If you want to know how to write a story, begin with the basic building blocks. Just like building a house, you need to have a plan, gather materials, lay a foundation and then construct the structure.

The Blueprint

Writers vary on their opinions regarding outlines. Some writers start writing with little idea of where the story is going while others rely on thorough outlines. I think the best approach is somewhere in the middle. Create a brief outline of your story with the beginning, middle and end. When I first started writing I would have bursts of inspiration, snippets of dialogue or "what if" scenarios flashing in my mind. I'd do my best to get them on paper, but they had no context. I was frustrated because my writing didn't come together into a story. I had hundreds of paragraphs but no chapters. In desperation I pieced together the scraps into a story and ended up with an ugly quilt. It wasn't until I sat down and thought about a story as a whole that I gained control over my writing. My blueprint looks something like this:

Theme - What is the message I want to communicate?

Setting - Where and when is the story occurring?

Point of View - Who is narrating the story? Will it be first, second or third person?

Question - What is the main conflict that must be resolved by the end of the story?

Obstacles - What other conflicts will the protagonist face before resolving the main conflict?

Confrontation - How will the protagonist face the main conflict?

Conclusion - What will be the outcome of the confrontation?

Once I know these answers, I know what my story is going to look like. If I were building a house, I'd want to know if it was a tree house or the White House. I also ask what type of story is best for the message I wish to communicate?

Here are my options

1) A Fable or Parable is a simple, short story which teaches a moral lesson. The story may be childlike, with talking animals or fantastical creatures.

2) Myths and Legends are stories passed down through generations. Many were created to explain unknown phenomenia and some impart moral lessons.

3) Flash fiction is extremely short (100-1000 words) stories, which include the classic story elements: protagonist, conflict, obstacles or complications, and resolution. Much of the story goes unsaid, as illustrated by Ernest Hemingway's six-word flash, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

4) A short story is fictional, no less than 1000 words and no more than 20000. Usually a short story focuses on one conflict, the main plot, a short period of time and fewer characters.

5) A novel is a longer work of fiction, usually 40000 to 120000 words. Novellas occupy the lower spectrum, 20000 - 60000 words and Stephen King the higher spectrum. Novels are usually written in a specific genre: horror, mystery, western, romance, science fiction, etc. Each genre has sub genres and the lines are often blurred. It is best to write in the genre in which you enjoy reading.

My blueprint is complete. I can now gather the materials I need to build my story. I may need to research a topic or develop a character profile. My efforts at this point are focused. For example, I am writing a YA novel with paranormal elements, so my research has included reading popular YA novels on the market today. I can see how far to push certain themes in my book: sex, violence, drug use etc. plus I get a feel for my teen audience. There is also some school violence, so I'm researching news reports of kids who have lashed out. This helps me understand the characters and what would motivate their actions.

This is just the beginning of How to Write a Story. I'll follow up with laying a foundation and building the structure in my next article.

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