B: How To Begin Writing A Story

151 29 20

by ElleLeeLove

by ElleLeeLove

You have this great idea for a novel, but how do you begin writing your story?

By asking questions about your idea. Who? Where? When? What? & Why?

My idea was "roses on a grave."

WHO questions help you determine the main characters of your story.

So WHO put the "roses on a grave"? Jasmine, a 17 year old girl.

So WHO died? Jasmine's father

There may be many WHO's in your story. Jasmine has friends, family, enemies, teachers, etc. But only a few of these people should be the main characters who are telling the story in their point of view. My story is in first person, so only Jasmine is telling her story.

WHERE & WHEN questions help you determine the setting, place and time, of your story.

So WHERE is this grave? In a small town in NE PA.

So WHEN does Jasmine put roses on the grave? On her father's birthday, August 8, during a current year.

If your story is in the past, you may have to do research about that time period. If your story is in the future, you have to imagine what could exist in the future. My story happens in the present.

WHAT questions help you determine the main character's goals.

So WHAT does Jasmine want? She wants to end the nightmares about her father's death, and she wants her secret crush Tyler to help her forget them.

What do your characters want? This is the most important question, because when your characters reach their goals the story is over!

Your purpose as a writer is to make it very hard for the characters to get what they want. The more obstacles you put in their way, the longer the story will be. Jasmine encounters many obstacles that prevent her from achieving her goals.

WHY questions help you determine the theme of your story.

So WHY is this story worth telling and reading? Why is your story different from the millions of stories written each year? As an author, I want my readers to learn the power of forgiveness. Throughout my story, Jasmine (and the reader) will learn how to forgive the people who have hurt her. The theme of forgiveness is what will set my story apart from all the others and what will keep me motivated to keep writing it!

By answering these few questions, I was able to draft the first chapter of my story. I have re-written it over a 100 times since, but these questions are great place to start turning that great idea into a novel.

If you need any help beginning your story, please message me. I'm always available to help other writers.

Forever Remember to Live, Laugh, and LOVE! - 3L

PS1: Video above is Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli! It's my writing theme song!