9 Steps to Creating a Fictional Story

Choose a Person - Every story needs a central character around whom the actions flows. Choose a real person for your main character and make a sketch plan of this person's traits, age, dress, speech etc.  Add details where the person lives, a favorite sport, or lifelong ambition.Fictionalize the Person - Look at your sketch plan for the real person you chose as a character and fictionalize them by changing the color of their hair, change their job, color of their eyes. It's up to you how you alter the real person's features to disguise their identity. Sometimes several people can be combined into one character. Once you have the details of the real-person-turned-character, you've just created your protagonist.Create a Problem - Every story must have a character with a problem to solve. This creates the conflict for your story and makes it exciting and suspenseful. It brings the reader into the story and keeps them wondering what will happen next. The problem doesn't have to be earth shattering. Think of problems that have happened in your life and bring them into the life of your character. The problem can also mean an issue or a demand. Such as, Joe quits his job the same day his wife learns she is pregnant. Using everyday problems will be more likely to help the reader to identify with your story. A good story problem will let your central character use courage, perseverance, and ingenuity to solve the problem.Create a Complication - The harder it is for your character to solve the problem, the more suspense and excitement your story will have. Be sure to add obstacles to carry the story forward. This will intrigue your readers. You want them to worry and care for your character. One way to add an obstacle is to create a character who works against your main character, this would be your antagonist. Someone who gets in the way of your protagonist. They don't necessarily have to be bad, but you want them to want something different than your main character. They both need to seem real to your reader, they both can have good and bad points, nobody is perfect. Good writers show different sides of their characters.Find a Solution - Find out how you want your protagonist to deal with the problem. They need to be actively involved in finding the solution. Make sure you don't rely on luck to solve the problem. It'll disappoint the reader if they follow along with your character's struggle and then the solution appears out of nowhere. A satisfying solution doesn't always have a happy ending. In stories and in real life, problems and conflicts sometimes defy the character's best efforts.Plan Your Story - Build a Framework - Your story needs to have a beginning, middle, and an ending. The beginning of your story introduces the main character and lets the reader know something about the conflict or problem and the setting of the story. The middle of the story is the longest, which is where the important actions takes place, as the protagonist tries to overcome the obstacles to solve the problem. The end of your story is the shortest part. Once the problem is solved (or recognized as insoluble), the reader's interest level drops. As your story evolves, you'll be creating the plot, which is the thread that connects the events of the story, making them into a dynamic whole. The plot is what keeps the reader in suspense.Add to the Story Plan - Where and when will the story take place? What other characters will appear in your story and what roles will they play? What will happen? The setting can be simple and can either be vividly described or mentioned in a passing comment. Your story can take place in the present or past. Adding to your cast of characters is as important as your protagonist and antagonist. You don't need to know all of your characters at the start, they'll tend to come to you as your write your story. Plan your plot and refer to your notes of the details of your setting, characters, etc.Write Your First Draft - Many writers have MANY opinions on how to start writing your story, but one way is to begin just writing one small scene. Include the complications listed in the middle of your story plan. The point of view can either be written in first person - written as if you are the main character, or third person - written as an unseen narrator. Just let your ideas come to life and get it on paper. Once you have the entire story sketched out, you can rearrange things to make sure the story flows.Polish Your Story - Once you've completed your first draft, put it aside and let it cool for a day or so. You'll come back to it with fresh eyes. Ask yourself, is the main character interesting to care about? Does the plot generate enough suspense to keep you reading? Have you introduced the conflict or problem? Does your character use courage and determination to solve the problem. Is the final solution believable?​Don't forget you are learning new techniques every step of the way. The more you write, the easier it will be to apply these techniques. Don't agonize over your final draft. Try to remember why you're writing and enjoy bringing all the ideas rolling around in your head and putting them to paper.

Remember...Keep on Writing!