Whether you’re writing a sci-fi thriller or cozy village mystery, developing story is the process of taking that spark of inspiration and turning it into a fully-fleshed screenplay or pitch. It’s where creativity meets structure—and a crucial step in ensuring your story’s final product captivates and resonates.
Developing story starts with defining your audience—the people you want to reach with your message. This helps you identify themes your audience will connect with, which in turn informs how you craft your story.
It also gives you a sense of direction, which helps you stay focused as you work. This is important because a human’s attention span tends to be around 10 seconds, so adding unnecessary details can distract your audience from the main points of your story.
Setting up your characters, their long-term and short-term goals, and the obstacles that stand in their way lays the groundwork for your plot. It also ensures your protagonist’s character arc feels organic, not tacked on.
Adding depth to your plot requires you to dive into the backstories of your supporting cast—especially your antagonists. It’s in this development stage that you create the compelling conflict that keeps your readers invested in your story.
Every great story carries a deeper theme that resonates with its audience. This is where you weave that theme into your narrative with finesse. Whether it’s redemption, sacrifice, or the cost of ambition, your story’s theme should feel integral to your plot and character arcs rather than tacked on.