How To Start A Story Idea

How to Start a Story Idea

Tackling a whole 50,000+ word novel can be a lot. Here are some ways to break down the process to make it a little more digestible.

Choose, research, and enjoy your story's setting. Whether this is a fantasy realm, a lost planet, or a small suburban town, know and research where your story takes place. Think about the time period, cultural details, geography, the laws/rules, etc. This is a world where the reader will be spending hours, so make sure it's immersive.

Place your protagonist in the world and give them a story. You could have the most detailed fantasy world, but that means nothing without a story or character to explore it. Create a compelling main character and give them a story that progresses them throughout the world you created. 

Find your story's theme. A well-rounded story will revolve around a theme or central idea. Some themes include survival, love, good vs. evil, death, war, forgiveness, etc. What do you want to teach your readers or leave them with once the novel is finished? Do you want them to know that forgiveness is important? That war creates wounds only love can heal? That beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Weave these themes and lessons into your plot and story.

Create a cast. Build your protagonist friends and foes that support or challenge them on their journey. Give some of these characters their own arcs/side plots to thicken your story. There are a bunch of character types that you could add to your story such as the love interest, a mentor, an antagonist, minor characters, etc.

Divide your novel into acts. Once you know the big picture of the story you want to tell, break it up into acts. There are three main acts of a traditional story: Acts I, II, and III. Look up and consider following the Three-Act Structure to give your story a fluid motion of beginning, middle, and end.

Know your ending. The ending is the final part that your readers digest, meaning that it will likely stick with them. You don't have to fully understand how your novel will end, but having somewhat of a plan is important. This way... when you write, you're writing towards something.

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basic things you should know about your main characters

how is their relationship with their family

what are their beliefs, if they have any

what is their motivation (preferably something unrelated to their love interest/romantic feelings)

who were they raised to be vs. who they became/are becoming

what are their plans for the future, if they have any

how they feel about themselves and how it affects their behaviour

how do they feel about things they cannot control

and last but not least: Why is This Character the Protagonist??

1 year ago

Protective prompts:

“Get behind me.”

“Hold my hand, okay? It’s gonna be over soon.”

“Close your eyes for me love.”

“When I say run, I need you to do as I say without looking back and don’t wait for me.”

“It’s all going to okay, they would never hurt you again.”

“I swear to you, that as long as I’m alive I won’t let a single soul ever harm you.”

“Listen to me.  . . take deep breaths, yes follow my breathing just like that. There’s no need to panic, I’m right here now, aren’t I? You’re safe.”

“When you love something, you protect it with your entire life at stake, and right now, my guts tell me to do the same.”

“I’ll be back very soon, but don’t come out. Stay there hidden until I come back and try not to make a noise, hmm?” *forehead kisses being a must here*

“I’m so so sorry! I wish I would’ve never left you alone! If I knew this would happen, I would never leave you alone.”

2 months ago

posting daily until tomodachi life - living the dream releases:

day 554 (277 days until 2026)

1 year ago

setting for the next writing blurb

bardofanauthor - Bard Of An Author
bardofanauthor - Bard Of An Author
bardofanauthor - Bard Of An Author
bardofanauthor - Bard Of An Author
3 weeks ago

You were the healer—the last light of your party. But now your final ally dies in your arms, and there’s no one left to save. The enemy jeers, calling you useless. You look up, eyes hollow and black. The light is gone. The Void answers. You're no longer a cleric. You're something far worse.

1 year ago
In Honour Of Disability Pride Month, we made A Disability Pride Knight! Stay Proud! ⚔️🌈

In honour of disability pride month, we made a disability Pride Knight! Stay proud! ⚔️🌈

10 months ago
A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
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A Small Experimental And Messy Comic About The Queer Hate To Queer Pipeline That Seems To Affect A Lot
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A small experimental and messy comic about the queer hate to queer pipeline that seems to affect a lot of people, and since it’s pride month and I don’t see a lot of artistic commentary on this…here you go? I’m a baby gay, not even able to legally drink yet and only recently realized my sexuality so I’m sure there’s people who have suffered from being raised in bigotry much longer and much worse and I’m willing for this post to be the place they can share their stories! I’d be honored to hear stories from people like me. Happy pride month!

(Writers Note for page two- I am aware of sexualities that stem from trauma like Caedsexual exist and are 100% valid! I am referring to the belief that ALL under the LGBTQ+ umbrella are sick and are just ‘confused victims of abuse’ in a not so nice sense.)

5 months ago

You started a scam religion for a quick buck. You begin to panic when your fake god was actually a real forgotten one awakened from new worshippers, declared you it's high priest, and granted you the power of healing.

1 year ago

Black sexuality representation we want to see

@sapphosigns asked:

Greetings =) I was wondering if any Black mods and followers would be up to sharing your thoughts/feelings on portrayals of Black characters sexuality- given that a lot of portrayals hypersexualise or fetishize. What would you want to see/feel is more balanced given the way black people are treated in media at large? (thank you for doing what you do with this blog)

Here is my opinion on things that should be more represented in relationships involving Black characters, concerning their sexuality:

More queer relationships.

Black gay men or women

Bisexual characters

Aromantic or asexual characters too

Even though we tend to be more closeted depending on how theses identities are viewed in our communities (generally for religious motives), Black people aren’t “more straight” than White people for example.

Healthy and light-hearted relationships

Relationship not rooted in trauma or violence.

Going with that, more tenderness and romanticism too, with the funny-awkward moments that go with it.

Weird love declarations, embarrassing but lovingly awkward sexual situations.

Healthy family dynamics

I also want to add that it extends to family dynamics.

Black characters having a present partner for their children or having both their parents together (to be careful with the Absent Black Father trope).

More relationships involving two Black characters

More relationships involving two Black characters!! Lots of relationships involving a Black character involve a White lover. While this is okay, Black love could be a bit more depicted outside the romance genre (I’m thinking fantasy and science-fiction, or Young Adult).

More interracial relationships not involving a white partner.

These relationships can be harder to find in literature, due to the prevalence of the White lover.

There’s an amazing french graphic novel titled Amours croisées by Laura Nsafou and Camélia Blandeau which depicts Yari, a Black girl living in Paris, falling in love with Hide, who has East-Asian origins and mostly… is polyamourous. The graphic novel is about discovering different ways to love, including inside your own relationship. The drawing style and the plot are really soft. That’s an example of what can be done to depict our relationships in a caring way.

-Mod Lydie

Black followers, please add the BIPOC queer representation you want to see!

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bardofanauthor - Bard Of An Author
Bard Of An Author

Parker (they/he) (21)WRITING COMMISSIONS ARE OPEN! ★Apart of TOO MANY DAMN FANDOMS!!!

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