The task of a writer consists of being able to make something out of an idea.
— Thomas Mann
If it took but a singular idea to craft a story, we’d all be prolific authors. Rather, most good stories are crafted from a number of synergistic elements that stem from a singular idea.
As it happens, all these elements can be found in the Bardsy Storywheel, namely: character, storyworld, conflict, plot and theme. Simple, right? Honestly, we could make it a lot more complicated. But our mission is to distill and convey the essence of good storytelling in order to get you writing: not to bloviate about our own!
Hopefully you followed along last week, which means you’ve overcome the initial hurdle of starting your entry for our Holiday Anthology contest, and you have at least one idea for your story. Great job! (If you haven’t started yet, click
here for a way to jump-start your writing process in just three minutes.)
Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and move forward. One of the central notions of the Storywheel is that these elements do not exist in isolation. A story is only as strong as the links between its elements. If you develop them separately, without regard for how they relate to each other, you just may end up with a disjointed, underdeveloped story.
So, let’s look at and utilize these links in order to forge ahead with our creative brainstorm. They’ll take us smoothly from one element to another, until we’ve come full circle to create a singular comprehensive story.
First, recall your idea from last week. Was it a character? A world? Decide which storywheel category it falls into (and yes, it could be multiple). Then, find that element below for a specific path from there to your next element, and all those remaining. It’s time to start snowballing!
Starting point: Character
Let’s say you have a character, inspired by your grandfather. Consider the world he lives in. Is it one of the past, from your childhood? Present-day? How might the time period affect the type of gift he chooses? For example, in the nineties, he might craft a display case for a child’s Beanie Baby collection, while nowadays he might make a mini doghouse for a robot canine.
All of these connections are two-way streets (a character can affect their world as much as it can affect them), so think about the role he could play in his environment too. If the world around him is one where pecans are in short supply, a pecan pie made using nuts from a tree grown in his backyard would be especially valued.
Starting point: World
Where in the world are we? You already have an idea! Whether we’re spending the holiday catching rays in Hawaii or bundling up in Boston, your story setting is a great starting point to envision what types of conflicts might arise.
Setting is not inert. It is activated by point of view.
― Carmen Maria Machado
For example, your story could take place on the day a big blizzard hits, sending all your characters scrambling for warmth (and snow shovels). Maybe characters are bickering over who gets the next turn with the electric blanket, or they all have to work together to deal with a power outage. Each world presents a unique landscape for tension.
Starting point: Conflict
Perhaps you already know you want to write a story about a character grappling with a force of nature. Or about two characters fighting over the last popular toy on the store shelf. Whichever type of conflict you have in mind, it’s only natural to contemplate how it could be addressed over the course of a plot.
What are some possible resolutions for your conflict? Or, how do you think the events of the story could build to a dramatic moment, where tensions threaten to bubble over? From characters braving the weather together to them coming up with a clever way to share that last gift, your plot is full of potential.
Starting point: Plot
If you already have an idea of the flow of your story, good job! At this point, take a moment to ponder what exactly you are trying to say with this particular kind of narrative. What do you want the reader to take away? What makes you want to write this story, and not another?
Treat plot as a vehicle to convey your theme. It’s inevitable, whether with a happy ending, a sad ending, or something in the middle, that certain ideas will come to the surface. Do you want to tell a tale about the value of lending a helping hand to those less fortunate? The concept of redemption? Now’s an excellent time to contemplate your message.
Starting point: Theme
I think one of the most instinctual flows is from theme to character. If you know you want to write about a theme of generosity, ask yourself who is performing an act of generosity, and why. Maybe they weren’t always that selfless, and a kind interaction with a stranger made them vow to put others first from thereon.
Here is one simple rule to remember: Characters carry theme.
— James Scott Bell
Explore how your character(s) might convey a particular message to you reader. Do their actions make it a cautionary tale? Or is it a totally aspirational Hallmark moment where “perfectly” flawed characters find their way to love, harmony and familial bliss? (Not judging!) Whatever your theme, invent a character who’s strong enough to carry it.
With the Story Wheel, you can move from one element to another with ease. So, continue to draw connections as you develop new elements, until you have all the pieces of your story puzzle in place, without having to jam anything in that doesn't quite fit.
Then, make sure you submit your story to our
Holiday Anthology contest by December 13 for a chance to win $399 and more awesome prizes!
Try this: What’s the best gift you ever received? Write a few lines telling us what it was, and why you appreciated it so much.
