, you need to be receptive. If you think the story you just wrote is the most perfect in the world, you really don’t need to listen to a word from anyone.
Make sure you ask the right people to read the story. You probably won’t get the best response if you show your sci-fi story to a friend who enjoys reading fiction.

Tip: You can find literary criticism groups on Meetup.com or at libraries.

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Remove any details that are not related to the character or do not contribute to the development of the plot. As such, you may have to cut out parts that you think are good. Readers are only interested in the details that play an important role in the story. When you reread the story, you need to make sure that every sentence you write speaks to an aspect of the character or moves the story forward. Cut out all sentences that do not serve this purpose. ^{[21] X Research Source}

For example, suppose there is a description of Esther meeting a little girl in the hospital that is reminiscent of her sister. As interesting as it sounds, this detail doesn’t lead the way in the story, nor does it reveal anything meaningful about Esther, so it’s best to cut it out.

Lucy V. Hay

Author, Writer and Script Editor

Lucy V. Hay is an author, script editor and blogger who helps other authors through seminars, writing courses and her blog Bang2Write. Lucy is a producer on two horror movies and her debut crime novel, The Other Twin, is being adapted for the screen by Sky’s Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Agatha Raisin (Free@Last TV).

Lucy V. Hay
Author, Writer and Script Editor

Consider submitting stories to short story contests. Many short story contests offer prizes in some form, such as having your story published in a collection, or you being given the chance to meet a representative to chat. These awards will come in handy later on. If your story is published in more than one anthology, you’ll get extra points for submitting proposals to agents. Some of the competitions such as the Bridport Prize and Bath Short Story Award in the UK are very prestigious – if you can win a prize in such competitions, you will be considered a talented writer.

Advice

Take a notebook with you everywhere so you can write down whenever an idea pops up.
Don’t start editing your story right after you’ve finished your draft, as you’ll have a hard time spotting mistakes and plot holes. Wait a few days until you can review your story with fresh eyes.
Write drafts before completing the final draft. This will greatly help with the editing process.
Dialogue and details are key to writing a compelling story. Put the reader in the character’s shoes.

Warning

Don’t drag the story along by including information that isn’t necessary for character or plot development.
Remember to write sentences of different lengths.
Do not copy literature from other books. This act is plagiarism.
Do not write and edit at the same time, as this will slow down your writing speed.

Steps