So what do you think makes a good story???

THEKIDWITHAKNIFE. · Nov 08, 2010 2:49 PM

Ok. So I have this Question and i just sorta knew this was a good place to ask.
Well actually I have a lot of Questions...
I wanna know what it is about a book, movie, or video game that really gets you addicted to it. what makes you want to read more or what makes you wonder what happens next. What is your favorite thing about a story. What keeps you interested. What kind of thing would you like to see more in stories?
What are your favorite topics like action war romance or other stuff and why do you like them?

riverhippo · Nov 08, 2010 4:34 PM

I'm no filmmaker or publisher. But I do love to write. And from what I admire in my writing style and what I like in books and movies that I've read, they key to a good story is character development. If you can take the time to introduce each and every character, it provides a good perspective or two during conflicts. In the process of heavily detailing a character, some readers or watchers may lose interest, but that's just the way it goes.

Rurikredwolf · Nov 09, 2010 12:06 AM

The characters for me. The plot can be non-original but if I like the characters, I will keep reading. Characters > Story imo. Both would be nice, but if you had an awesome story and flat characters, no one cares...

Neotyguy40 · Nov 09, 2010 1:14 AM

I have to agree with Rurik... Character development seems a lot more interesting than plotline.

Though I have to say, in every good story I've ever seen, read, heard, etc. there is always an important character who dies. Of course, some may disagree, but it's just something I've noticed in most well made stories.

Rurikredwolf · Nov 09, 2010 2:22 AM

Yeah someone usually has to die at least once to make it good. Main character in my book is dying regardless...

Swaffy · Nov 09, 2010 4:30 AM

- "Originality" doesn't matter. Nothing is original anyway.
- Great character development

Spyro22 · Nov 18, 2010 10:43 PM

I like some romance in there but it is an unspoken romance. lIKE YOU KNOW SOMEHOW THESE TWO WILL END UP TOGETHER IN THE END AND ALL BUT HOW WILL THEY? (didnt mean to put that in caps) Sort of like Will Treaty and Alyss in The Ranger's Apprentice Series.

Action is also very awesome too.

A good environment is really big in my book too. A world that may not be real and it has so many different places. Another cool thing is connected our world to this fantasy world. For examples, The Chronicles of Narnia where you have both Earth and Narnia in the same book. Also you could make a "made up" world that is identical to ours as far as landmasses and cultures, and maybe even have the characters speak as if they are from our time. Make up a whole new world full of islands rivers towns, cities, volcanoes, landmarks, oceans, and glaciers. Heck, go ahead if you want and mix them.

Also have many uniqe characters with their own backgrounds and personalities. Take Fallout 3 for example. It has over about 500 characters each with there own traits and past.

Have a good theme, for example Narnia (I know im using it again). The Chronicles of narnia has so many different themes to it (mainly these themes are Christian based but its only an example.

Also add some suspense in there. Make your audience want to read or watch more and more to find out what will happen next or later.

A Guy · Nov 18, 2010 11:13 PM

Rurikredwolf wrote:

Yeah someone usually has to die at least once to make it good. Main character in my book is dying regardless...

SPOILER ALERT. Thanks a lot, man.

Well, I frequent TV Tropes, so originality isn't a factor for me. I like a story with plenty of character development, mainly. A plot with twists is nice. Problem is, I can see most twists, so putting twists on the twists makes me keep reading.

Oh, yeah, description is nice, but going on the level of purple prose makes me want to stop reading. Seriously, it's just too painful.

Rurikredwolf · Nov 19, 2010 12:22 AM

A Guy wrote:

Rurikredwolf wrote:
Yeah someone usually has to die at least once to make it good. Main character in my book is dying regardless...
SPOILER ALERT. Thanks a lot, man.
Well, I frequent TV Tropes, so originality isn't a factor for me. I like a story with plenty of character development, mainly. A plot with twists is nice. Problem is, I can see most twists, so putting twists on the twists makes me keep reading.
Oh, yeah, description is nice, but going on the level of purple prose makes me want to stop reading. Seriously, it's just too painful.

Lol I changed it as soon as I realized that no one cares about that plottwist anymore.

Clock-la · Nov 19, 2010 5:06 PM

a lot of stuff hmm

Charictors

plot
the setting ECT ECT tongue

PoisoningOrchid · Nov 21, 2010 1:51 PM

Pain, threats and voilence... no... yeah. O:)

Clock-la · Nov 21, 2010 2:06 PM

A death :3

a GOOD DEATH not a pridictable "im like a dad to you OH im now dead" death.

riverhippo · Nov 22, 2010 8:22 AM

Clock-la wrote:

A death :3
a GOOD DEATH not a pridictable "im like a dad to you OH im now dead" death.

▼Hidden text

SpyroDarkdude01 · Dec 16, 2010 8:29 AM

I like a story which will make you sad, or even make you cry, games like Final Fantasy I really enjoy because of the intense story direction, in fact, in Final Fantasy 13 I nearly cried, I don't know why, but a plot orientated film, game or book is the best.

A good death scene really spices thing up, too.

▼Hidden text

Latias fan · Dec 16, 2010 8:11 PM

The charcters life before the story actually begins.

#1 Nov 08, 2010 2:49 PM

So what do you think makes a good story???

#2 Nov 08, 2010 4:34 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#3 Nov 09, 2010 12:06 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#4 Nov 09, 2010 1:14 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#5 Nov 09, 2010 2:22 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#6 Nov 09, 2010 4:30 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#7 Nov 18, 2010 10:43 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#8 Nov 18, 2010 11:13 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#9 Nov 19, 2010 12:22 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#10 Nov 19, 2010 5:06 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#11 Nov 21, 2010 1:51 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#12 Nov 21, 2010 2:06 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#13 Nov 22, 2010 8:22 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#14 Dec 16, 2010 8:29 AM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

#15 Dec 16, 2010 8:11 PM

Re: So what do you think makes a good story???

Board footer