A great story starts with an idea. Whether it’s the seed of an intriguing character, a gripping situation or a compelling premise, your core concept serves as the foundation upon which your plot will grow. Imagine a young inventor with a quirky obsession for creating contraptions that always backfire, or an abandoned city where a mysterious force causes people to cross paths and reveal their hidden secrets. This type of a central narrative theme can be the source of multiple plot points and subplots as characters are forced to make bold choices in order to overcome unforeseen obstacles and achieve their desired outcome.
After finding the central story element, you must expand it into a comprehensive plot that will engage and entertain your readers from beginning to end. This process is known as developing your story.
At this stage, you may encounter a number of issues such as story holes, breaks in logic or unresolved conflicts. This is normal. You might want to use a narrative framework like Joseph Campbell’s monomyth or Blake Snyder’s beat sheet to help you fill in the gaps and structure your ideas into a coherent and engaging story.
Your development may also involve seeking feedback from others in the industry and reworking your story based on those comments. This is the art of collaborative screenwriting. Whether you are writing a film with a crew of talented professionals or a small group of aspiring artists, your success depends on the ability to take notes and respond professionally.