10 Tips For Good Story Telling
Having written dozens of novels and short stories, including the renowned Elric series, Michael Moorcock is one of the most stunning science fiction writers of our time. A hero called The Eternal Champion, who exists in all times and dimensions, is involved in many of his books. The man knows how to tell a good story, as his vast audience of fans will testify.
Let's here Michael Moorcock 10 tips!
1. Read!
Read everything you can lay hands on. I always advise people who want to write a fantasy or science fiction or romance to stop reading everything in these genres and start reading everything else from Bunyan to Byatt.
2. Copy your Favorite Writer!
Find an author you admire (mine was Conrad) and copy their plots and characters in order to tell your own story, just as people learn to draw and paint by copying the masters.
3. First Act Character Introduction
Introduce your main characters and themes in the first third of your novel.
4. First Act Theme/Plot Progress
If you are writing a plot-driven genre novel make sure all your major themes/plot elements are introduced in the first third, which you can call the introduction.
5. Second Act Character Development
Develop your themes and characters in your second third, the development.
6. Resolution
Resolve your themes, mysteries and so on in the final third, the resolution.
7. Lester Dent Master Plot Formula
For a good melodrama study the famous “Lester Dent master plot formula" which you can find online. It was written to show how to write a short story for the pulps, but can be adapted successfully for most stories of any length or genre.
8. Dramatic Tension
If possible have something going on while you have your characters delivering exposition or philosophizing. This helps retain dramatic tension.
9. Carrot and Stick
have protagonists pursued (by an obsession or a villain) and pursuing (idea, object, person, mystery).
10. Ignore The Rules
Ignore all proffered rules and create your own, suitable for what you want to say.
Before you go, check out some more of our posts:
How to write a short story and get published! Major Plot Points (or How to plot your Screenplay/ Novel/ Story)
How To Plot Your Screenplay/Novel/Story
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