Hello and welcome everyone,

Every writer, irrespective of their genre, is a storyteller. From providing new information to sharing life experiences, a story is a perfect way to convey a message and engage an audience. 

Stories have evolved over the years, but from engaging thrillers to romance, science-fiction, and fantasy, they all share the same building blocks. 

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and writing recently, and I find that as much as I want to write a good story, I also need to know what makes a good story. 

Here we will break down some of the major elements that make for good storytelling. Understanding these concepts will ensure that whatever you want to write, your work is more effective and successful. 

On selecting which ideas to explore.

So you’re out with your people, and amidst the laughter and music, you feel a burst of inspiration; you lean away from your gathering of friends and open your notes app to quickly type the idea - Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones in space - to revisit later. It is not a bad idea; in fact, that is how Pierce Brown’s Red Rising is described by many people, so you know it tracks, but is that enough reason to take the path?

Choosing an idea to develop is like digging for treasure - you may find a single untarnished gold bracelet, which is great, or you can dig a tunnel that leads to a city of gold; which in this case would be a great idea with relatable ideas that offer multiple tiers of ‘drama’ and ‘narrative’.  

You may get many lightbulb moments as you go about your life; some writers have a gut feeling as they type - the days when the words for the story, essay, or poem flow, and you immediately know you’re on the right track. 

However, for those days when you need help laying the blocks, we will talk about choosing ideas. Those lightbulbs work, but how do you know if it is a lightbulb you should use?

The simple answer is that you do not know unless you try. Ideas are not static things -they may have a through line, but from the moment you conceive something to when it is finalised, you will find that you are pivoting and making adjustments with each sliver of understanding you acquire. 

As you dig deeper, your idea takes shape, going from an amorphous blob to a sculpture even Michaelangelo would be proud of.

Understanding your Motivation

Why do I want to write this story?

An idea may seem exciting at first, but once you get into it, you lose steam, and now you are stuck a few words into a thing you really thought you wanted to write. An important step to avoiding that insurmountable wall is to understand your motivation. 

Identifying your personal interests and passions helps to sort through what ideas to explore further. In knowing what you care about, you get a better feel for what to write about - it is easier to infuse work with caring when you care about the work.

What does this story mean to you? It may be a fun introspection in which you unravel a childhood memory that leads to a piece on the importance of healthy parenthood in emotional development or an exploration of the underground genre of music you feel to be heard more once you know why the story matters, you can go ahead with your work. This is interesting because sometimes you do not know the why of a story till you are on the journey, so do not hesitate to explore your ideas. 

Discomfort and Flaws

 One thing we will recommend is leaving your comfort zone.

Rich, evocative stories often form writers pushing themselves and putting their characters in as much discomfort as possible. 

What does your character want the most? Do you know that? Now throw the exact opposite at them (sorry in advance to characters everywhere). 

Asides from a physical journey, your idea should have your characters go through an emotional journey - What is the misbelief they may have about the world that the plot forces them to overcome? 

Every day, we encounter things that bother us. We may ignore those things, but a lot of good ideas are rooted in our misunderstanding and eventual exploration of things that bother us. A creative non-fiction piece, essay, or article often goes from a less understood point to the writer's conclusions in their search for understanding. An entire plot point sometimes hinges on a flaw in a societal system - from the racial divide in Bridgerton to the galactic societal dysfunction on display in Dune.

 In work we love, this existing flaw is then drawn to an extreme, and that provides opportunities for upheaval - The love between Queen Charlotte and King George is the first step in repairing the ton. The downfall of House Atriedes leads to Paul…I will not spoil the entire thing for you, but you get my point - Discomfort and flaws are part of the foundation for a great idea.

Genres and Themes

It is very important to explore the different genres that matter to you. 

What are the characteristics and tropes within the genre? Does your idea fit in through the direct application of the characteristics and tropes or their subversion? You can create unique combinations of genres and themes or push your ideas in a peculiar way that incorporates current trends and discussions. 

On a Final note

Nothing goes in the Bin.

Do not discard any ideas that occur to you. The writer you become may be able to execute them better than the writer you are right now. Take notes, make recordings, and keep them. Every creative endeavour was once just an idea. 

Thank you for reading, and thank you for writing.

Albert Nkereuwem, Editorial Manager @ Iko Africa.