> you said a good story is full of twist
No I said a turn, which I'm pretty sure I got out of this very well-known screenwriting book:
Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting
It definitely does not mean hook, twist, or cliffhanger.
You should jump right into the "inciting incident" (the event that propels the protagonist(s) on their journey) as soon as you have properly setup the stakes. If the incident is something most people will get, a loved one killed themselves for example, it doesn't take much for the reader to understand that this would be hard. You can start there and develop the character more thoroughly afterwards. If instead it is something like the character got a new job, you will probably want to setup more context around why this is a particularly important event.
For more info, I recommend reading Robert McKee's book Story. It is focused on screenwriting but is generally applicable to all story creation.
I haven't read all of the responses but wanted to respond before logging off because I'm liable to forget. First of all, kudos for taking up writing for the sake of writing. That's music to my heart. A good place to start IMO is Story by Robert McKee. Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0042FZVOY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UNKxAbMB01STH
It's honestly pretty shallow but that's its beauty: it gives the general frameworks for different types of stories and you fill in the rest with your content/ideas.
It's very much geared to screenwriting, but as a prose writer I still found it helpful to give the analytical portions of my brain something to chew on, while I went about my short stories.
Besides that, write, don't hold back, don't judge yourself and enjoy the struggle.
This is the kind of stuff that bugs me. Campbell did a lot of research before he wrote The Hero's Journey. Robert McKee also did a lot of research before writing "STORY". There are so many people today who think they just read something and watch a dozen movies and "break the code" but they're just finding commonalities. Then I hear people say that McKee and Campbell are just "pointing out the obvious" because so many people have referenced them in their own half-assed attempts as sounding smart.
In the video essay The Dark Knight - Creating the Ultimate Antagonist, LftSP includes a quote from Story by Robert McKee that I thought was well placed:
>True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure - the deeper the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character's essential nature... A protagonist and their story can only be as intellectually fascinating and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism force them to become...
>
>As such, if we define an antagonist, they are a character who is uniquely, exceptionally good at attacking your hero's greatest weakness, pressing their buttons, forcing them to make difficult decisions that reveal who is *actually* hiding underneath the shining armor.
So, anyhow, I think you're looking at this backwards.
It's not necessarily about the villain getting their comeuppance. Maybe that's part of it, but I think its more about seeing the protagonist (whom we're emotionally invested in) come out on top after being kicked so many times.
Deal link: Amazon
Here are a few video essays that I found really helpful:
>True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure - the deeper the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character's essential nature... A protagonist and their story can only be as intellectually fascinating and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism force them to become. (source)
>
>As such, if we define an antagonist, they are a character who is uniquely, exceptionally good at attacking your hero's greatest weakness, pressing their buttons, forcing them to make difficult decisions that reveal who is actually hiding underneath the shining armor.
So, you know, you don't need to create a million unique and incredibly fleshed out lives. Your story isn't a collection of autobiographies. Many characters will play smaller roles, and you might be able to think of them as really being just extensions of your main character. Not the same person, but part of them in that they force your MC to grow in the direction your story demands.
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY
I'm reading this one. It helps for any kind of story telling not just screenplays.
I'd recommend something different. There's a lot about DMing that relates to creative writing and screen writing.
With that in mind, try reading the classic book "Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert McKee. Try browsing tvtropes.org, it's an absolutely phenomenal resource. Try the YouTube channels Every Frame A Painting, Now You See It, Channel Criswell, and Lessons from the Screenplay. They're all excellent.
If you haven't yet read Robert McKee's "Story", you probably should.
This is a great book about the storytelling skills, what they are, what's important, and how do you develop it.
STORY by Robert McKee is a great resource.
My advice would be to come up with a basic premise for the book and then jot down a few ideas for characters and scenes.
I'd then read up on three act structure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-act_structure) and use this plot out three acts. Once you have the acts you can plot out the scenes in each act. Make each scene a new chapter. It is then just a matter of writing each chapter.
I'd suggest this book would help: http://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY
Read this book
Yea, it’s pretty clear that you don’t understand what I’m referring to. Here you go:
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Substance-Principles-Screenwriting-ebook/dp/B0042FZVOY
Do some research.