10 Steps to Write a Good Story Out of Your Conceptual Idea

Finding the right idea is the primary and one of the very first stages of the writing process. But, even if you have an outstanding idea or inspiration, it becomes a murky mess while giving it a story shape. Many writers get stuck at this initial stage of – how to write a good story.

Giving a concept the form of a story is a skill. One needs to master this process to get better at story writing. The perfect method to turn an idea into a story can vary with story writers, but some basic steps can help beginners or infrequent writers.

Steps to Turn Your Conceptual Idea into a Story

Here are a few steps that can help turn your conceptual or raw idea into a story. 

1. Identify the Crux or Core of Your Concept

A concept entails the general idea of a story. Usually, Storytellers get so held up in the particulars of their idea. They forget the crux or core of it. They need to brainstorm and identify what makes them excited about their idea. 

2. Weave Smaller Ideas into Your Concept

Sometimes, an idea may not be enough to turn into an entire story. When an idea or concept is simple, you may face difficulty expanding it to a full story. In such a scenario, identify a few subplots, themes, and smaller ideas that can weave together with the main idea.

3. Focus and Identify the Elements You Need

After getting the core of your idea, the next step is to identify the elements you need in the form of a Writer’s checklist. The primary components you can look for are our main character, setting, external conflict, and internal conflict. 

Identify the components of your story that are not necessary for your core, and separate them. For instance, if the core is ‘how a tree and a human make the relationship,’ you can separate the wolf and bring it back when needed.

4. Build Around Your Core

Fill in the remaining missing elements, the external conflict, main character, internal conflict, and setting., in order. These elements should align and add value to the core of your concept. Such as, the main character should not resolve the external conflict without exploring the core. 

5. Make a Basic Outlining

At times outlining gives a general direction to the story before you start writing and a cohesive flow throughout the story. You should include a goal, starting point, ending point, and turning point for outlining. 

6. Give an Extraordinary Opening

An extraordinary opening is significant to hook readers and the beginning of your story. It keeps the reader engaged, invested in your story character, and motivated to read the entire story. 

You can give your readers a sense of your characters in a different way and keep the focus on the core of the story. The Gift of the Maggi, by O. Henry, starts the story with the character having a low amount of money and hints that the next day is Christmas, hitting the readers’ emotions. 

7. Write a Satisfying Ending

A good ending has certain elements that make readers satisfied. It has a logical end where the character achieves their main goal. The elements included are resolution, transformation, and suspense, surprise.

8. Get your First Draft Ready

Create the first draft without worrying about perfection. You cannot make good edits unless you know what the story looks like. It is the best way to approach the writing process, as you can’t match one part of the story unless the rest part of the story is complete.

9. Define your Core Message

A story is impactful and enjoyable through its core message or what a reader takes away from it. Writers need to brainstorm the theme and build a story around it. Think about what you want to make people form your story feeling. 

10. Title Your Story

When titling your story, ponder on the overarching theme, unique part of the story, sense after reading the story, etc. It will help develop a title, enough sensible and intriguing to pull readers. 

TSC Offers a Platform to Publish Your Stories and Join the Writers Club

The Story Cabinet (TSC) is a leading online platform for readers and writers. TSC provides a digital space where beginners can shape their conceptual idea into a story.  Writers can publish their short stories on TSC digital platform and even hone their writing skills by getting feedback from professional writers.