I'm a writer of speculative fiction that likes to write stories that have have positive endings. I want to see my main characters overcome their weaknesses and transform into heroes and heroines. For example, Luke Skywalker transforms from a shy farm boy to Jedi Knight. (Yes, I'm a big Star Wars fan). I like to …
Tag: story design
Taking inspiration from the movies
As a writer and story-teller I have often taken inspiration from the movies. When I write I create a movie in my head and write what I see and experience. I'm not sure all writers necessarily think the same way. To me the words on the page are just a medium by which I can …
Story Themes
I normally blog monthly, but I missed-out in December for personal reasons. For many, 2020 was an annus horribilis (horrible year) -- it was the year of the pandemic. But for me it was exceptionally sad. I lost two dear family members near the end of the year, one expected and one very unexpected. It …
Simple story patterns
In my blog over the years, I have written a lot about story structure. Story structure is all about the foundations of a story. From childhood we are introduced to stories and quickly understand their patterns. Once-upon-a-time… and they all lived happily every after. Remember this one: Jack takes his family cow to sell, but …
Story design and readers’ expectations
What makes a story a compelling read that the reader cannot put down? Is it the story idea at the heart of the story? Or is it the way the story is executed? Great writers, of course, do both. But creating the readers expectations about the book and delivering what they want must be of …
The big idea, concept or premise
To be successful, any new story has to be built around an idea, or concept that makes it new and exciting. A school for wizards is an idea or concept, but it's not a story premise. A story premise needs both a character (for example, Harry Potter) and a central conflict or problem that drives …
Plot points and pinch points
If you are a writer, there's a lot you can learn from the techniques used by scriptwriters in story design. The media are different; but they are both about storytelling. In previous blogs I have discussed the three-act structure, sequences, and the mythic structure. All these approaches use plot points in one way or another. …
Story pacing
One of my favourite sci-fi movies of all time is Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. For those that haven't seen this 1982 neo-noir movie, it's set in a 2019 dystopian world where synthetic humans known as replicants are bioengineered by a powerful corporation to work on off world colonies. Directed by Ridley Scott and loosely based …
A Story Blueprint for the Action / Adventure genre
Over the last three blogs I have looked at the five core elements of any story design: The Protagonist's Characterisation The Big Problem or Opportunity that enters their life and acts as the Catalyst for the Central Conflict Opposition - Antagonist forces and obstacles that stand in his/her way A Story World A Satisfying Resolution. …
Continue reading A Story Blueprint for the Action / Adventure genre
Story Design — Characterisation
Some very successful writers claim to produce stories without any apparent planning or preparation. Story design must be built into their DNA. Others, which I suggest is the vast majority of writers like me, struggle to find the stories within them through a variety of different processes. Some write by the seat of their pants …
JMJ Williamson 