Questions to Ask Yourself When Writing a Story
Essential questions to guide your storytelling process, from initial concept to final draft, helping you develop compelling characters, plot, and narrative structure.
1What is the central conflict or problem my story needs to solve?
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What is the central conflict or problem my story needs to solve?
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Why this works
Establishes the driving force of your narrative and ensures your story has a clear purpose and direction that will engage readers from beginning to end.
2Who is my protagonist and what do they want most?
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Who is my protagonist and what do they want most?
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Why this works
Defines your main character's motivation and goals, which drive the plot forward and give readers someone to root for throughout the story.
3What obstacles will prevent my protagonist from achieving their goal?
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What obstacles will prevent my protagonist from achieving their goal?
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Why this works
Creates tension and conflict that make your story compelling while ensuring your protagonist has meaningful challenges to overcome.
4What is the setting and how does it influence the story?
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What is the setting and how does it influence the story?
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Why this works
Establishes the world of your story and ensures the setting serves a purpose beyond just being a backdrop, contributing to mood, conflict, or character development.
5What is the point of view and why is it the best choice for this story?
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What is the point of view and why is it the best choice for this story?
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Why this works
Determines how readers will experience your story and ensures the chosen perspective enhances the narrative and allows for the most effective storytelling.
6What is the theme or message I want to convey?
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What is the theme or message I want to convey?
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Why this works
Gives your story depth and meaning beyond just entertainment, ensuring your narrative has something meaningful to say about life, human nature, or society.
7How will my protagonist change or grow throughout the story?
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How will my protagonist change or grow throughout the story?
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Why this works
Ensures character development and arc, giving your protagonist a meaningful journey that readers can follow and relate to.
8What is the inciting incident that starts the story?
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What is the inciting incident that starts the story?
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Why this works
Establishes the event that sets your story in motion and hooks readers from the beginning, ensuring your opening is compelling and necessary.
9What is the climax and how does it resolve the central conflict?
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What is the climax and how does it resolve the central conflict?
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Why this works
Defines the most important moment in your story and ensures it provides a satisfying resolution to the main conflict you've established.
10What is the ending and why is it satisfying?
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What is the ending and why is it satisfying?
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Why this works
Ensures your story concludes in a way that feels complete and satisfying to readers while staying true to the story you've told.
11Who are the supporting characters and what role do they play?
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Who are the supporting characters and what role do they play?
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Why this works
Develops your cast of characters and ensures each serves a purpose in advancing the plot, developing the protagonist, or contributing to the story's themes.
12What is the tone and mood I want to create?
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What is the tone and mood I want to create?
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Why this works
Establishes the emotional atmosphere of your story and ensures consistency in how readers experience and interpret your narrative.
13What is the pacing and how will I control it?
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What is the pacing and how will I control it?
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Why this works
Ensures your story moves at the right speed to maintain reader interest while allowing for proper development of plot, character, and themes.
14What is the voice and style that best serves this story?
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What is the voice and style that best serves this story?
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Why this works
Determines how your story will be told and ensures the writing style enhances rather than detracts from the narrative you're creating.
15What is the target audience and how does that influence my choices?
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What is the target audience and how does that influence my choices?
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Why this works
Ensures your story is appropriate and appealing to your intended readers while helping you make decisions about content, style, and complexity.
16What is the genre and how do I honor its conventions?
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What is the genre and how do I honor its conventions?
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Why this works
Establishes reader expectations and ensures your story delivers on the promises of its genre while potentially subverting or innovating within those conventions.
17What is the backstory and how much do readers need to know?
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What is the backstory and how much do readers need to know?
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Why this works
Develops the history and context of your story while ensuring you don't overwhelm readers with unnecessary information or leave them confused about important details.
18What is the subplot and how does it support the main story?
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What is the subplot and how does it support the main story?
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Why this works
Adds depth and complexity to your narrative while ensuring secondary storylines enhance rather than distract from your main plot.
19What is the dialogue style and how does it reveal character?
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What is the dialogue style and how does it reveal character?
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Why this works
Develops your characters' voices and ensures their speech patterns, word choices, and communication styles reflect their personalities and backgrounds.
20What is the revision strategy and how will I improve the story?
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What is the revision strategy and how will I improve the story?
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Why this works
Plans for the editing process and ensures you have a systematic approach to refining your story, fixing plot holes, and strengthening weak areas.
Mastering the Art of Storytelling
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Start with the Core Elements
Begin by defining your central conflict, protagonist, and setting. These foundational elements will guide all other decisions and ensure your story has a strong foundation.
Develop Your Characters Fully
Create detailed character profiles including motivations, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. Well-developed characters drive compelling stories and make readers care about what happens.
Plan Your Structure
Outline your story's beginning, middle, and end. Understanding your story's structure helps you maintain pacing and ensures all elements work together effectively.
Example Scenarios
Developing Conflict
Ask: 'What is the central conflict or problem my story needs to solve?' This establishes the driving force of your narrative and ensures your story has a clear purpose.
Creating Character Arc
Ask: 'How will my protagonist change or grow throughout the story?' This ensures character development and gives your protagonist a meaningful journey readers can follow.
Establishing Theme
Ask: 'What is the theme or message I want to convey?' This gives your story depth and meaning beyond just entertainment, ensuring your narrative has something meaningful to say.
Common Pitfalls
Overcomplicating the Plot
Don't try to include too many subplots or conflicts. Focus on one central conflict and a few well-developed subplots that support your main story.
Neglecting Character Development
Don't focus only on plot at the expense of character development. Readers need to care about your characters to stay engaged with your story.
Ignoring the Target Audience
Don't write without considering your intended readers. Understanding your target audience helps you make appropriate choices about content, style, and complexity.