Thinking of a story idea is not hard, but writing a good story is hard work. It takes a balance of research, creativity, and writing skills. Revising and editing are important for bringing a story from good to better.
Researching a story
It is true that a story is an exercise in creativity. A writer conjures an original plot line, creates characters, and chooses a viable setting for the story. A good writer should also understand the value of research. Proper research informs a story and gives it good credibility. Researching the setting and the time period of the story helps to prevent perverting history and misrepresenting a geographical location.
The research done for the story will help the accuracy of non-fiction elements of the story. This is not to say that the story cannot take place in a real town if such an event never actually happened. It is simply to maintain some historical and geographical accuracy. For example, one would not have Victorians use computers, or put a kangaroo in Canada unless it is in a zoo.
Writing a Story
Beyond the research required for a story, the ability to create an original piece of fiction comes from creativity and practice. When the first story does not go well, a smart writer will try again. The more one tries, the better the ideas and writing become. Reading works of fiction is a great way to find inspiration and help the creativity flow. It may help to find out what it is about celebrated authors that makes their works so popular. Also, take a look at the classics and find out what makes them classics.
For constructing original ideas, try creating a thought web that connects plot, character and setting together. Consider making a time line highlighting key events in the story to help keep focus while writing it. If the idea is worth it, do not give up on trying to improve the story. For more writing tips, consider: Three Keys to Successful Story Writing: A Brief Guide to Better Fiction.
Revising a Story
The story is written, beginning to end, yet it is not finished. Beyond the considerable amount of typos and other grammatical errors it may have, the story is not likely to be complete upon first writing it. What is finished it the first draft only. This draft can be revised any number of times until it becomes the final story.
Self editing requires and objective viewpoint. While writing the story, the author will inadvertently read it over as the author rather than the audience. When revising the story, remember that the readers do not know anything about the characters or plot line, and likely the setting before it is revealed to them in the story. These are things the author does know.
Upon the first careful read over the story, consider what is revealed to the reader and when. Write it down much like the time line that was made before the story was completed. This first read over can help a writer realize what is most important in the story and what is simply filling up space. “Filler” is more often than not unnecessary details. Try reducing this “filler” and maximizing the important parts. This will make the story more interesting.
Upon the second careful read over the story, double check that the research is accurate and be sure to correct it if it is not. While both reads will expose formerly unnoticed typos or grammatical errors, do not be afraid to use a dictionary, a thesaurus and a grammatical style book. Most writers cannot see all of the errors they may have made simply because they have read their own stories over so many times. Consider having an outside party, such as an editor, proofread the story.
After the research and writing is done, putting oneself in the shoes of the reader will help a writer properly revise a story and improve his or her writing skills. This step of revising and editing is important for making the story the best it can be.
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