7. Top Three Story Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself

Today we're tackling a crucial aspect of storytelling: the top three story questions you should be asking yourself as a writer.

This includes taking a deeper look at:
Your story's unique message
Your intention for how your want your reader to feel
Better understanding the arc of change that occurs

And I'm sharing resources!

Need some help with crafting your story arc? Good news! I’ve created a mini-course for you on this very subject.

Hop over to stepstostory.com/mapyourstory to find out how to create your custom story arc so you can get back to writing forward in your novel manuscript with clarity & confidence.

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Transcript

STEPS TO STORY EP 7 - Top Three Questions

[00:00:00] Nicole Meier: Every story, whether it's a plot based work of commercial fiction or a character driven work of upmarket fiction, carries a message about the human condition.

[00:00:16] Nicole Meier: Welcome to Steps to Story, a show that helps aspiring authors turn their ideas into action. And transform their dream of writing a book into a reality. I'm your host, Nicole Meyer, multi published author and certified book coach. I spent the first part of my fiction writing career desperate for guidance that was unavailable to me.

[00:00:38] Nicole Meier: I wrote draft after draft, flying by the seat of my pants. With lots of passion, but little guidance. Thankfully, there was a writing community that opened its arms and welcomed me. This community sustained me. But when it came to strengthening my novel writing process, I was determined to find a better way.

[00:00:59] Nicole Meier: One that didn't involve piecemeal strategies. and confusing courses. Now, more than a decade later, I'm serving my younger self who yearned for support while writing a book. If you're an emerging author seeking guidance, this podcast is for you. Are you on the list to get my novel writing guide? I designed this workbook to take you through five essential strategies that will level up your novel writing process.

[00:01:29] Nicole Meier: Grab your free copy at nicolemeyer. com forward slash crafting greatness. That's NicoleMeyer. com forward slash crafting greatness or at the link in the show notes.

[00:01:50] Nicole Meier: Hi there, writers. Welcome back to another episode of Steps to Story. Today's discussion is one that reinforces my theory that sometimes the most simple things can have the most powerful results. In this regard, we're tackling a crucial aspect of storytelling, which are the top three questions I believe you should be asking yourself.

[00:02:13] Nicole Meier: As a novel writer. So let's just get right into it, shall we? The first question I'll ask you is, what's your message? Every story, whether it's a plot based work of commercial fiction or a character driven work of upmarket fiction. carries a message about the human condition. It's essential to identify what you're trying to say through your story.

[00:02:38] Nicole Meier: For example, are you exploring themes of love, betrayal, redemption, or perhaps even the pursuit of happiness? Maybe you're trying to say that man has the capacity to change, or that underneath it all, people are a kind. Whatever it is, understanding your message as you plan and write forward. gives your story depth and purpose, allowing readers to connect with it on a deeper level.

[00:03:09] Nicole Meier: More than this, you're allowing your reader to relate to your characters in your story. Thus, in return, You're allowing them to feel seen. That's pretty powerful, isn't it? Speaking of feeling seen, let's move on to my question number two, which is, how do you want your readers to feel, especially by the time they reach the end?

[00:03:33] Nicole Meier: As storytellers, we have the power to evoke emotions in our audience. So do you want your readers to feel inspired, heartbroken, or hopeful? Consider the emotional journey you want to take your audience on and craft your story accordingly. The takeaway, the lesson, or the insight you want your readers to understand by the time they reach the end is directly linked to the emotions you want to evoke.

[00:04:01] Nicole Meier: So I encourage you to be intentional with every scene you write to ensure your readers get a sense of what you intend them to feel. Both of these first two questions, what's your message and how do you want your readers to feel, are great prompts for your journal writing. There are also great free writing prompts.

[00:04:23] Nicole Meier: I always like to encourage writers when they're feeling stuck or even planning ahead to set that timer, whether it be 20 minutes or 30 minutes, and free write everything that comes up for you around questions like this. Then, reflect on your answers, Either edit or highlight things that make sense and keep the answers in your workspace.

[00:04:45] Nicole Meier: That way when you're in the process of writing your novel, you can refer to your answers and let them inform your story. Okay, speaking of story, let's consider a little bit of structure here in this conversation and think about what arc of change occurs in your book. Stories are all about transformation, both for the characters and the narrative itself.

[00:05:11] Nicole Meier: From the beginning to the end, there should be a clear arc of change where characters evolve, learn, and grow. But it's not just the characters who change. The story itself should also undergo transformation. Subplots intertwine, conflicts escalate, and themes resonate more profoundly as the story progresses.

[00:05:36] Nicole Meier: Understanding the arc of change in your story allows you to craft a dynamic and engaging narrative that keeps readers hooked until the very end. Need some help with crafting your story arc? Okay, good news! I've created a mini course for you on this very subject. Hop over to StepsToStory. com forward slash map your story.

[00:06:02] Nicole Meier: That's steps2story. com forward slash map your story to find out how to create your custom story arc so you can get back to writing forward in your novel manuscript with clarity and confidence. So to recap, the top three story questions you should be asking yourself are Number one, what's your message?

[00:06:26] Nicole Meier: Number two, how do you want your readers to feel, especially by the time they reach the end? And number three, what arc of change? Not only for your characters, but for your story arc as well. By answering these questions, you'll not only craft a compelling novel, but also create a profound impact on your audience.

[00:06:48] Nicole Meier: Remember, storytelling is a powerful tool that allows us to explore the depths of the human experience and share our insight with the world, and there's nothing more magical than that. That's all for today's episode. Please join me next time as I continue to go through the journey of the world of storytelling.

[00:07:08] Nicole Meier: Until next time, keep writing everyone, and never stop asking those important questions.

[00:07:18] Nicole Meier: If you want to check out my coaching programs for fiction writers. That's M E I E R. And if you liked this episode, I'd love you to take a minute to leave a rating and review for this podcast. This will help more writers like you to discover the show and to get going on their writing journey. Thanks so much for listening.

[00:07:40] Nicole Meier: Until next time, happy writing, everyone.