Author: Jean M. Cogdell

Q = Quit & Quest

Quit: Give up, stop, relinquish, resign, abandon.

Quest: A mission, expedition, hunt, pursuit, or search for something. To chase, seek, hunt, pursue or go in search of something or someone.

How boring would your story be if it was just about the protagonist? Or about someone who quit every time the going got tough?

A good story is about something happening to the protagonist. A problem that needs fixing, a solution that needs finding or a need that needs fulfilling. A quest. A quest with clear opposition and with something to lose if they fail, and about someone who doesn’t quit.

It’s been a rough few days and I feel like throwing in the towel. Not feeling well can stifle the creative flow. Plus, the A to Z challenge is harder than I thought it would be and not for the faint of heart. Today, I feel like quitting.

But like any good protagonist I’ll keep trying to finish the quest and make it to Z.

She’d left any marked evidence of civilization over an hour ago. If the scenery didn’t change soon, her mark would see her coming for miles. Little to no traffic passed her on the long flat highway, an occasional rusty pickup didn’t count. Rachel checked the map on her phone. Less than an hour to go before she reached her target. There had to be a way to sneak close without detection. Maybe closer to the Red River a solution would appear.

P = Premise

Writing a Premise vs Concept

The premise and the concept, are not the same.

A premise is the essence of a story that unfolds based on the concept.

A concept is a story organized around a main idea or theme.

In fiction, a premise contains three things:

1. the protagonist – an event provokes the protagonist to act (not react)
2. the setting – where the protagonist acts on some desire with purposeful intention
3. the problem the protagonist faces – chaos and adventure leads to resolution

A premise identifies the need and proposes a solution for the hero and implied plot . A high conceptual theme can empower the story.

The premise is a general description (foundation) of the story you plan to tell. With a premise you shape an idea into a story with a two or three sentence statement, similar to a log-line.

A premise acts a guide for the writer, helping when you get stuck, and keeping you on the path to the heart of your story. It doesn’t have to be fancy or jaw dropping but a good premise is a lifeline for the writer keeping you grounded and on track.

The premise of my short serial.

A female Texas Ranger is working in the San Antonio office. She feels the need to prove herself as capable as any of the men as she sets out to find the hacker that held her computer for ransom. Leading her on a chase across the state of Texas to catch her man.

What do you think?

For info on writing a premise check out the links below:

http://www.writermag.com/2013/09/01/how-to-structure-a-premise-for-stronger-stories/

http://www.wheresthedrama.com/loglinespremises.htm

http://www.mybooktherapy.com/articles/how-to-get-published-articles/step-6-build-your-premise/

http://www.ceauthors.com/premise.htm

http://www.storyispromise.com/wpremise.htm

http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/story-premise.html