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Writing Article (June) - Starting with a Situation (Patreon)

Published:
2017-06-30 16:54:31
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Every story starts with a situation, but what is the situation from a creative writing point of view, and how can one ensure they get the most out of it?

This article aims to answer that question, looking into the three main aspects of a situation and how to tweak them. Real-world examples included.

Although not covered in detail, this is also a great way to write your back of book synopsis. It is the initial situation that must interest the reader, after all.

Comments

Frostbite

Regarding that Nekopara example, let's not pretend it ever tried to be a storytelling masterpiece. It's porn.

Coeur
>>5917763

True, but it could have been porn with an excellent story had they cared enough for it. One in which an abused neko learns to trust once more, while a cynical man learns to open his heart and care. It could have explored how nekos are more than "just pets" or "idiot" animals. It could have had a fantastic story line and been a cult classic. Instead, as you say, it's just porn.

Danick Avenoir

Would it work if the situation that starts the story is immediately followed by a flashback to how the protagonist got there? The fanfic I'm currently writing has him do normal things for the first two chapters with sprinkles of hints that not all is as seems with him, and I'm worried that the pace is too slow.

Coeur
>>6102504

Flashbacks are usually a pretty bad idea to include in a story, unless they are incredibly short. The problem is that you're revealing a whole heap of information without any build up of tension, and also asking the reader to stop working in the current world of the novel and go into the past. The simple fact is that your readers will only care about what is happening in the "now" of the story. Not what happened before. A better way to do it would be to not have the flashback, but to instead make his past a question that the readers are curious about. Let THEM wonder what happen. Let them make their own theories, and then sprinkle some clues in through conversation. For instance, instead of telling them what the character did before or how they got into the situation, show how those things changed him, and have the character reveal little hints in dialogue. About the only way I see it working is if you have a one or two chapter start, and then the rest of the story is a flashback. That's fine. Several stories use that. If it's just to "reveal information" however, then find another way of doing it. You don't want any info dumps in your story, and a little bit of mystery isn't a bad thing. Let the readers enjoy it while it lasts.