by Sandra Haven

Words are plentiful--and free. Just look in the dictionary! So how does a writer take these bare essentials and create a real, honest-to-goodness, worth-the-time-to-read, or better yet, worth-an-acceptance-from-a-publisher story? Here are four simple--yet powerful--rules used to create a story. Let's go over the rules first, then discuss how they can work for you.

WHAT

1. First, a story needs to have a main character, usually a person (sometimes an animal or even a machine in some instances) whom readers care about. Readers need to feel some kinship or fascination with the character--enough to make them want to stick with the character to see what will happen to him or her.

2. Second, that character needs to have a goal, a problem, or a purpose that is important to that character and necessary to handle within the time frame of the story. The mention of that goal, problem, or purpose should start at the beginning of the manuscript and progress throughout the pages. 3. Third, the character's path to achieving the goal or overcoming the problem or making a decision should be strewn with obstacles. These can be obstacles from outside sources or of the character's own making (purposefully or inadvertently).

4. Last, the character needs to reach the goal, overcome the problem or make that important decision. Sometimes the final goal or full conclusion may not be reached within the story itself; but the sense that a step has been made toward that eventual end must be shown by the story's conclusion.

WHY

These "rules" may seem restrictive and formulaic, but in reality they have tremendous flexibility and really are aids, not hindrances, to the creative writing process. After all, the reason an author writes is to make an impact of some kind on the reader.

How can that best be achieved? First, by making the reader care about the words. How can an author best do that? By creating a character the reader cares about (rule #1). Next, the author needs to keep that reader interested enough to keep reading. How can he or she do that? By creating some conflict or situation that requires the main character to do something or decide on something (rule #2). And then how does the author keep that reader still flipping pages? By creating obstacles for that character to overcome (rule #3).

The most important goal for any author is to want that story to be memorable--to stay with readers long after the story has ended, to be important to the growth or thoughts of readers after the pages are closed. To that end, rule #4 will give readers the satisfaction that establishes the story in their minds and, hopefully, in their hearts.

HOW

So the next time you have a story ready to send out, review these four essentials. One way to be certain you have fulfilled these requirements is to print the story out and use four highlighter pens (or highlight using your computer file and Word Processing program).

* Use one to highlight all references to the main character identifying that character as someone a reader would recognize (personality traits), care for (human needs we all share), or find interesting (fun, unusual, or specific characteristics).

* Use the second highlighter to mark each direct and indirect reference to your character's goal, problem or purpose.

* The third highlighter should mark the obstacles to your character's solution. Number the obstacles.

* Finally, highlight the solution or the indication that a solution is within the character's reach.

Do you have enough of each color on your final highlighted story? Some stories will be weighted more with character and less with obstacles. Others will be the opposite. But every story needs at least some of each of these four essentials, particularly of the first (characterization) and the third (obstacles). Most short stories offer readers at least two obstacles but no more than four.

It is easy to become so absorbed in the writing process that one of these secrets to a strong story is overlooked. Keep them in mind as you write and you will be headed for a strong story with reader appeal!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandra E. Haven has had her writing published in the U.S. and Europe--from short fiction to articles, mainstream to genre. Since 1990 she has provided editing services specializing in content, characterization, plot, tone and continuity, with an emphasis on mysteries, fantasies, and stories for children as well as memoirs. For more information see Bristol Editing Services.