In my blog How To Write a Story: An Overview I briefly and generically covered the difficulty of finding a story you can and should write. Since this is one of the areas where writers struggle the most, the following blog breaks it down further.
Discovering Your Story Type
The first step to finding your story is discovering the type of story you want to tell; this is a multifaceted process. The type of story you decide to write will inform the length, content, research, and style. There are endless types of stories, but I’ve outlined a few below.
Blog
You’re reading a blog right now and this is a type of story. Every blog has a few key characteristics. You can also take a look at this killer infographic from John Loomer.
- Think short. No more than 3,000 words per blog.
- SEO friendly. All blogs are posted online and so to gain readership you have to think about keywords. Use these 10 tips from Yoast.
- Topic focused. Every blog post has to match a set of blogs. If you’re writing for a mommy blogger the tone, style, and content has to match the overall blog. Same goes for business blogs, writing blogs, and DIY blogs.
- Well researched. There are endless blogs available online. Before you choose to write a story as a blog, make sure you’re adding to a conversation or starting a new and interesting conversation. Take a look at this how-to guide from Hubspot and then be sure to link to other blogs on the same topic.
Article
An article is similar to a blog. Articles show up in newspapers, magazines, and on various websites. Use these six easy steps from Writer’s Digest for writing your article.
- Style specific. Articles are written in a specific style based on where they are published. If you’re writing an article, be sure to choose a topic and follow the style of your chosen publisher. This WikiHow blog can help.
- Tight writing. Articles have to convey a lot of information within narrowly defined word counts. Unlike with blogs, articles typically have specific word count needs and you have to make sure your entire story fits within those guidelines.
- Appropriate research. Research is key when you write a story in article format. Above and beyond a blog, articles require statistics, facts, quotes, and references to be fully fleshed out.
Short Story—Novella—Novel
Creative fiction writing is a different beast compared to blog and article writing. First, the story is entirely created from your imagination, and when writing a fictional story, the rules change. The New Yorker has some great tips to write a story in fiction.
- Specified length. Depending on what you’re writing, there is a pretty cut and dry word count associated with the story. Short Stories are less than 10,000 words. Novellas are over 20,000 and less than 40,000 words. Novels are between 80,000 to 100,000 words. Your chosen genre may allow some discrepancy, but you can expect the above rules to stick 90 percent of the time.
- CMOS Style Guide. If you’re writing fiction, you have to use the Chicago Manual of Style in your writing. CMOS can be a strange style guide for writers used to blogs or articles.
- Chapters and scenes. Similar to blogs and articles, which are broken up into short easy-to-read sections, fictional stories should be divided into chapters and scenes. Here’s a quick read from Advanced Fiction Writing to help you out.
- Plot, character, and setting development. The greatest difference in fictional writing is the need to create and build a cohesive world that your readers can dive into. In an article or blog, your readers are reading something set in the real world and it doesn’t require a lot of extrapolation. In fiction, when you write a story you’re inviting readers into your imagination and there are a lot of details required.
Creative Nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is based on research, experience, and real life. When you write a story in creative nonfiction, there are countless types available from self-help to memoir to business. The Creative Penn offers these nine things you should know before you choose this story type.
- Genre is key. Just as you have to make sure that your blog post matches the overall blog, your creative nonfiction story must match the genre. If you’re writing self-help, then you need to match the style, tone, and layout of other self-help stories.
- Subject expertise. Before you jump and write a story in creative nonfiction, you need to ensure that you have the necessary expertise to fill a manuscript with your ideas. Your expertise has to last far longer than 3,000 words—think twenty times that.
- Unique topic. Just like a blog or article, there are hundreds of thousands of creative nonfiction stories available. Before you spend months writing your story, make sure you have a spin, idea, or insight that hasn’t been shared before. Follow these 25 tips from Writer’s Digest.
Ideas to Find Your Story
Once you know what type of story you want to write, now you have to figure out what story you should tell. As already emphasized, the biggest key is making sure that you have a story that hasn’t been told and that people want to read. Follow these six tips:
- Google keywords. Based on your topic idea, perform a Google search for keywords within your topic and start discovering what has been written on the topic already.
- Subscribe to blogs. No matter what story you’re writing, blogs are a great place to start. Find blogs within you story type and topic and read through as many posts as you can. See what people are talking about and where you fit in before you write a story.
- Ask friends and family. Ideas can come from everywhere and many times the people who surround you will have questions, thoughts, and ideas that would be perfect for a story.
- Join online forums. There are thousands of forums online—one of the biggest is Reddit. Join a few forums within your writing style and topic and jump into the conversation. See what is resonating with your audience.
- Read everything. If you want to write a novella, read as many novellas as you can get your hands on. Many times someone else’s story will spark creativity and give you an idea for a story of your own.
- Start writing. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just start typing. Write one sentence and see what comes out. You might not figure out how to write a story fully, but the act of writing can generate inspiration.
Questions to Find Your Story
Figuring out what you should and can write about is an exercise in frustration. The unfortunate truth of the matter is, not every story should be told. Before you jump in and write a story, ask yourself these three questions.
1. Has someone else told my story?
Do you have a great idea for writing about your experience starting a business? That could be a great story, but if someone else has already told a very similar story and has done it well, your story isn’t needed. However, if you have a new angle to add to the topic or keen insight the other writer didn’t provide, then go for it.
2. Are people interested in my story topic?
If too many people are telling the same story, it can be difficult to add anything new. However, if no one is talking about a subject, it could be that no one is interested. Before you spend hours or days trying to write a story in a new niche, make sure it’s a topic that people want to read. Being the first voice is great, but there needs to be an audience.
3. Does the story match my audience?
When you write a story, you don’t write it in a bubble. The goal of every story is to gain readership. Make sure your story matches your audience. This is two-fold:
- If you’re an expert in cooking, don’t write a story about sports. Your audience is following you for your cooking and a random jump to a different topic is probably not going to be successful.
- If you don’t already have an audience, find out who your audience is and then choose to write a story that matches their interest. Let’s go back to the cooking example, what type of cooking is the focus of your story? Is your audience full of aspiring chefs? Do they want kitchen design ideas, recipes, new products, stories from the kitchen, etc.? Know your exact audience and write for them.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking
back often!
Terrific facts. Thank you!
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
visit poster’s website
canada pharmacy
buy prescription drugs online
[url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]london drugs canada[/url]
Wow loads of very good data!
http://talahicc.com/
pharmacy online aarp approved canadian online pharmacies pharmacy canada [url=http://talahicc.com/]canada online pharmacies[/url]
mexican pharmacy online
prescription drugs without doctor approval
canada pharmacy online orders
canadian pharmacy viagra brand
top rated canadian pharmacies online
buying prescription drugs canada
Kudos. Plenty of write ups!
http://talahicc.com/
canadianpharmacy canada pharmaceuticals online canadian pharmacy online [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canadian drugs[/url]
no 1 canadian pharcharmy online
canadian pharmacy without prescription
pain meds online without doctor prescription
prescription drug price comparison
get prescription online
pain meds online without doctor prescription
Really all kinds of terrific material.
https://nicktambone.com/
canadian pharmacy meds mexican pharmacies shipping to usa costco pharmacy pricing [url=http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/]canada pharmacy[/url]
us pharmacy no prior prescription
best canadian pharmacies
canada pharmacies without script
onlinecanadianpharmacy.com
pharmacy price compare
top rated canadian pharmacies online
You said it perfectly..
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
ed meds online northwest pharmacy prescription prices comparison [url=https://nicktambone.com/]canada drug[/url]
pharmacy without dr prescriptions
canada pharmacy online no script
prescription drugs prices
canada meds
drug costs
prescription price comparison
You have made the point!
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian drugstore online canada drug online pharmacies no prescription [url=http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/]canada pharmaceuticals online[/url]
mexican pharmacies
canada pharmacies
drugs from canada
canadian pharmacy uk delivery
online drugstore
discount drugs online pharmacy
Beneficial postings. With thanks.
https://nicktambone.com/
best online canadian pharcharmy canada pharmaceutical online ordering drug costs [url=http://canadianpharmacymim.com/]canada pharmaceutical online ordering[/url]
costco pharmacy pricing
canadian drugs
prescription drugs without prior prescription
drug costs
compare prescription prices
canada pharmacies prescription drugs
Awesome material, Many thanks.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
medication costs canadian pharmacy online international pharmacies that ship to the usa [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canadian drugs[/url]
drugs for sale
canada pharmacy
canadian prescription drugs
online pharmacies
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
canadian mail order pharmacies
Info nicely considered..
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
canadianpharmacy canada drugs online prescription drugs canada [url=http://talahicc.com/]canadian viagra[/url]
canadian pharmacy online
discount pharmacy
no prescription online pharmacy
mexican online pharmacies
canadian pharmacies top best
no prior prescription required pharmacy
Valuable forum posts. With thanks.
http://talahicc.com/
24 hour pharmacy canadian online pharmacy canada online pharmacies [url=http://canadianpharmacymim.com/]canadian drugs[/url]
canadian rx
rx price comparison
canadian pharmacy uk delivery
buy prescription drugs from canada
best non prescription online pharmacies
prescription drug assistance
Thanks a lot. Fantastic stuff!
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
canadian prescription canada pharmaceutical online ordering canadian pharmacy 365 [url=http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/]canada pharmacy[/url]
no prior prescription required pharmacy
prescription drug assistance
mexican pharmacy online medications
best online pharmacies no prescription
online drugs
prescription drugs prices
Cheers! Loads of facts.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian pharmacy online canada london drugs canada costco pharmacy pricing [url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]canada drugs online[/url]
approved canadian pharmacies online
the canadian pharmacy
canadian drugstore reviews
buying prescription drugs canada
discount drugs online pharmacy
no prior prescription required pharmacy
Truly tons of useful knowledge.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
cheap canadian drugs canada pharmaceuticals online canadian discount pharmacy [url=http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/]online pharmacies canada[/url]
rx online
cheap canadian drugs
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
canadian pharmacy no prescription
canadian pharmacy viagra
canadian viagra
You actually mentioned it effectively!
https://nicktambone.com/
drug price top rated canadian pharmacies online canada drugs [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canada drugs online[/url]
prescription prices comparison
canada drug prices
candrugstore com
canada pharmacy no prescription
global pharmacy canada
canadian pharmacy 365
You actually explained this terrifically.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian online pharmacy canadian pharmaceuticals online online rx pharmacy [url=http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/]canada pharmacy[/url]
canada drug
best online canadian pharcharmy
best canadian mail order pharmacies
canada pharmacy
canadianpharmacy
best canadian prescription prices
Regards, An abundance of advice.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
best canadian prescription prices canadian drugs pharmacy prescription [url=https://nicktambone.com/]canada pharmaceutical online ordering[/url]
canadian pharmacy viagra
canadian pharmacies
ed meds online
drugs without prescription
online rx pharmacy
king pharmacy
You actually mentioned it really well!
http://talahicc.com/
best online pharmacies no prescription global pharmacy canada canadian online pharmacy [url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]canada drug[/url]
prescription drugs online without
discount drugs online pharmacy
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
canadian mail order pharmacies
canada drug
pharmacy online
Whoa a lot of superb information!
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
prescription drugs online without doctor trust pharmacy canada canadian pharmacies online prescriptions [url=http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/]canada drugs[/url]
best online pharmacies canada
canadian pharmacy meds
canadian pharmacy uk delivery
walmart pharmacy price check
pharmacy cost comparison
canadian viagra
This is nicely put! !
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
drug price canadian pharmacies canada pharmacies without script [url=http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/]canadian pharmacies[/url]
canadian drugstore
online prescription drugs
drug stores near me
reputable canadian mail order pharmacies
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
canada drugs online pharmacy
You actually mentioned this effectively!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
canada online pharmacies canadian pharmaceuticals online canada online pharmacy [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canada drugs[/url]
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
mexican pharmacy online medications
my canadian pharmacy
canada drug
prescription drugs prices
buy prescription drugs without doctor
Thanks a lot, Lots of forum posts.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
medication costs canada pharmaceuticals online prescription online [url=http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/]canadian pharmaceuticals online[/url]
canadian prescriptions
prescription drug cost
online pharmacies
prescription pricing
pharmacy prices
best canadian prescription prices
With thanks. I appreciate this!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
drugs from canada trust pharmacy canada best price prescription drugs [url=https://nicktambone.com/]top rated canadian pharmacies online[/url]
prescription drugs online without
approved canadian pharmacies online
canada drugs online
canada drug prices
buying drugs canada
canadian online pharmacies
You said it nicely..
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
online canadian discount pharmacy trust pharmacy canada king pharmacy [url=http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/]mexican pharmacies shipping to usa[/url]
ed meds online
prescription drugs online without
no prescription online pharmacy
canadian pharmacies top best
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
canadian pharmacy viagra
You actually reported that exceptionally well.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian pharma companies canadian pharmacies that ship to us northwest pharmacy [url=http://talahicc.com/]mexican pharmacies shipping to usa[/url]
canadianpharmacy
pharmacies in canada
buying prescription drugs canada
canada pharmacy
online pharmacies
best canadian online pharmacy
Whoa loads of valuable information!
https://nicktambone.com/
online canadian pharmacy top rated canadian pharmacies online online pharmacy without prescription [url=http://talahicc.com/]online pharmacies canada[/url]
rx online
canada online pharmacies
drug price
no prescription pharmacy
canadapharmacy
web medical information
Good forum posts. Thank you!
http://talahicc.com/
canadapharmacy aarp approved canadian online pharmacies prescription drug assistance [url=http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/]canadian pharcharmy[/url]
online pharmacies no prescription
canada drugs online
top rated canadian pharmacies online
canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs
internet pharmacy
canada pharmacy online reviews
Whoa all kinds of great info.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
canada online pharmacies canada drugs buying prescription drugs canada [url=http://canadianpharmacymim.com/]aarp approved canadian online pharmacies[/url]
price prescription drugs
canadian mail order pharmacies
prescription drugs without doctor approval
drugstore online
trust pharmacy canada
prescription drugs without prior prescription
Regards. I value this!
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
most reliable canadian pharmacies canadian pharmacies online meds online [url=http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/]northwest pharmacy[/url]
canada drugs online
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
canadian pharmacy king
mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
canadian mail order pharmacies
canada pharmacies
Cheers, A lot of information.
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
pharmacy online store canadian drugs pharmacies near me [url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]canada drugs[/url]
canadian online pharmacy reviews
canadian viagra
canadapharmacy com
canada pharmacies online
get prescription online
online canadian pharcharmy
You actually reported that superbly.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
trusted overseas pharmacies canada pharmaceuticals online canadian pharcharmy online [url=http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/]mexican pharmacies shipping to usa[/url]
canadian prescription
best online international pharmacies
canada pharmacies without script
most reliable canadian pharmacies
us pharmacy no prior prescription
prescription drugs without doctor approval
With thanks! Helpful information.
http://talahicc.com/
overseas pharmacies canada pharmacy online online discount pharmacy [url=http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/]canada drugs online[/url]
prescription drug assistance
best online international pharmacies
online pharmacy
online pharmacy canada
best online pharmacy stores
<a href="http://mirabiliatour.blogspot.com/ask?q=+Amazing+postings%2C+Thank+you.+http%3A%2F%2Fcanadianpharmaciescubarx.com%2F+canada+pharmacy+online+orders+canadian+pharmaceuticals+online+no+prescription+pharmacies+%5Burl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fcanadianpharmacymim.com%2F%5Dcanadian+pharcharmy%5B%2Furl%5D+%0D%0Athe+canadian+pharmacy+%0D%0Acanadian+prescriptions+%0D%0Acheap+drugs+online+%0D%0Amedical+information+online+%0D%0Aweb+medical+information+%0D%0Acanada+pharmacies+without+script&submit=ask”>buy prescription drugs from canada
Beneficial knowledge. Cheers.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
no 1 canadian pharcharmy online canada pharmaceuticals online no 1 canadian pharcharmy online [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canada pharmacy[/url]
pharmacy price compare
canadian meds
drug stores near me
online pharmacy without prescription
canadian drugstore online
prescription drugs without prior prescription
Thanks a lot! I appreciate it!
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
canadian rx pharmacy online london drugs canada canada pharmacies [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canadian pharmaceuticals online[/url]
canadianpharmacy
canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs
canada pharmacy no prescription
canadian rx
canadian discount pharmacy
canada online pharmacies
Regards! I value it.
http://talahicc.com/
best canadian pharmacies top rated canadian pharmacies online canadian drugstore [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canadian pharmacies-24h[/url]
online discount pharmacy
canadian pharmacy viagra
pharmacy without dr prescriptions
canadian pharmacy king
pharmacy online mexico
pharmacies near me
Cheers. An abundance of content.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
online pharmacies northwest pharmacy canada drugs pharmacy [url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]canadian pharmacies-24h[/url]
most reliable canadian pharmacies
northwest pharmacy canada
discount prescription drug
canadadrugs
buy prescription drugs online
canadian drug
Very good write ups. Thanks!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
cheap canadian drugs online pharmacies of canada canadapharmacyonline.com [url=http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/]canada drugs[/url]
canada pharmacy
canadian pharmacy reviews
canada drug prices
canada pharmacies prescription drugs
canada pharmacy
mexican pharmacy online
You stated it effectively!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
northwest pharmacy canada top rated canadian pharmacies online canadian pharmacy online canada [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]online pharmacies canada[/url]
trust pharmacy canada
canadian rx
costco pharmacy pricing
canadian drug store
online pharmacy reviews
canadian pharmacy online
Thanks. Useful stuff!
https://nicktambone.com/
online canadian pharcharmy canadian pharmacies without an rx online pharmacy reviews [url=http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/]canada pharmaceuticals online[/url]
discount pharmacy online
price prescription drugs
pharmacy price comparison
online canadian pharmacy
online pharmacies canada
best online pharmacies no prescription
Thanks a lot, Excellent information!
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
best online pharmacy canadian pharmacy canadian pharmacy king [url=http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/]trust pharmacy canada[/url]
canadian drug store
pharmacy near me
mail order pharmacies
rx online
top rated canadian pharmacies online
pharmacy prices compare
Regards! An abundance of data.
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
online pharmacy canada canadian pharmacies-24h canada pharmacy no prescription [url=http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/]canada drugs online[/url]
canadian pharmacy
canadian online pharmacy
approved canadian pharmacies online
online discount pharmacy
best canadian pharmacies
canadian family pharmacy
Nicely put, Many thanks!
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
online prescription drugs canadian pharmacy online canadian pharma companies [url=http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/]canada drugs online[/url]
trusted overseas pharmacies
pharmacy prescription
buy drugs online
24 hour pharmacy
canadian pharmacies without prescriptions
online discount pharmacy
Terrific content. Regards!
https://nicktambone.com/
canadian pharmacy no prescription online pharmacies canada canadian pharmacy [url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]global pharmacy canada[/url]
medical information online
costco pharmacy pricing
canadian pharmacy 365
online canadian pharmacy
pharmacies near me
canadian pharmacies online prescriptions
You said it adequately..
https://nicktambone.com/
canadian pharmacy 365 london drugs canada prescription drug cost [url=http://canadianpharmacymim.com/]canada drugs online[/url]
safe canadian online pharmacies
canadian family pharmacy
canada pharmacies online prescriptions
prescription drug assistance
rx price comparison
drugs for sale
Truly loads of good knowledge.
https://nicktambone.com/
pain meds online without doctor prescription canada pharmaceutical online ordering canadian pharmacy no prescription [url=http://canadianpharmacymim.com/]canadian online pharmacies[/url]
prescription without a doctor’s prescription
no 1 canadian pharcharmy online
best online pharmacy stores
canadian pharmacies that are legit
buy prescription drugs from canada
canada pharmacies online prescriptions
Amazing tons of fantastic material.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
rx pharmacy canada pharmacy online canada meds [url=http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/]northwestpharmacy[/url]
best price prescription drugs
pharmacy without dr prescriptions
mexican pharmacies
buy prescription drugs without doctor
pharmacy drug store
canadian online pharmacies
You actually stated that superbly!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
canada pharmacy online pharmacies of canada canadian rx pharmacy online [url=http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/]canada pharmaceutical online ordering[/url]
canadian pharcharmy online
canada pharmacies online pharmacy
best non prescription online pharmacies
drugs for sale
canadian pharmacy without prescription
canadian prescriptions