Happy Wednesday, writers! I’m a little bogged down out here in California. There’s a fire raging about a half hour from where we live, and we’ve got a house full of evacuees. They’re lovely, and I’m so glad we have space to share, but it makes finding a quiet corner for writing a bit challenging.
That said, I came across this five-year-old post I wrote on story problems, and I realized just how helpful it would be before we truly jump into our series on The Five Elements of Fiction writing.
Keep in mind, I wrote this many moons ago, so my kids are much older than mentioned in the article, and if you’ve read my 2020 release WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED, you’ll notice that a few of the examples I used were changed before the book ever made it to the shelf. That said, it is remarkably close, and I think you’ll find the particulars helpful.
Both of my kids are voracious readers. We’re at this fun stage where the twelve year old is forcing his favorites into the hands of the eight year old. I love watching the two of them share and compare notes. I can’t do it without a big, fat smile on my face.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing though. When my youngest advanced to chapter books, it was a bit of a shock to her young mind. Unlike many of the more educational books she’d enjoyed as new reader, chapter books made her heart race. It was the angst. The problems bombarding the heroes. The seemingly unsolvable dilemmas. It was almost too much for her.
I can’t tell you how many times I had to wipe her tears and ask her to close the book so we could talk. So we could find perspective. Again and again I reminded her, “Every hero has a dilemma. It’s not a story if there isn’t a problem to be solved.”
Today, when she climbed into the car after school, she asked me about my day. When I told her I spent it writing, she said, “You’ve been writing that book for a long time, Mom. What’s it about?”
I stumbled for an explanation–as I always do when asked that question–and I said something brilliant like, “Oh, it’s hard to explain, baby.”
And she said, “Well, just tell me the problem then. What’s the problem in your story?”
And I smiled. Isn’t she a clever little thing? Using my own words against me.
So, today, I ask you. What’s the problem in YOUR story?
Here are a few things to consider:
Who is your hero?
How would you explain your hero so an eight year old could understand? You want to keep it simple, but consider that things like setting and vocation may help you define what makes your character unique.
My answer: My hero is a truck driver named Sylvi who lives and works on a mountainous island that celebrates two seasons: a wet winter and a frozen one.
What happened?
To properly explain your story problem, you must be able to pinpoint exactly what happened to force your hero into action. We call this the Inciting Incident and YES, your story must have one.
My answer: Sylvi’s best friend was kidnapped by smugglers.
What does your hero want?
Because of what happened, your hero has a want or need. And that desire is going to propel him or her forward.
My answer: Sylvi wants her best friend safe at home.
What’s standing in your hero’s way?
The truth is, if you’ve answered the first three questions, you have a pretty good start on your story’s problem. To adequately explain it though, we should ask ourselves a few more questions.
What obstacles prevent your hero from reaching what he or she wants? There must be obstacles. There must be blockades standing in your hero’s way. Hint: These hurdles make up the bulk of your plot.
My answer: In order to get to her best friend, Sylvi has to truck a thawing ice road that will take her through mountains thick with the magic of Winter and rife with corrupt law dogs and angry rebels.
What happens if your hero fails?
We call this ‘the stakes’ and the stakes should be high. As high as you can possibly make them. What happens to your hero, to those he or she loves, to the world at large–what happens if your hero fails?
My answer: If she fails, Sylvi will likely lose her rig, her only source of freedom, while her best friend will suffer and die.
A note here: The stakes in my story are continually rising and they aren’t as clear cut as my hero believes. But for the sake of this exercise, stick to what your hero is aware of at the outset. Getting caught up in rising tension and subsequent storylines, will not help you define your story’s problem.
BUT! In five simple questions, questions you can easily answer, you’re able to hone in on your story problem. What’s left is to condense it into something simple and easily shared.
There are many reasons for creating a pitch you can share, but first and foremost this exercise is for you. So many writers have no idea what their story is about. Knowing your story problem will help you write your story and it is the first step toward reaching a satisfying conclusion for your reader. It’s as simple as asking yourself a few questions and then taking the time to rearrange the answers into something that makes sense.
The next time my eight year old asks me what my story’s about, this is what I’ll say:
Sylvi Quine, a rig driver on the enchanted, but frozen island of Layce, finds out her best friend has been abducted by smugglers and taken to a rebel camp at the very end of the Shiv Road. To get her friend back, Sylvi will have to risk her life and her rig to truck a mysterious haul through the mountains, across a rapidly thawing highway rife with corrupt law dogs and angry rebels, and she’ll have to make her delivery before the road melts clean away. Failure means the loss of her rig, her freedom and the life of the only friend she’s ever had.
It’s a little long. Not quite as snappy as a one-sentence summary, but it conveys my story’s problem clearly and simply.
Now, it’s your turn! In the comments section below, PUH-LEASE share your story problem with us. Maybe get out a pencil and paper and answer the five questions above, and then drop your cursor in a comment box below and give us a paragraph that tells us your story’s primary problem. I can’t wait to see what you’re all writing about!
Now, write! Tell us, what’s your problem?
Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.
Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.
It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.
To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.
For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
This is a good post! It will definitely help me, because I have friends who will ask what my book is about, and answering is not easy.
My hero is a girl named Anne who leads a team of girls that travels between our world and a mystical world, battling the boys’ team there. But when a new girl arrives and finally gets through to her that the war is pointless, Anne realizes she isn’t fulfilling her job as leader, to keep peace and help other be happy. However, the boys are determined to win this pointless war, and the girls aren’t too happy about Anne’s ideas, either. And if she doesn’t succeed, friends and siblings will be forever torn apart.
Very interesting, Ellie! You’ve done a good job crafting your story problem!
I’ve had people ask me what my story is about, and I start with “well, this girl goes to summer camp,” and then realize how dumb and vague that sounds. This post definitely helped me get to the heart of my story and organize my thoughts so I can tell others accurately what my story is truly about. Here’s my story problem:
Leah Clark doesn’t believe in God, but her mom sends her to a Christian summer camp, hoping to change her mind. Leah just wants to make it through the week alive, and maybe make a few friends while she’s there. But, as she meets the five other teens on her team for the week, she realizes things aren’t going to be as smooth as she thought. Their team wants to win the competition that takes place all week, but because of their constant bickering, that doesn’t seem likely to happen. All the while, Leah is drawn in by the chapel services and the living testimony of the Christians around her. Leah has to figure out a way to find peace with her team, while at the same time finding peace with God.
This sounds like a great story! It isn’t at all similar, but it kind of makes me think of “Found in Translation” by Roger Bruner. Sometimes God finds us right in what we saw as the worst case-scenario and softens our hearts towards him! Good luck with your story!
Thank you!
I love summer camp stories, and this brings back all my high school memories! Great job constructing your problem!
Thank you so much for this post! I’m still in the planning stages of my story, but here’s my story problem!
Despite her blindness, Paloma Williams believes that God will use her to end the drought that plagues her lands, as was prophesied. When Paloma’s father takes roses from the Lord Alaric’s garden, the feared young lord demands that a member of her family serve him for a year. Hoping to delay her marriage to a greedy young man, Paloma volunteers herself, and she soon discovers that Lord Alaric isn’t a monster; he just has deep scars. But the closer she gets, the further he pushes her away, and if Paloma can’t bring him back to God before the first rose blooms in Spring, the drought will continue to spread until it covers the entire continent.
Fantastic job! This premise is compelling and the problem clearly defined. Wishing you all the best as you write it!
I love that you have recently reposted some of your older posts! I used to read GTW probably daily back then. The romance thread one from a couple of weeks ago, for example, has always been one of my favorites! I haven’t been a teen for a while now but I still love this blog. I remember those posts and it’s so cool to read them again with a different perspective. They are still really helpful 🙂
Shannon, this is a great hack for nailing down an answer to the question, “What’s your story about?” I frequently struggle with answering that question!
Thanks Steph!
Oh, I absolutely love the way you explain this! It makes it so simple!!! Thank you!
Here’s my story problem!:
Celimine von Eigen is a teenage young lady made to marry a man much older than she is, and live with him in his mansion in Schwarzwald— the home of many legends she loves. Her husband, Heimerich, is always sad, and doesn’t like her very much. She wants to live happily ever after with him, like in the stories she reads and tells. If not, they’ll both end up dying miserable in a mansion that’s more like a dark, secluded prison!
What a fun start you have here, Riley! Good job!
Oh, I absolutely love the way you explain this! It makes it so simple!!! Thank you!
Here’s my story problem!:
Celimine von Eigen is a teenage young lady made to marry a man much older than she is, and live with him in his mansion in Schwarzwald— the home of many legends she loves. Her husband, Heimerich, is always sad, and doesn’t like her very much. In addition, many people think he’s a werewolf. She wants to live happily ever after with him, like in the stories she reads and tells. She wants to know if the rumors are true, too. If not, they’ll both end up dying miserable in a mansion that’s more like a dark, secluded prison!
Whoops, I accidentally submitted my comment twice! It doesn’t help that my phone wouldn’t tell me whether the first comment went through or not. ?
My story problem: Uriah Weston was bred, born, and raised with the sole purpose of curing Blue Brides (fantasy species I invented) of the poisoned magic that cursed them at birth. He lives a rigid, routine life and rarely makes time for himself, or anything else for that matter. That is, until his reckless cousin finds a Bride with power far greater than any other and insists that she’s the key to averting a recent world-ending prophecy. In order to ensure the safety of both the girl and his cousin, Uriah must join them on a journey to the ruins of an ancient civilization to destroy the weapon that felled it in the first place, lest it strike again on a much larger scale…
(Also, love and prayers to you, your family, and everyone else out there during the fires!)
This is super fun, Em! Good job! And thank you for the well-wishes. Much appreciated.
I loved this post!! And LOVE reading all my fellow teen’s story ideas!
Here’s mine! (It’s a fantasy taking place in the Middle Ages) :
Vivian is content on her family’s farm in the Nation, ruled by the King in the Steel City. The land has been prosperous and safe for ages, but when a dragon, thought to be extinct, crashes on her farm, she learns the horrible truth behind her perfect world.
The dragons have been enslaved for generations into providing their fire for the King’s powerful steel. Vivian is now faced with the choice to either ignore the reality and continue her safe, peaceful life, or to step in to free the dragons and try and stop a nation ending war before it starts…
This is an exceptional story problem! Enjoy working on this project. It sounds so fun!
Praying for safety for your family and everyone in your area! <3
This is a fantastic way of describing your book! I always struggle with this sort of thing, but here's my best attempt!
Kalar is an assassin whose newborn baby brother was kidnapped by slave traders nearly thirty years ago. Just when Kalar thinks he's close to finding him, his search is interrupted when he meets a slave who needs his help escaping her circumstances and returning to her family. If Kalar chooses to help her, he could forever lose his chance of finding his brother; but if he doesn't, it could cost an innocent woman her life.
That's pretty rough, but I love this idea, and I'll definitely use it in the future! 🙂
Thanks for the post! Pinning down the story problem is always really hard for me. This will help a lot.
Princess Melana never thought she’d have to deal with war. The night-Elementalists have been peaceful for centuries, and the problems of the other elements do not affect them. But when Fire-Elementalists attack her secluded mountain home, she learns that she has never been so wrong.
Armed with her unique crafting abilities, Melana must find a way to save her family. Along the way she gathers a special group of allies, including a pair of Water-Elementalist siblings, a young noble who is too curious for his own good, and a mysterious mercenary who may be more than he appears. But all is not as it seems, and with a shadowy enemy pulling the strings, Melana may be running out of time. Can she save her family—and her world—before it is too late?