How to Start Writing a Story: A Simple Beginner Guide

Starting to write can be really tough. Most people struggle with getting started. It's not that they don't have any ideas. It's just that they don't know how to start writing.

You don't have to have a plan before you begin. That will come later. What you need is an idea to get started. It can be a thing like,

• A character doing something everyday.
• A weird situation.
• Just a line that feels interesting.

For example,

A man keeps getting calls from his own number.

That's all you need. Once you start writing your ideas will become clearer. Your story will start to take shape.

Characters Come Before Plot

Stories feel real when they come from the characters not from things that happen.

The thing that is important is what the character wants at this moment.

• What is it that the character wants?
• What is it that the character wants to avoid?
• What is it that the character is afraid of?

For example,

A student wants to confess something, but is more afraid of losing a friend by telling the truth.

This one thing can make a story happen. The choices that the character makes are what create the story, about the character.

Having Some Direction

Writing with no plan can get really messy. Planning out every detail can make your writing feel stiff. You need to have something in between when it comes to writing. Have an idea of what you want to write,

• Where your story starts
• Where your story might end

You do not have to stick to your rough idea. Writing is about being flexible and you can change things as you go along with your writing. Having some direction with your writing helps you avoid getting stuck with your writing.

The Story behind the Story.

When you tell a story the story usually has something to it. An idea, a feeling or a theme. Even if you did not think about it beforehand. It could be about,

• Dealing with failure
• Wanting to be understood
• Fear of change

Knowing what the story is really about helps you figure out what belongs in the story and what does not belong. This is what makes the story meaningful.

Preparing to write.

Good ideas do not matter much if you are constantly distracted. You see, a simple routine or a familiar space really helps your mind focus on the writing. Your brain needs something to get into the mindset. You do not need a setup or anything like that. Just something that tells your brain it is time to write.

Before you start writing a scene you should know a few things. Here are the basics,

• What is happening in the scene
• Where the scene is happening

That is enough to get you started with writing the scene.

Conflict Is What Moves the Story

A story needs something to make things happen. Without conflict the story is pretty boring. Nothing really. It is not very interesting. Conflict can be,

• Inside the character like when they're scared or they doubt themselves
• Between people like when they do not agree on something
• Against something that is happening like a big problem

The character needs something to push against them. This pressure makes the story move forward.

Stakes: Why It Actually Matters

Conflict gets interesting when something is on the line. The reader needs to know what could be lost. For example,

If a character misses a train it's not a deal.

But if missing it means they'll never see that person again then it becomes important.

The stakes don't have to be huge. They just need to matter to the character.

Start in a Way That Pulls the Reader In

A good start gets people wondering, it does not give them all the answers. Start with something that is happening or not quite right.

For example:

She deleted the message before she finished it.

That makes you ask questions. You do not have to tell people everything at the beginning. Let the reader get interested in the story about the message. The reader will want to know more, about the message.

Let Your Character Change

Stories feel complete when something changes. The character does not have to succeed. Something should shift. This can be their thinking, their decision or their understanding. The change should come from what the character has experienced, not out of nowhere.

This means that the character of the story should learn something from what happens to them.

Writing in a Way That Feels Natural

When you write, make the same choices every time.

• One point of view.
• Other tense.

Dialogue should sound real. It should also have a purpose. Pacing is also important. You need to slow down for a moment. We should move faster when it is needed. This way the story keeps flowing.

Description and Pacing

Do not describe everything. A few details are enough to create an image of the story. For example of telling us about the whole room you can just mention a few things like,

• Acracked mirror
• A chair that is turned over.

There are moments requiring space to make the reader feel like in emotions and moments to move faster, like in action.

Don’t Make Things Easy for Your Characters

If everything goes smoothly the story gets boring. Give your characters problems that they have to work to solve and make tough choices. It's not about throwing obstacles at them but, about putting them in situations that challenge them and show what they're made of. That's what reveals who they are.

Finishing the First Draft

Finishing something is often a lot harder, than getting started. You will want to go and fix everything when you are done. Try not to do that.

The first draft of something does not need to be good. It just needs to be written down so it exists. You can make it better on. Without a draft of your work there is nothing for you to work on and make better.

Endings That Feel Earned

A good ending grows from everything before it. It should come from the character’s choices and experiences. Not feel rushed or sudden. Take your time with it. Let it connect back to the story.

Editing Without Losing Yourself

Editing is where you make your story better. You should start with the things like,

• The structure of your story
• Making sure your characters are consistent

Then you can look at the smaller things like,

• The sentences you are using
• Making sure everything is clear

Getting feedback from other people can be helpful but you should still sound like yourself. The goal of editing is to make your writing clearer not to sound like someone. You want to make your writing better so your story is easier to understand. That is what editing is all.

How Much Editing Is Enough?

Edits usually go from changes to smaller ones. When the changes to the edits stop affecting the story in a way you are close, to being done with the edits. The edits do not have to be perfect the edits are okay if they are not perfect.

Building a Writing Habit

Consistency is more important than being intense. Writing a little every day counts. It helps you stay close to what you're working on. Having a daily routine can be a big help. This is especially true, on days when you do not feel like doing much.

Practising on Purpose

To get better you should work on one thing at a time. Try doing some exercises like these,

• Write a conversation between people
• Describe what you see in a place but only use three lines
• Create a charater and tell me about them in one paragraph

This will help you feel more in control of your writing and you will become more confident in your ability to write.

Understanding Genre (Not to Get Lost in Genre)

Genres have expectations. Knowing the genres helps you shape your story. The genres are not rules. You can follow the genres. You can bend the genres.

Growing Your Voice Over Time

Your writing voice gets better as time goes on. It happens when you write all the time and really pay attention to what you read. You will start to see what is good and what is not good. You do not have to try hard to make it happen.

What Comes After You Finish

Finishing a story is not the end of the story. You have some things you can do with the story when you are done. You can revise the story share the story or you can move on to a story. Each step helps you get better at writing. A story is one part of your writing journey.

Staying With It

Writing does take a lot of time. Some days it feels like "I'm not getting much done."

That's okay, it's all part of writing. It doesn't mean you are failing. You make progress little by little. The important thing is to keep at it keep writing every day.