A developing story is a narrative that reports on ongoing events as they happen. These stories differ from standard news reports because they require journalists to monitor the situation closely and provide real-time updates that engage their audience. They also involve the need to verify sources and prevent misinformation from spreading during chaotic situations.
Developing a story is an essential step for new writers who want to create a compelling narrative that captures and maintains audience engagement. Whether you’re a plotter who likes to develop their story in detail before writing or a pantser who prefers to discover the story as they write, it’s important to have a solid plan in place for developing your story idea into a well-written narrative.
Begin with the premise or underlying idea for your story. The premise serves as your guide for how your story will unfold, from the key character arcs to the climax of your narrative. You can use a screenwriting program to facilitate this process by offering templates, outlining features, and character management systems. Many programs also have collaboration features to help you receive feedback from peers or mentors.
The next step is to establish the setting for your story. The location, time period, and other defining characteristics of your story’s world will determine the nature of your characters’ journeys. For example, a story set in modern-day suburban America will have a very different tone than one that takes place in medieval Europe or America’s 1960s.