by Michelle Tuesday

Created on: February 06, 2009   Last Updated: June 24, 2009

So you want to write a story! Maybe you have an idea and need help getting it down, or you just enjoy reading and writing and think storytelling is for you. Either way, the process can be taken step-by-step if you know steps to take. Some writers say that planning and outlining stifles the creative spark, and that you should just write with reckless abandon; good stories will tell themselves. While there is some truth to this, you wouldn't be reading this article if you already knew how to whip out a story on the fly. Know that many published authors plan before they write, and your story can be just as successful, whether flash fiction, epic novel, or any length in between. The key to writing a good story is sucking in the reader from the beginning and keeping his or her attention straight through to the end.

The first thing you need to identify is the premise of your story. What is is about? Who are your main characters? What will happen to them and why will it happen? How will it turn out? What does that tell the reader? Is there a moral to the story? Try to summarize all this in a paragraph or less; this will be your roadmap.

If you don't have a premise yet, try keeping an idea journal. Jot down things you notice on billboards or magazine covers, or interesting conversations you overhear in the train station or at Starbucks. Keep it next to your bed and journal your dreams when you first wake. Make lists of events from your past that have sparked strong emotions in you, whether they happened to you or someone you knew. Then, when you're ready to try your hand at writing a story, flip through the journal, find an idea that catches your eye, and draft a premise around it. The premise may change entirely by the end of the story-writing process, but it's important to have something to start with.

Now that you have your premise, let's move on to the elements of a story and how to develop them. As you go through the list, it helps to have a binder to keep all your scribbles in, especially for a longer piece like a novella or novel. Alternatively, a free software application such as http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/ (click on the blue "Get It Free" link) can be used to collect electronic notes.

The three elements of a story are characters, setting, and plot.

1. Character(s).

A good story draws the reader in. The one and only way to enamor your audience is through empathy, and good characterization is critical in creating it. First, your reader must love

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