Three important elements of a good story idea / writing advice
Story ideas are exciting things that sometimes pop up suddenly, and sometimes are slowly crafted over a long time. Often, for me, it’s mostly the former, with a little pinch of the latter in there. I get so caught up in the magic of this new world I have imagined, that sometimes the problems with my idea are invisible.
I’ve put together 5 important elements of a good story idea so you and I can look at our ideas and question a few things. These five things could simply confirm parts of your story, or they could be a place to brainstorm from as you develop the plot, world, and characters.
1: Message
Is there a message?
Does the message matter to you as the writer?
Will the message matter to your readers?
For me, the message of a story has become one of the most important parts. After writing a few rather pointless feeling books, that lacked purpose (a message), I sat down with myself and thought about what it was that truly mattered to me, and how I could put what mattered into words, into a story.
Without a message, a story is going to lack that much needed depth, there won’t be anything for your readers to take away. They will leave wondering why your characters even embarked on their journey, and why that journey mattered at all.
I sat down with myself and thought about what it was that truly mattered to me, and how I could put what mattered into words, into a story.
So, what message will matter to you as the writer? If it doesn’t matter to you, it will likely be a struggle to complete your work on the book. Don’t just think about what everyone else is wanting to read, what do you want to read? Because you have to write this book, and no matter how excited you are about the idea right now, a substance needs to be there for when motivation wanes.
The final question to ask about message, is if your readers will find it interesting, encouraging, or relatable. Most general messages relate to many people, for example: “you are enough no matter how well you perform”, or “forgiveness is the gateway to freedom”, many people can relate and find meaning in such messages. For we are all humans, and go through many of the same struggles.
2: Direction
Do you start one place and end some place else?
Is there a continual movement within the story idea? Are we always moving forward on the journey with the characters?
A story should feel somewhat like a bridge, which takes us from everything we know, to something we may not have been able to see before. We, as the readers, want to be transported somewhere new, not somewhere the same.
A story should feel somewhat like a bridge, which takes us from everything we know, to something we may not have been able to see before.
Where is your story going to start? Include some elements of normality, that the readers can relate to and stand on as a starting point. Where you take them after that is up to you. Does your story have the promise of going somewhere – even when the story is just beginning?
Where will you take the reader? How will you maintain constant movement towards the other side of the bridge? Your message will also be important here. Weave the message in the movement for a riveting and engaging story.
Perhaps you’ll use plot twists, character arcs, and foreshadowing to keep the story always moving towards the end destination. If your story idea is an adventure action, likely, the movement will be outward as well as inward. There will be outward things happening that affect the characters. But if your story is more of a drama or romance, the movement will perhaps be mostly inward. But inward movement is still movement.
Inward movement is still movement.
Where will you complete your story’s journey? Where will you leave your characters? The place should feel complete, but not necessarily final. It should work in unison with the place you began, and the goals of the characters along the way. Let them (and consequently your readers) have the revelation they needed, to show what all the direction was for.
3: Imagination
Does the story idea stretch your imagination?
Does it require more of your creativity than before?
How does the story idea stretch your imagination? As authors, we want to be discovering more and more creatively. We want to challenge ourselves to imagine more than we have. We want to see what our minds can come up with. Is that what this story idea does for you?
If it does, it is likely going to urge you on through the writing and editing phases. You will be fueled by your desire to uncover this world you have scratched the surface of. Let curiosity cause something amazing to happen.
Let curiosity cause something amazing to happen.
Not only will this push you as an author, but it will also push the reader to view the world in new ways that they have never thought of before. They will see the world through your characters’ eyes and perhaps grasp something of the supernatural, or the universe that they were blind to before.
All these elements are simply the start of something bigger: your book! Use them as places to jump from in your imagination as you create this story idea. Day dreaming up a new beginning, a new middle, and a new end…the joy of writing. I hope these have been some helpful things to think over as you craft your idea, and may your book idea grow well under your creativity.
If you would like to learn more about writing, feel free to browse more blog posts, or contact me if you have any questions. You can also find me on YouTube at The Windy Wildflower, or the podcast at The Windy Wildflower Podcast. We talk about writing, songwriting, and being a Christian creative in all these places. Join me on the journey of learning to glorify God with our creativity and making dreams a reality.
