How do good authors create such intriguing stories? What is it about the way they write that enthralls us and draws us into the tale? Is it the description, the characters, or the story itself? Even though all stories are different, and each author’s style is unique, there are certain things all good stories have in common – these are the basics.
The basics can be considered as the following: characters, plot, and description. Firstly should come the characters. Without characters a story consists of only meaningless words that describe some meaningless place. The characters are the essential part of the story that gives it life. But first, the characters themselves must seem real.
A real character has personality, speaks (this would be the dialogue, and the reader should be able to relate, or empathize, with them. Of these three things, personality is probably the most important. Without that, the character is but a blah little creature running around in a story. Giving that creature personality gives it life, and makes them more real.
Dialogue would be next on the List of Importance. Since real people talk, so the characters themselves should speak and interact. It gives them life. Their speech also shows the reader a lot about their personality. Speaking just adds something to the story all the way around.
Then there is the ability of the character to be empathized with. If the reader is able to relate to how the character is feeling, then that draws the reader further into the story. The more involved the reader feels, the more likely the are to continue reading and finish the story. For the author, this is exactly what you want, for if the audience is so captivated by your tale, the more likely they are to either recommend or buy your book.
The next basic principal of story writing should be plot. Having an absorbing plot is one of the main keys to having a successful story. Even the most fascinating characters will have no effect if the plot itself is not enjoyable. To do this one must first set-up the basis of what is going to happen, then have at least one conflict, and finally you need to conclude with a resolution.
When devising a plot, you need to first set it up. This would consist of introducing the main characters, the situation, where they are, and possibly any necessary foreshadowing. This will give your audience an idea of what is going on. They won’t understand what the heck’s happening if you just jump right into the middle of things.
Then there needs to be some sort of conflict. The conflict can be anything you like, so long as it is able to carry you through your story. If there is absolutely no conflict, there is no point in even writing the story, really. It would be just a boring little journal or some insignificant time or place. Having a conflict makes the reader more interested in what’s going to happen next, and what is going to become of the characters; causing them to continue reading your book.
Finally, under the characteristics of a plot, you must have a resolution. The story can end any way you like, as long as it has a resolution of some sort. One things most readers positively despise are books that leave you hanging, not knowing whether someone lives or dies, or what becomes of them. It is just standard practice to always, always have a resolution.
After you have a plot and characters, you need to describe them. Description is the most powerful key to having a successful book. It can either make or break a story. Describing settings, to give a certain impression of a situation, characters, so the reader can have a good mental image of what they look like, and the mood of the scene, all give the reader a taste of what is happening. Although, one must be careful not to use too much detail in your writing. Slogging through page after page of minute trivialities becomes terribly monotonous for the audience, and that’s one thing, as an author, you don’t want to do, is bore your readers to sleep. On the other hand, too little detail can be just as bad. If your character is inside a building having a friendly conversation, and in the next paragraph they’re outside fighting to the death, the reader is more than likely going to be utterly confused as to just how that happened. That’s another thing you want to avoid: making the reader so frustrated that they just give up on the book and move on. As you can see, description is very key, and yet, a very delicate thing, in the making of a good story.
In conclusion, you will find, more often than not, that all intriguing stories will have three things in common:
1) Characters that seem real and are not just little “paper” figures.
2) A plot that fascinates and holds a reader’s attention throughout the story.
3) Description that draws the reader into the place and gives such vivid pictures that the reader can almost feel, smell, and taste the world of the story.
These are the tools of the author; these are the secrets that unlock a wonderful story. All books need a foundation, and these are the bricks to build it with.
Back to English Essays.
