A plot that moves along and characters that make the reader care. The characters don't necessarily have to be likeable; a thoroughly despicable character can keep me interested, too - but if I don't care about the character one way or the other, I'll stop reading.
Basic ingredients, to my mind, involve the author creating, from the first word, a place -- be it a world, country, neighborhood, street, home -- that draws me in and makes me feel as though I'm there. Add to that crisp dialog and just enough tension to keep the story moving at a goode pace, and I'm hooked. I've often read a book from start to finish in one setting when it pulls me in and transports me to that world. You know -- those books that you wish would go on forever.
For me, the most important is conflict, realistic characters and how they overcome numerous problems that test their very sanity.
Sometimes I try to write about simple characters, then before I realize it, I've added layer upon layer to their personalities and end up as complex people at odds with the world as they see it.
I never know in advance how the story is going to progress. I have a general idea of where I'd like it to lead, but I let my characters tell their own story. All I do is type what they tell me.
I think any good story has to have interesting characters who are challenged in some way to prove themselves. The best stories will have multiple sub-plots being unveiled simultaneously and so intriguing that the reader is swept along towards the climax.
The basic ingredients are a beginning, a middle and an end. In your mind, it should always start with the famous "once upon a time," and have a definitive, "the end." It most have plot, subplot and subtext, the stuff that is said but not said. The characters should be "well-rounded," meaning they should have a background and come from someplace in time and maybe not all together there in the mind. Some kind of flaw, that is their weakness or obsession or whatever suits you, but they cannot be perfect. Perfect is boring. There must be conflict and some kind of resolution. Some character must either be changed by their "journey" through the story or realize there is no change but growth of a kind. I think this will give the basics to a story, that hopefully can be turned into a great story.
One must have many characters, and the time, and place must be as accurate as one can get. You should try to involve humor, inner feelings, as well as excitement, and adventure. I try to bring into every story some highs, and lows of ever day life, and even violence that occured during each historical story I write.
In my opinion the basic ingrediants would have to be a great plot, good writing, and characters that will work with you.
I think the basic ingredients are heart, dedication, desire, and imagination (I'm sure this question is more of what makes a story a story, but I'm hardly an English major). A story is very much like a child, it's your own creation, it has all of your qualities both good and bad. You must nurish it and care for it so that it grows strong and can survive on its own. Your story will bring you the greatest joys, will make you shed the most tears, you'll adore it and become frustrated with it. It'll make you proud and it'll make you wonder what the hell you were thinking. In the end, it'll be something you can't possibly imagine never having had.
Writing is a hobby and a passion and it's a lot of hard work. However, like all hobbies & passions that are a lot of hard work, if you turn it into a job, then it won't be fun anymore. And if writing isn't fun anymore, then what's the point?
Great writing when there's only good plot, or great plot when it's only good writing. That, and I tend to look for romantic relationships at the beginning of the story.
Plot. Context. Characters. Credibility. Excitement.
To be funny, I'd say a beginning, middle, and end. But the stories that get people hooked are the ones that leave that need for more. The story may be over, but the adventure will always continue.
Characters, a goal or motivation for the characters, a moral to the story, a story, a beginning, a middle and an ending. The arc needs to push the characters along the story.
A good start and a well thought out plot. The climax should not come to soon. The story should keep the reader wanting to know more.
Problem, usually at the story's beginning, a pending resolution, true to life characters and solution to problem by the story's end.
I guess there a lot of ways to answer that one, but I think one of the most important ingredients is the ability to give your reader something in your story that he or she can relate to on a more personal level. Even if that relationship is only imagined, it can mean the difference in having a good story and having a great story. |
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