For better writing and revising:  your story’s promise

Sometimes in our fevered pitch to tap out a novel or script for whatever deadline, we forget an important aspect:  What does the story promise the reader?

Writing is hard. An idea may seize us and then we just write until the end shows up. Or we’re stuck after the first page and wonder, what next? Or, worse yet, even with careful plotting and planning, the story fails to attract readers (such as a literary agent, a producer, or just an ordinary discerning reader).

When writing my own stories and when working with writers I’ve always loved the notion that a story promises to demonstrate human needs readers can identify with and care about.

In addition, a well-designed story addresses human needs scene by scene.

Do your scenes carry emotional resonance? Do details and reactions help us care?

Bill Johnson, in his fine book I highly recommend called A Story Is A Promise, mentions what may seem obvious:  A story that clearly communicates its promise draws in an audience.

A few questions Bill (and I) ask, with my embellishments added:

…What does your story promise the audience? (One notion or promise, please, not a half-dozen promises. Stories de-rail fast when the focus becomes diffused.)

…How do you introduce your story’s promise? Is it interesting enough? With emotional resonance (which can be of any kind)?

…What events fulfill your story’s promise? (Do you need more events? Bigger ones?)

…What details evoke the drama of your story’s promise? 

…In the opening scene of every chapter or act, how are you making a downpayment on your story’s promise?

…Do the events of your story make the stakes clear?

From expert Lisa Cron in her book, Story Genius: “Story is about an internal struggle, not an external one. It’s about what the protagonist has to learn, to overcome, to deal with internally in order to solve the problem that the external plot poses.”

Use the one “promise” of your story as your “control,” then write and revise. Your story will become sharper and affect readers in an amazing way.