Choosing the Right Story: Three Questions Every Writer Should Ask

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

Choosing a story is a bit like sailing the high seas—some ideas sparkle like gold, but others are just fool's gold, shiny yet devoid of true value. In the literary realm, it's the difference between discovering treasure or venturing into the abyss of forgotten tales, like pirates who, despite their shiny pursuits, found only a world of death. 

Here’s the perilous truth: not every story is created equal. But how can we make sure we choose the right tale? It takes a long time to successfully pen a long-form story. The pain of choosing the wrong path at the outset can be profound, leading writers into treacherous waters that sap enthusiasm, waste time, and often result in the abandonment of promising projects. To help you narrow down the possibilities, here are three crucial questions every writer should consider before they ever sit down to write. 

1. Do You Have Passion for Your Story?

Writing is an inherently personal act, a transmutation of thoughts, emotions, and imagination into words on a page. When a writer is passionate about the story they are telling, their passion is contagious. Readers can sense when a writer is genuinely invested in their narrative. It transcends the pages, creating an immersive experience that resonates.

Passion also fuels the writer’s own creativity, which can transform a mundane story into a masterpiece. It’s heartbeat of creativity, and when it pulsates through your storytelling, it breathes life into characters, infuses vitality into plots, and prompts the creation of exciting scenes that are the backbone of the story.

Moreover, when your chosen story aligns with your passions and interests, the journey becomes an exhilarating adventure rather than a laborious trek. The enthusiasm you bring to the writing desk becomes a wellspring of inspiration, propelling you through the challenges of plot development, character arcs, and intricate world-building. Passion acts as a reservoir of resilience, helping you navigate the inevitable challenges and revisions with unwavering determination.

2. Do You Know Who Your Audience Is?

Writing, at its core, is a form of communication. A conversation between the author and the reader that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Yet, as any seasoned writer will attest, this dialogue can become lost in the vast expanse of literary creation without a clear understanding of the audience. Identifying your readership is akin to finding the North Star in your writing odyssey—a guiding light that not only shapes your narrative but ensures it resonates with those who embark on the journey with you.

One of the cardinal mistakes aspiring writers often make is neglecting the importance of defining their audience. Whether fueled by the sheer passion of storytelling or the desire for universal acclaim, the failure to pinpoint the intended readership can lead a writer to ruin. Your story, no matter how brilliantly conceived, becomes a ship without a compass if it lacks a defined destination—an audience. Moreover, understanding your readership provides invaluable insights into their expectations, preferences, and the emotional chords you must strike to keep them invested. 

In a saturated literary landscape, where readers can choose from an abundance of options, the ability to resonate with a specific audience becomes a strategic advantage. Whether you're crafting a mystery novel, science fiction saga, or a heartwarming coming-of-age tale, your words carry more weight when they find a receptive audience eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

3. Do You Have a Compelling Main Character?

Choosing a story with a compelling main character is not just a narrative choice; it's imperative. The heart of every story is a main character whose journey captivates the audience. This protagonist must be the driving force of your story, the catalyst that sparks engagement and emotional investment. A compelling main character provides readers with a relatable and tangible entry point into the character’s journey. Readers must form an emotional bond with your character—this is what hooks them and keeps them emotionally engaged. Thus, you first need to make sure that you have a character who is likable, sympathetic, or intriguing. Then you need to make sure that he or she drives the action of your story. 

A dynamic main character injects vitality into the storytelling process by making choices under pressure to pursue a primary objective over the course of the telling. Their choices are what allows the plot to unfold, which is why they must be active and not passive. This, in turn, allows the reader to engage more fully in the protagonist’s journey. Rather than being a passive observer, readers become active participants in the protagonist's triumphs and tribulations. 

A well-defined goal or objective that the main character pursues is the key to creating a compelling main character that will captivate the heart of your readers. The pursuit of this goal becomes the whole point of the story, the driving force that propels the plot forward.

Consider classic examples like Frodo Baggins on his quest to Mount Doom or Sherlock Holmes unraveling intricate mysteries. In each case, it's the characters' unwavering pursuit of their objectives that transforms an ordinary story into an extraordinary one. Readers become invested not only in the outcome but in the character's transformative journey.

Choosing a story with a compelling main character is an investment in the soul of your narrative. It's a commitment to crafting a protagonist whose presence lingers in the minds of readers, inspiring empathy, introspection, and a lasting connection. 

Conclusion

These aren’t the only factors you should consider when choosing which story to tell, but this will at least give you a good starting point for elimination, and hopefully lead you to the right path. 

For more help on this topic, check out my brand-new course for novelists, Hollywood Story Structure Made Easy. Just go to https://www.thestorytellersmission.com/story-structure-made-easy to learn more!

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Zena has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a writer, producer, director, actress, and story consultant. Zena also teaches advanced classes on writing all over the country. As a writer, Zena has won numerous awards for her work. She also has several feature film projects in development through her independent production company, Mission Ranch Films. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Zena launched The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe, a podcast designed to serve the whole artist, not just focus on craft. In 2021, Zena launched The Storyteller’s Mission Online Platform, where she offers advanced classes and other key services to writers. Zena loves story and loves to support storytellers. Her passion is to equip artists of all levels to achieve excellence at their craft, so that they will truly have everything they need to change the world for the better through story.

To find out more about Zena or her current courses and projects, check out her websites at WWW.MISSIONRANCHFILMS.COM and WWW.THESTORYTELLERSMISSION.COM