[ See a video version of this post ] A brilliant idea will not always become a great story. Nobody can really see one or two years ahead and know how their story will turn out. For an idea to come to full fruition, it must be strong enough to set the tone, theme, and setting of the story. This is particularly important for indigenous and local writers who plan to write in English. You don't have to plan too much around details when you are writing in your own dialect, because those who can read in the language will know your customs well enough to fill in the blanks. Readers who read in English, on the other hand, may not know your culture, so you must have a clear theme and setting to help them along. Below is a trick I often use to decide if I am willing to see a story through to the end, and if I decide to do so, how to add sub-plots to it. Write a 200-500 word ‘Once Upon a time’ story This short fairy-tale will help you see if you have a strong Beginning, Middle, and Ending. Le...
An indigenous writer who writes in English.