50. Developing Story Ideas, Setting Expectations and Establishing Your Stylistic Rights

THE STORYTELLER’S MISSION WITH ZENA DELL LOWE
EPISODE 50 – CHEAT SHEET

Follow along with the cheat sheet below, which lists the main points for each episode. Or DOWNLOAD FULL TRANSCRIPTS FOR FREE on the podcast page of our website.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION -  Last week, we discussed the importance of genre, especially since the genre you write in ultimately helps establish the rules that the writer needs to be aware of when developing or fleshing out the story. For example, action stories almost always start with an action sequence, etc.

If you have landed on a story by now, then you're ready to start fleshing out the beginning of that story, but it's important to understand that the start of your story represents your contract with the audience. You're letting them know what kind of story you're telling. Thus, you must accurately set your audience's expectations and quickly establish your stylistic rights. If you don't, they will lose faith in you and be disappointed in the story you tell them. 

If you haven't landed on a story yet and are still searching for the right one, there are several tools that you can use to help you land on something. You might start by looking for an original, interesting and/or quirky arena, or brainstorm some What-if Premises. Or you might start with a theme, or, use the Roles in Conflict Principle.

 
UP NEXT - Next week, we will explore which factors make your story good before God.


SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Zena Dell Lowe is honored to be a Keynote Speaker at THE WELL CREATIVITY CONFERENCE, which takes place in Grand Rapids MI on April 22-23, 2021. She’ll also be teaching an acting/improvisational workshop for actors and writers called, “Make Me Believe.”  To find out more or to register to attend, CLICK HERE, or go to https://seeyouatthewell.net

 HELPFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES

• OUR NEW ONLINE PLATFORM - The Storyteller’s Mission online platform is finally up and running! Sign up for one-on-one COACHING, get a SCRIPT CRITIQUE, or register for one of our highly anticipated ADVANCED CLASSES ON WRITING today!

• TOPIC REQUESTS? If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL recording with your problem, question, or issue!

SPECIAL THANKS - The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer CARLA PATULLO for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com