Once you’ve found an idea for a story—whether it be from a dream, an image, or a conversation—you have to work to develop it. This is the process that takes your idea from a seed of thought to a fully fleshed-out screenplay or pitch. It’s a time-consuming process that can sometimes take months or even years to complete.
Begin by identifying the hot spots in your idea. These are the scenes that have potential to create conflict and emotion in your story. Then, identify the key characters in your story who will create that conflict. Look for their goals, motivations, and flaws.
Once your character’s are well-fleshed out, the next step is to develop their arc. This will show readers a journey of change that will help keep them invested in your character. It’s important to include hurdles, and moments of opposite ‘pull’, to give your character a more realistic journey.
At this stage, you may also want to start exploring your story world. This is a great opportunity to define your world’s geography, cultures, and religions. It’s also a good time to think about your setting and determine if it will be modern day, medieval Europe, the 1960s, etc.
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