From Beginning to End –

A story is like a SNAKE with its tail in its mouth. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Some stories even end up in the same place they started.

For example: Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – Alice falls down a rabbit hole, experiences bizarre adventures, and eventually wakes up right where she started, with a new understanding of imagination and curiosity.

You get the idea. Ready to start your story? Here are some tips

Main Character — The person, animal, or thing your story is about. Every story starts with the main character. It can be any animal, human, or thing you want it to be. 

Asking yourself some questions:
• Who is your main character?
• What does he, she or they like/dislike?
• What is your character’s personality?
• What does your character look like?

• What is their disposition

Setting — Where does your story takes place? Every story starts somewhere. But your story’s setting can have either a big or little impact on your narrative. What would the story of Alice be without the Rabbit Hole?

• Where does your story take place—in Hawaii, New York City, in a galaxy far, far, away?
• When—past, present, or future?
• How much does your setting affect your main character’s problem?

Challenge — Your character must grow, face and overcome a problem. Without movement or change in the character, your story would be dull. When you give your main character a problem to solve, your story comes alive. The reader gets hooked and eagerly goes along for the ride. And recommends your book to others.

Ask yourself these questions: 
• What is your main character’s challenge?
• Is it a big enough challenge that it will take a whole story to overcome?
• How do they try, fail, try again and again, and conquer the challenge?

• No one is interested in a perfect character. They are unrelatable.

Resolution — How does your character transforms at the end.

Ask yourself these questions: 

• How does your main character challenge get resolved?
• Does the story or character end up back where it started or . . . .?

Reminders
• Let your artistic side go, have fun and be creative. Write your story all the way through before you edit it. Only let your Inner Editor work on the story after your Inner Artist has finished.
• Think about a story you like. What makes it good? Can you identify the main character, setting, challenge, and resolution?
• Writing is rewriting. Write until you’re satisfied with your story. Feel free to change and rewrite it to make it stronger.
• Make it fun. If you enjoy it, your reader will as well.

Comments to the Writing Tips are Always Welcome!

Enjoy!

Jasmyne