Happy September everyone! I hope you had or are still having a great summer holiday. I was lucky enough to go on two holidays this summer: one to Greece and one to Turkey. Now, however, I am returning my focus to work and to my love of writing stories and in this month’s blog, I am going to discuss how I build up a storyline through the course of the story.
Although I find it is always good to start the story with some action, to give readers a taste of the story and the excitement to come, I also think it important for them to start understand the main characters. For example, in the opening chapters of my latest book: The Edge of Perfection there is a description of the character of Sam. I highlight his interests, aspirations and personality in order for the reader to understand him and the direction of the story. In the case of Sam, he is an ambitious young man, wanting to do well in life and being obsessed by perfection.
I then look at what is normal for the main characters, what their usual routine and habits are and what they have done so far in their life. This helps the reader to understand what is “typical” or the “norm” of the main character’s life. After this and in order to create a truly exciting story, something must change!
There is then the trigger or the eureka moment that suggests a change in the story. In the instance of the Edge of Perfection, Sam discovers that there is a secret perfect potion that could make him perfect; he must then find it.
At this point, I then plan and write about a series of exciting events that bring adventure, mystery and danger to the story. I make sure that such events are a complete contrast to those that happen in a normal day of the main character or characters. This has to be something that will change their life (for better or worse).
After this, the outcome of or the resultant change from these exciting events, occurs. Although I have a rough plan for these storylines from the start, I do allow my imagination to run wild at times and to go with the flow.
As a result, I am able to build a story line and to take the reader on a journey. During the course of the story, the reader, like the character, is taken away from reality.
Therefore, I hope that this has given you a sense of how I create a storyline and what the critical points within a story are. If you would like to know more about this, do, of course, look out for my books. The Edge of Perfection is to be released soon! For now, I hope that you continue to enjoy reading my blogs and books.
Jonny Pardoe
Jonny Pardoe © September 2017
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Jonny Pardoe
