Writing A Perfect Story.

Writing A Perfect Story

A few laughs ahead?
Cringing?
Angry writers keyboard smashing?

Don't hate the player.


Let's get down to business, shall we?
As we all - or most of us - know, it's impossible to write a perfect story. I'm not talking about grammar or spelling, I'm talking storyline. One person may love romance, while another may despise it - Same goes for any genre. It's just not possible to please everyone.

I tried putting something like this on AFF but it didn't get much reception. I'm thinking because this is a site for original stuff, I may be able to get a bit more feedback.

The point of this blog is to find out what not only draws you in to a story, but what keeps you there.

Personally, I can read/watch something with a mediocre storyline as long as I enjoy the characters. Even if the plot is so fantastical and blows my mind, I don't care about it if the characters are bland and predictable. And that is where I see many stories fall short. The leads aren't very real and the additional side characters aren't any better. I've come across more than my fair share of stories that I look forward to reading only to find the main females to be incompetent, wishy-washy pushovers. The male love interest is always a dick, but no reason is given for it, and he always falls for the useless girl without much of a fight.

To be honest, I can't really say much more about it. The case is as simple as that. I'm sure the majority of you don't need much reminding to recall at least one of these stories that have slapped you after getting your hopes up with a polished premise.

By this point, you're probably wondering where this is going. Don't worry, bro/sis, I gotcha. *Nods knowingly* Do not fret, this (the rambling) happens often when I've been without human contact for some time.

Should I turn this into a tips post? *Looks at the wall to the right side in thought and points* That's my deep-thinking wall.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

Disregarding my person opinion of characters beat plot, let's move on to story structure.

After some researching (Hours upon hours of it), I've come across the generally accepted structures. A '7 point story structure' or for longer stories with multiple conflicts and split-off, inner plots, the '8 point story arc' may be a better choice.

Understanding the 7 Point Story Structure
(http://www.shalleemcarthur.com/2013/02/understanding-story-structure-how-to.html)

Hook: What draws the reader in; it sets your character in a position opposite of where they'll be at the end.
Plot Turn 1: The call to adventure-- the story really beings and there's no turning back for the character. (about 1/3 of the way through the book)
Pinch 1: The stakes heat up; more danger/pressure is introduced.
Midpoint: The character discovers something new that allows them to move from reaction to action against the antagonist. (The middle of the book, obviously.)
Pinch 2: The stakes heat up again; often, something big is lost. (Often called the "all is lost" moment.)
Plot Turn 2: The character learns the final information to destroy the antagonist, often at great personal cost. (about 2/3 of the way through the book)
Resolution: The character saves the day.

8 Point Story Arc
(http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-structure-a-story-the-eight-point-arc/)

1. Stasis
2. Trigger
3. The quest
4. Surprise
5. Critical choice
6. Climax
7. Reversal
8. Resolution

Now we have the base work, how about choosing what actually happens?

Boy meets girl?
Zombie apocolyspe?
The supernatural?
Terminally ill lover?

What do you notice about the above? (I feel like mimicking the Old Spice ad - "Look at the clichés, to me, back to the clichés...")

Why is it always the rich, douche catching the poor girl in a practical slave contract? Why not have a confident girl getting caught up in a misunderstanding and getting stuck with a poor loner? (Like my original story An Angel To Me, and similarly in Mucky Puppy (Unposted WooHyun oneshot) - Shameless advertising)

Or having the zombies win and eventually take over the world (Please don't do this. I dunlike'em) before they begin to get back their senses.

Or write a supernatural, self-insert fic about a broody girl and a caring vamp that sparkles...Oh...Right. Never mind that one. How about lightening the mood entirely and lace the problems between said vamp and potential (most definitely going to happen) love interest. The duo go to a fair and get stuck at the top of a Ferris wheel only for the chick to come on her period a day early. Oooh~ I can see the horror on both of their faces already.  

Ok, maybe that would just be funny to people with my sense of (warped) humor.

But taking the opposites idea, you can switch up any cliché and make it enjoyable. This will also give you the edge with surprising your readers and keeping them interested. No one wants to spend hours reading a story when they know what will happen.

Next, let's go to villains.

I know you just thought of a Disney villain. No need to be ashamed, but still...Don't.

Give your character someone strong to struggle against.

Main character: A rookie fashion designer who fights for animal rights? = Villain: Cruella de Vil (Yeah, I went there. I'm a hypocrite; sue me.) But you get the point. Have someone with clashing interests to you 'virtuous' lead.

Main Character: A fiery, jump in-ask questions later type that's on an adventure. = Villain: A calm and collected type that is able to irk lead character with only a subtle look because it's clear the villain has no reason to feel threatened (Or at least that's what they, and the reader, think). The main may act out because they feel insecure about their abilities while the villain is overconfident - This could be their downfall. For a person who seems all powerful, it's likely they're partly at fault for underestimating their enemy and thereafter, solidifying their own demise.

Y'know, I could do this all day. I don't brag about my stories but I do feel pretty confident about my characters because they're real (That sounds kinda weird, but oh well). They're multi-dimensional people that can be identified with and because of that, readers want to continue the story to find out what they'll do/what'll happen to them.

I try to make them interesting by taking the time to write out 7 page long apps for each of them and use underlying contradictive traits caused by events from the past and their view on the current 'risk and reward'. It's important to give each individual character a specific motivation and reasons for why they do things. You wouldn't see people out on the street alternate day by day, saving a puppy from being ran over by a car and the next day watching the incident with a smile on their faces. Even psychopaths/sociopaths/etc have reason and motivation for doing things, even if we don't understand it.

Do make sure that the reader doesn't get force-fed their 'glistening jade eyes that sparkled while auburn hair like really hot fire floated like baby's breath in the windy wind' though. Slip in details here and there and try not to worry too much about whether they'll catch the hints and mannerisms of your characters.

I'm tempted to go into 'how to build characters' but I think I may get lynched, if the readers haven't left already.


You have made it to the end.
Well done to each of you at have made it this far. I know Lee will have.

At least, she'd better have. ¬¬

Recap: Tasha started with an objective to write a quick post, she got carried away and lost half of the audience, remaining audience forgot the initial question.

Now for the all important question of the day: "What do you like to read about and what keeps your interest?"
[A] Characters
[B] Plots
[C] Both
[D] None of the above; I read anything from a certain genre
[E] Other - I have my own, specific opinion on the matter and would like to rant at you about it.

Concerning option E, Wall messages and comments accepted.