In an article for Writers in the Storm, Sandy Vaile examines the difference between having an idea and creating a story. “Too often I see authors enthusiastically start writing a novel, only to run out of steam part way through,” she says. Why? “You could be writing a shiny, exciting idea that doesn’t have the substance to support an entire book.”
According to Vaile, a solid understanding of your protagonist can turn your great idea into something tangible and purposeful. But how can you get there? Vaile suggests there are three keys:
- Explore potential directions to take an idea. Ideas come in many forms. Turning that premise into a story requires you to create compelling characters, distinctive conceptual layers, conflicts, and a central purpose. Explore lots of avenues before you begin writing to make sure you have the strongest combination for your story.
- Focus those ideas in one direction. Your plot, theme, and character arcs should be aligned to support one another and point in a coherent direction.
- Build a structure durable enough to support an entire novel. A thorough understanding of your protagonist’s story arc and theme will help you brainstorm obstacles and confrontations that showcase your premise and propel your character to the change they need.
