What Makes a Great Story?
Written by Emily Larkin
I’ve been writing and studying stories since I was 4. Well, that’s if you consider devouring Little Golden Books and Enid Blyton novels as a type of study, and scribbling childhood tales about talking dogs and unicorns as writing practice. I grew up reading everything from Eoin Colfer to Marcus Zusak, and studied Creative Writing at university from ages 17-26.
I am now a published author with a Doctorate in Creative Writing, and I still come back to that question: what makes a great story? While I love books for different reasons, I’ve found that, for me, characterisation brings a story to life. If I don’t relate to or care about one or more of the characters, then I probably won’t make it to the narrative’s end – whether I’m reading or writing.
Most of us can remember a story that didn’t live up to expectations. Maybe it was a movie you’d been waiting to see… but when you did, you realised the best moments featured in the trailer. Or maybe it was a book with a mesmerising opening page… but all energy had left the writing a few chapters in. I think the problem is usually that the idea was better than the execution.
Don’t get me wrong – a good idea is important. But to create a memorable, engaging story – one with stamina – elements of story must work together.
Let’s consider a fantasy classic: The Lord of the Rings. On one hand, Tolkien’s epic narrative is about a group of hobbits who journey to destroy an evil ring. On a deeper level, it’s about the value of friendship, and courage in the face of adversity. In this trilogy, the characters propel the plot, and the plot facilitates the characters’ development. Frodo’s decisions, for better or worse, impact a chain of events. For example, Frodo’s proposed ‘short-cut’ results in his party getting lost in the forest for what feels like a third of The Fellowship of the Ring.
As Australian author/academic Dr. Venero Armanno maintains, a narrative is different from a sequence of events because, in a narrative, events are imbued with meaning. The story elements combine to illuminate a theme, reveal something about humanity, or chart how characters change.
Although character development is often integral to a story, characters need not always change for the better. Stories are about transformation. As readers, we may experience a character’s growth – such as letting go of prejudices, gaining maturity and experience, developing friendships; learning to love – or see them unravel. Stories from Hamlet to Breaking Bad are examples of a character’s deterioration, and these can be just as fascinating as stories of moral progression.
Most of the time, if a blurb or movie trailer is more exciting than the actual narrative, it’s because different story elements didn’t work together effectively. The plot rolled on, irrespective of the characters’ actions. The characters were not shaped by events. Setting did not reveal character traits or pose obstacles, but simply existed as a backdrop.
As part of Queensland Writers Centre’s 4-part workshop, Start With A Story, I will guide participants to explore how elements of story – including character development, plot, and setting – can interweave to create a captivating narrative. By focusing on a different element of story each week, and discussing how these elements combine, Start With A Story will help sharpen your writing skills. Each workshop will draw on narrative exemplars, and feature group discussions and writing exercises, to help you achieve your story’s greatest potential.
So come along to Start With A Story and turn your story into a great story. You’ll find the details here.