Questions for guidance

While I usually get ideas that are pretty much formed (after I let them brew for a while), and the characters and setting—in general terms—are there, when I’m writing the plot, there’s plenty to define. And while I’m lucky (knock on wood) to have avoided significant blocks, there’s a tool that can help me get my bearings when I’m figuring things out or if I’m feeling a little bit stuck: asking questions.

Who? Who is the story about? Who is the main character (or are there various)? Who’s the hero and who’s the villain (if that’s the idea)? Who kicks off the story? Who lives, who dies?

What? What is the main conflict? What are secondary conflicts? What does the main character want to achieve, and what do they want to avoid? What will go wrong and what will go right? What’s the main character’s motivation? What’s the antagonist’s motivation? What will the tone be? What will the themes be?

How? How will the story be narrated? How will the characters be presented? How will the conflict appear? How will it be resolved? How will the story start and how will it end? How does the setting affect the characters and plot?

When? When does the story take place? When does it begin and when does it end? Are there various times depicted?

Where? Where does the story take place? Where does it begin and where does it end? Is the “where” a real place or is worldbuilding involved?

Why? Why do things go wrong? Why do they go right? Why does the plot move forward like it does? Why do the characters act the way they do?

Why not? Why do things not work out (at time)? Why does the story not have a different setting? Why do characters not give up?

Of course, these are only a handful of questions that can help me round up the plot as I’m jotting things down or trying to move past a doubt as to how to move forward.

But arguably the biggest question I have for myself is, what do I want to tell with this story?

Moira Daly

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