Story Premise

Create a Story Premise

A story premise is quick and to the point. It explains the story in one sentence. The premise gives you, your story, direction. You know which path to take, confusion is side-stepped and story over-lapping disappears. A map is formed when a story premise comes alive. Avoid the confusion of stumbling into wrong turns, and ending-up on similar streets. Stick to the map, premise, and finish writing the story faster.

Every word written after the premise develops your story. Remove any word that stalls or stops the premise from moving forward. A story begins after the premise is created. The premise must be proved by your story. Look-over the following premises.

1. Aggressive behavior leads to bullying and ruined lives.
2. Too much ambition ends in cheating, exposure and destruction.
3. Good or bad, you receive back what you send out.
4. Stealing starts lying, drama and chaos.

It isn't necessary to create a story premise that's researched or soul searched for months. You have lived, experienced or seen various premises in action. Premises take the following shapes.

1. Aggressive behavior can be enterprising.
2. Ambition takes effort.
3. Karma, good or bad, returns.
4. Stealing leads to other crimes.

Premise, too, sprinkles in characters, conflicts and resolutions. Let's look closer at a premise. 

Aggressive behavior leads to bullying and ruined lives, for example. A character is bullied by another employee at the work-place. The character that bullies thinks he/she can display any type behavior, because management used several of his/her ideas. The character that's being bullied is new to this department, and brings better ideas.

The bully keeps reminding everyone of his/her used ideas. The bullying continues. Management receives complaints, but not from the bullied character. At this point, the bully is upset. He/she has a negative write-up. He/she invites co-workers to a bar after work. One or two people drag-in to this informal party.

The resolution starts as the bully refuses to stop his/her negative behavior. The bully taunts everyone he/she thinks reported him/her to management. The bully is moved to a different department. His/her behavior becomes worse, and termination follows.

In conclusion, a story premise is a one sentence explanation that stirs-in characters, conflicts and resolutions.