Developing story is the process of taking your kernel of an idea and expanding it into a fully fleshed out screenplay or pitch. The development process can take a long time and requires many drafts, rewrites and polishes to reach the point where you’re ready to start working with producers or directors to bring your story to life on the screen.
Some writers, called plotters, prefer to outline their stories in detail before they begin writing. Others, known as pantsers, complete very few pre-writing tasks and instead discover their stories as they write. Most writers fall somewhere in between these two extremes.
One of the most important aspects of developing a compelling story is identifying the core theme or message you want to convey. This will help you focus your writing and avoid including unnecessary details that may confuse or bore your audience.
It’s also critical to define the key inner obstacle that your protagonist will experience in their journey. This is the key element of your character arc and will guide their decisions and actions throughout the story. Knowing this will make it much easier to create conflict that drives your characters’ actions and allow you to develop or draft a plot that unfolds naturally.
Lastly, it’s essential to research the main location in which your story will take place. This will help you develop a more immersive reading experience for your readers and will help them better understand the setting and feel like they’re part of the action.
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