The Elements of Good Story Writing

By Eugene Orlando

A. Root for: this character element causes the reader to cheer them on.

1. Do you find yourself caring about what happens next to any or all of the characters?

B. Conflict: a battle of the wills between people, or involving people vs. objects. They can be physical or vocal/emotional battles.

1. Do things in the “story flow” run too smooth?

2. Are there too many or not enough problems that the characters must solve?

D. Sympathy: is what causes the reader to feel sorry for, or identify with characters.

1. Do the characters do anything that make you care about them?

E. Empathy: is what causes the reader to feel what the characters feel—to be able to see yourself in the character’s place.

1. Can you identify with what is happening to any of the characters? (You’re supposed to)

2. Do you find that you compare their problems with anything similar in your life? (You’re supposed to)

3. Do you find yourself saying, “Oh, yeah, I know what that’s like.” (You’re supposed to)

F. Antipathy: the element that causes the reader to dislike the bad characters.

1. Do the bad characters do anything that make you not like them (as they are supposed to do)?

G. Lock-in: is what keeps the characters from just walking away from the situation.

1. Are there scenes that are unbelievable because you feel that the characters don’t have enough reason to be or stay in them?

H. Value systems: are beliefs that are important to the characters. They are things the characters believe in that guide them in their everyday activities of life: their mindset.

1. Do you feel the characters have a belief system and believe in things that are important to them?

2. Do the things the characters believe in seem realistic to you, or realistic enough that someone would believe in them?

I. At stake: is what’s lost or gained if a thing happens or doesn’t happen.

1. Are the characters working toward or against something?

2. Do the characters have goals?

3. Do the characters’ goals interest you?

Other considerations about the story:

A. Is the style of the writing simple, smooth, and clear?

B. Is there too much or not enough description on people, places, or objects?

C. Is there enough or too much description about what the main character is thinking?

D. Clear up any spelling or grammar mistakes.

E. Does the beginning draw you into the story right away?

F. In every scene, do you learn more about the characters or the plot?

G. Were there enough or too many surprises in the story?

H. Is it clear who is telling the story?