What Are The Various Components That Every Story Must Have?
In this high-tech digital age, we are exposed to more stories* than ever before, we can stream the latest shows on our phones, tablets, computers, and TVs, or go to the cinema and watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster in 3D.
But, it begs the question; what are the vital components that comprise each story?
*Note: I am talking about Movies, TV Shows, Comics, Novels, Short Stories, etc.
- Scene 1
- Chapter 1
- Page 1 Panel 1
As a writer, these are the best things you will ever write, because it means you’re starting a new story, a fresh idea, working, writing, and if you’re lucky enough you’re getting paid to write.
But, how do we get here? What are the various steps and components that are required for every great story?
In my opinion, 6 components make up a great story.
- Idea
- Research
- Plot (structure)
- Setting
- Believable Characters
- Conflict
- Closure in the form of a Resolution
Component 1 — Idea:
The brilliant-million-dollar-blockbuster-industry-changing idea!
But, where do ideas come from?
In my opinion, ORSON SCOTT CARD said it best;
Creative people like artists and writers have “spark” moments every day, and inspiration could come from a line in a song, a piece of art, a scene in a movie, a quote, something you see or hear, or even a dream.
It’s up to the writer to realize the significance of that “spark” moment and write it down (in their notes or another app on their phone, their journal, computer, etc.) before it fades away because if you don’t that “spark” idea is gone for good.
*Pro Tip: There are other ways to spark ideas and get the creative juices flowing, known as PROMPTS.
Prompts are idea generators to get your creative juices flowing. They can come in as a picture, a phrase, or whatever. These are great warm-up drills.
*Pro Tip: I spoke about Prompts in this article here: https://medium.com/@KellyBender17/comic-book-story-writing-prompt-c138b854a8b9
Component 2 — Research:
Once you have your idea, the next stage is Research.
Research is the second workload within your process, and it is in many cases the largest time-consuming.
You have to put in the work to craft believable characters, worlds, as well as the story setting
If you are writing about a Firefighter and you aren’t a Firefighter then you better research all there is to know about firefighting, their equipment, their station life, their work schedules, their strategies for fighting fires, etc.
Bonus — My 5 Tips On Research:
1. Research, research, research.
Do it! It’s your job to be an expert on everything you write about, in the shortest amount of time possible.
2. Look Everywhere
Look for knowledge everywhere. Read books. Read magazine articles. Read Wikipedia pages. Read online articles. Watch interviews and documentaries. Soak in as much information on the topic as you possibly can.
3. Protect Yourself
But, protect yourself. What do I mean by that? Don’t copy facts, stats, stories, or information exactly or from one source. Especially, if you don’t have the adaptation rights. That’s how lawsuits happen.
4. Research Shouldn’t Dictate Your Story, It Should Enhance It
The story should dictate the research, not the other way around. We don’t need to know the exact model of the gun that your villain’s henchmen are wielding. Write machine gun instead of MK 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle.
5. Know Your Sh*t
Become that expert on what you are writing about. Because if you aren’t your audience will call you out on it.
Component 3 — The Plot (Structure)
The plot of your story is the sequence of events in which each event affects the next one through cause and effect.
Or to put it simply the plot is what happens in your story.
There are lots of ways to structure your plot;
- Three-Act Structure
- Hero’s Journey
- Story Spine
- In Media Res
- Story Structure Circle
- The “W” Plot
It’s up to you to research these various plot structure formulas to find which one works best for you and your story.
There are also a lot of plot points (Intro, Inciting Incident, Turning Point 1, Midpoint, Turning Point 1, Conflict, Twist (optional), and the resolution) to include in your structure.
It’s also important to remember that even though you have plotted out your plot points you have only finished about 10–20% of your story, you have to fill in the rest of the story to connect them, establish your characters, the world lore, the setting, and make the story “real”.
Component 4 — The Setting
Where and when your story takes place is known as the setting.
Where your story takes place is just as important as what takes place.
If your story takes place in London. During what time?
Because London in Medieval times is different from London during Jack The Ripper times, Mary Poppin’s London, or even London Today.
Or to put it another way, is your samurai movie being told in feudal Japan or a Galaxy far far away?
*Pro Tip: It’s up to you to build the world lore of your story's setting. If you are writing a Sci-Fi story, you have to understand and determine what terrain, life forms, vegetation, environment, species, creatures, etc. live on that planet and it’s up to you to describe them in detail (not too much and not too little) to your audience.
Component 5 — Characters
It’s important to establish all your characters, and not just your protagonist and antagonist, because your secondary characters are just as important to your story as your protagonist is.
You must establish all your characters and provide context as to why they are there;
Or as Kurt Vonnegut said: “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.”
It’s also important that your secondary characters have their own arcs and their own closure.
Character Traits
Characters are defined and made great by the traits they possess.
Character traits are aspects of a person’s behavior.
Everyone has character traits, both good and bad. These Character traits define the actions of our characters. It’s their reasonings for why they do what they do. It’s their core if you will.
So what types of Character traits are there? (see images below)
Component 6 — Conflict
The next component that every story should have is conflict and there are various types of conflicts to choose from.
- Person vs Person
- Person vs Nature
- Person vs Society
- Person vs Self
- Person vs Technology
- Person vs Alien/Supernatural
It’s important to mention that your story can have two types of conflicts, but usually no more than two, and that these conflicts can be both INTERNAL or EXTERNAL.
Component 7 — Resolution
Resolution is defined as: “The final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, play, drama, story, or novel.”
- The resolution should provide closure to all characters, including minor ones. This is done in teen romance movies, where the person who can’t get a date gets kissed out of nowhere at the end.
This happens for one reason… Closure.
It is also why so many group movies end in a ceremony, prom, dance, wedding, speech, event, play, etc. So that all the minor characters can come back and have their closure as well.
2. The resolution should also provide a glimpse into the future, and how the world is better (or worse) now that the events of the story have transpired.
3. The resolution should also have a meaningful impact and evoke emotions (happy, sad, joyful, etc.) in your audience.
Wait! Has this image always said 6 components and there have been 7 listed the whole time?
Well, this brings me to the 8th and final component that every great story should have…
Component 8 — Editing
Or as Stephen King said: “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”
All that matters is what’s best for the story. Period.
If removing a page that you spent hours writing, makes the story better… remove it.
Also be sure to get another writer to read your story and give you detailed feedback, and don’t be afraid of the feedback as it should be given
*Pro Tip: I talked more about Details Mattering in your story here: https://medium.com/@KellyBender17/details-matter-in-your-story-ef179b0eff31
Summary:
These are the 8 components that make up a great story.
- Idea
- Research
- Plot (structure)
- Setting
- Believable Characters
- Conflict
- Closure in the form of a Resolution
- Editing
