As writers, we’re often asked how we come up with story ideas.
Whether I’m writing a devotional or a fictional short story, I’ve learned that
drawing from real life provides some of the best inspiration.
We can use the
events from our lives to create stories that encourage, motivate, teach, or
entertain others. While someone who reads your story may not have had the exact
same experiences, she can relate to the emotions you felt and the lessons you
learned.
Here are five ways to turn real-life events into stories.
Remember that the truth is often stranger than fiction. Use the
truth as a foundation for your story, but change the facts. Connect with the
reader by providing an emotional experience. Both fiction and nonfiction appeal
to readers when they see parts of themselves in the characters and settings.
2. Determine the Heart of the Matter
Find the heart of the story: your theme. Theme provides the
foundation for your story and helps readers connect to your characters’
internal journey. Determine the theme before you begin writing, if possible.
This way, you can develop your story around that theme. Don’t worry if the
theme doesn’t reveal itself until you’ve completed several drafts. Focus on the
story, and the theme will emerge.
3. Create Memorable Characters
Real people need to be tweaked to become interesting characters.
Create a fictional character by combining multiple traits from people you know
into one character. Also, limit the number of characters you include to make it
less confusing for your reader.
When fictionalizing real people, you may be concerned about
privacy. Ask permission when possible. Change names, including initials, and
change other pertinent details, such as looks, age, and abilities. Give the
character different qualities from the real person so that the character only
vaguely resembles the person on which he’s based.
4. Develop Your Setting
Setting consists of the time, place, and mood of the character’s
world. Most writers don’t think about world-building unless they’re fantasy
writers. But writers of every genre, even nonfiction writers, should spend some
time on this. To build a world for your characters, you can use a real place,
or you can fictionalize the town (or city or country) while including a few
general, recognizable locations.
5. Use Third Person Limited POV
When writing a fictional story about your life, it will be
tempting to use first person since it happened to you. But you’re too close to
the story, and writing in third person limited point of view will allow you to
have some distance.
We share our experiences through storytelling. As with any story,
one based on real life needs to connect with readers. It seems as if it should
be easy, but there’s more to it than simply recounting an experience. Readers
want to feel joy and heartache alongside your characters. Determine the story
you want to tell, and then go write it.
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Staci Mauney is a freelance writer and editor and indie author from Oklahoma. She is
the co-owner of Prestige Prose, a freelance writing and editing company found
at prestigeprose.com. As an author, she has written four devotionals in the
Echoes of Joy series, where her Yorkshire terrier, Lilly, is the main character.She volunteers for a variety of organizations
in her local community and is a member and past president of the Oklahoma Writers’
Federation, Inc. (OWFI). Author Website: http://stacimauney.com/
Social Media: -Facebook: @StaciMauneyAuthor Twitter: @SMauneyAuthor Instagram: @sdmauney
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