Developing story is the process of turning an idea from a small kernel of inspiration into a fully-fledged script for pitching. From there, the goal is to create a narrative that grabs audiences’ attention and holds their interest throughout its length. This requires careful attention to the narrative structure, character arcs, and emotional beats, all of which should be designed to resonate with your audience.
Every story starts with a spark of imagination. Whether that’s an interesting character, a transformative incident, or a gripping situation, this core concept is the foundation upon which the entire story will be built.
From there, you’ll need to identify the central conflict or story problem. This could be an unavoidable dilemma that forces the protagonist to change their ways. It could also be a major setback that puts the protagonist’s goals in jeopardy. The antagonist is another element that helps intensify the conflict. Describe their motivations and worldview, and explore how they’re positioned to oppose the protagonist.
Adding obstacles and challenges that will help deepen the protagonist’s character is important. It’s also important to introduce a midpoint that shifts the story’s direction. Finally, you’ll need to develop a crisis that escalates the conflict and propels the protagonist toward their ultimate fate.