HOW TO WRITE A GOOD STORY

Writing an interesting, engaging, exhilarating and engrossing narrative based in either

fiction or reality is a very useful skill to have. It allows you to not only weave an exciting
tale, but also assists you in social situations where the skill of effective communication of
events is necessary. To write a good story, all you really need is a pen and writeable
surface, although a computer is preferred.
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'ou can(t simply plant yourself in an office chair and create genius )although if you can, I
applaud you*. The best way to get in +the mood, is to read others( works. $rticles, short
stories, novellas and even web pages are -ust a few examples of well.written and
informative sources of text. /owever, this is -ust the first component of preparation0 you
also have to ready a writing 1one. 'our 1one is an area most suited to unleashing your
creative energies. This could be a 2uiet basement, or in a busy, bustling city caf3. It(s
really -ust a 2uestion of where you feel most comfortable.
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6hoosing sub-ect matter that, most importantly, interests you is integral to writing a good
piece. If you(re not passionate about a topic, the reader might perceive that your piece is
dull and flat. 'ou have a wide variety of time periods, locations and events to write about0
your possibilities are only limited by the extent of your imagination. 'ou could set your
tale in a fantasy world, or plunge your readers into the far.flung future.
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%nce you(ve decided on a sub-ect, now is the crucial planning phase. I suggest
brainstorming all concepts and ideas, and then eliminating the worst ones that didn(t
really gel with the rest of them. &ormally, some sort of a diagram will help spur some
original thoughts that you can use to establish the foundation of your story. Starting with
a character name, for example, then branching characteristics of that individual off that
bubble is a good start. Then, group your ideas into clumps of similarly.themed ones and
you(ll have a great deal of pre.prepared information from which to draw the fabric of
your narrative.
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&ow is perhaps the most important part of the entire process0 the first draft. The first draft
will provide the basic skeleton for the finished product, and its 2uality will give a good
indication of how your ideas are working together. 5on(t stress too much about minute
details and spelling>grammar, this can all be rectified in editing and revision.
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&ext, carefully read over that draft, picking apart every conceivable error and rewriting it
as you see fit. =ix coherency issues, misuses of phrases and words, and other such details
that need to be revised. %nce the spit and polish has been heavily applied, make sure
what you end up with is looking like a decent finished product. If you(re not satisfied, re.
draft the piece entirely until you are. 6ontinue drafting, and don(t settle for anything less
than a brilliant piece of work.
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$fter putting the very last touches on your piece, and having been completely satisfied
with every last detail of it, now you can distribute your piece as you see fit. /ave a final,
crucial read over it. 6ongratulationsC 'ou(re finished.