Developing story is the process of transforming an idea into a structured narrative that engages and resonates with audiences. It involves outlining the storyline, creating character arcs and a clear plot structure that is aligned with emotional beats. It is critical to the success of a film or television script and helps ensure that the final product is able to effectively capture an audience’s attention and hold their interest throughout.
A great story has an internal and external momentum. Its internal momentum is created by a compelling premise and the characters that drive the narrative forward. The external momentum comes from the structure of the plot, which includes exposition, rising action, crisis, climax and falling action.
The exposition sets up the setting and establishes the context of the story. The rising action introduces obstacles and challenges to your protagonist, deepens character relationships, and escalates conflict. The crisis is the pivotal moment that shifts the direction of the story, and sets the story up for the climax. The climax is the peak of tension in the narrative and where all those ‘yes, but’ and ‘no, and’ moments that you built up through the rising and mid-point finally come to a head. The falling action resolves the climax and wraps up any loose ends in the supporting characters.
The story development process is a journey every writer must take to bring their ideas to life as a pitchable script. Whether you are using screenwriting software tools or more traditional methods, it is essential to find your own approach and to develop the skills that work best for you.
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