How to write a story?

In our life we all come across a point where we feel an urge to express our thoughts. In that case a story is the best option to choose from. It is the most simple form of writing as it is written in simple language, to which people can easily connect and correlate. However, if we aren’t good at writing, even the good ideas remain unheard. So let’s not let that happen and learn to develop a creative write-up.

Plus points of learning to write a story

• Indifferent from cooking, singing, dancing and playing soccer, it’s too a skill. And hence it can be acquired through practice.
• Unlike sports and various forms of art, when you stop writing for a while (for days, weeks, months, etc.) your writing skills actually improve on the contrary. Can’t believe? Try it out!
• By practicing how to write a story you are also learning how to pen down your thoughts, emotions and imagination.
• It improves your skills in other domains of writing as well, like article writing, speech writing, etc.
• You catch more details in the stories you read and movies you watch, and you enjoy them more than others do.

Tools that go into creating a quality story

• Imagination [we all have it. And mark my words, yours is the BEST]
• Good command on grammar [can be acquired through reading and practice]
• Good Vocabulary [start reading your dictionary like a book]

That’s it!

Things to be kept in mind to develop a unique story

1. Read less, write more: As said your imagination is the best. So to ensure your stories always retain a touch of your thoughts you need to practice more rather than reading a lot. By doing this when you pick a good piece of writing to read or a movie to watch, you can easily detect limitations in your own way of writing.

2. Stuff it with positivity: As a writer what you deliver to your readers affects your life as well. Make sure that what you create is overall a good thing.

3. Make a sudden change in the language quality: When the language of story is just simple, and suddenly when the reader goes through a para or few lines which have intense complex combination of words, it engages them, captivates them, and stirs up their curiosity.

Example-

1. “Rose… Rose!” voices came from four different directions. Everywhere she saw there was just an army of silhouetted slender trees wrapped in a thick mist. She was lost in the middle of the woods. And then, there was a sudden silence; a surprising growth of gloominess. Lonesome aura of the murky atmosphere. She observed something was getting discernible gradually. In the midst of the fog it was too faint an outline to be seen…
2. A moment of suspense felt like a hollow consolation of security. But for how long would they have stayed; and where could they have gone? And to break their kind of anticipation loomed out Snow Queen, rising from the ditch. With a bright halo yet dark aura, she hovered high in the sky. They were half dead of her devilishly glowing eyes.

4. Add realities of life:

‘People aren’t born evil, they’re made evil.’

The most appropriate example for this would be – Wanda Maximoff from the film, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

A sweet superhero turning herself into a dreaded witch all because of her trauma, considering she was ‘being reasonable.’

Including such elements of harsh realities of life (or even good ones) will definitely make your write-up unique.

Check out: Realism in Stories

Elements of a story

1. Beginning with a story (Once upon a time…)

When you sit to write a story might just be rather confused. ‘How should I begin?’, ‘Is it the correct way to start?’, such questions might pop up in your head. But let me tell you their is no hard and fast rule to start a story in a particular way. It can begin with a description of the environment, a dialogue, etc., or even with just ‘Once upon a time,’. Just remember to keep up with the exact feeling and thought you have of that scene and your perfect lines will be there on the page.

2. Plot

A plot or a storyline is basically what a story or a movie is based upon. Depending on what you want to write it can be funny, scary, romantic, anything.

3. Character development

This perhaps turns out to be the most essential part of creative writing. A story revolves around the protagonist and his life. Hence, what you’re adding to his characteristic traits will matter the most. Plus, what you put in the personality of other characters along with the protagonist will shape the narrative. For instance consider an example of two characters Peter Parker and J Jonah Jameson from the movie Spider-Man.

Peter was an ordinary guy (though his alter ego was Spiderman), broke, struggling to get a job as a photographer of The Daily Bugle newspaper . On the other hand we had J.J. Jameson in the movie who was the editor-in-chief of The Daily Bugle, with no lack of money with him, plus with an arrogant personality who wanted to defame Spidey.

A better than funny example for this would be Ironman and Captain America from the 2012 film, The Avengers. Stark was a genius inventor and a playboy. While Rogers was over 100 years old and knew almost nothing about technology.

Such differences in the characters’ conditions, appearances, opinions and lifestyles make the story seem real rather than just a yarn.

4. Dialogues

“Merry Christmas Hermione!” said Harry

Or

Harry: Merry Christmas Hermione!

It’s your choice how you put dialogues throughout a story. But remember that it’s a great advice that you must put dialogues in your write-up. Because when readers get indulged in reading them they imagine exactly what the characters say, how they say it, plus dialogues are actually more engaging.

While the first mentioned way (in double quotes) is usually used in short stories and novels, the other one (with colon) is used in dramas and movie scripts.

5. Description

Adding descriptions automatically makes the content more readable.

1. The breaking dawn ushered in the pleasantest day of the month. The soothing sunshine fell upon her face calming her absolutely. The euphonious chirps of the sparrows eased the mind. Releasing all her worries she gently closed her eyes, extended her arms and tilted her head back, facing the sun, hearing the healing sound.
2. Fireplace was lit. Windows all shut lest the warmth escaped. The cousins sat in warm sweaters, muffled cozily in thick blankets. It was the time for tea, so they all sipped together. The room was silent enough to hear the flames crackling. Out of the window snowflakes fell down slowly. And it all happened in a superfine manner harmoniously.
3. And then she walked in. And her appearance bewitched everybody! Red dress, cherry lips, blond hair and golden locks, sapphire eyes under pretty eyelashes. Her charm made everything else seem dull, and passed a heart stealing smile which would have turned even Cleopatra jealous.

Use your imagination, add special words & phrases and just beautify the content.

6. Climax

It is the turning point in the story. An unexpected occurence in the life of the character…. And he/she finally reaching a conclusion. Such incident is termed as climax. They enhance the story quality.

7. values

A good story must be retained with values. Consider this scenario – a character who is kind and courteous is mistaken by others and gets punished and hated due to misunderstanding, yet chooses to be humble. Such concepts depict the essence of humanity. They give us a message that righteousness is always a better choice. Moral values must be included in a story since today’s generation requires to learn more amount of kindness, forgiveness and compassion than ever before.

8. Happy Ending

Bibliophiles prefer tales ending on a happy note. Also by doing so, a reader never goes like, Damn, what have I read!

A happy ending doesn’t necessarily mean everything needs to be good at the end. What it does mean is that chaos simply comes to an end and overall things turn out to be beautiful eventually.

✍️

Remember, there are no restrictions in the way of writing a story. You’re free to mold it as you desire, and it’s completely your choice how you present it to others, what content you deliver and it’s your innovation to do all this in a brand new style. Readers always appreciate something unique and captivating.

Wish you success ahead!