We all have different tastes in what we like to read. Some have a particular taste for horror, while others prefer romance or fantasy or crime stories, etc. My favourite genre in short stories is horror, so once title grabs my attention, I will enthusiastically read story.

You may want to leave your readers in no doubt of type of story you have written. That’s fine. You want to grab all fans out there and/or recruit new readers into genre you are so fond of writing.

So, how do you select a title that reflects your story?

Should title always reflect story?

Not always. But your title must have some sort of connection with your story.

Is There A Connection Between Your Title And Your Story?

If you choose not to have title reflect story that’s fine too. But there should be some relevance between them.

We all tackle plotting differently. How you plot will be individual to you, as it is with every writer.

Below is an outline of what can go into a plot. How much you choose to develop each point is entirely up to you.

So some basic questions to ask are…

1.Briefly what your story is about

2.The theme?

3.Main Characters

a.For main characters it’s best to write a full biography of them.

4.Secondary Characters

a.Who are they?

b.What will their role be?

c.What is their relationship with main character?

5.Beginning of story

a.Viewpoint – who will be telling story?

b.Setting – where will story take place?

c.How will you introduce main character?

d.How will you introduce other characters?

e.How will story begin?

f.What will happen in beginning?

g.What is conflict?

h.What is character’s goal?

i.How will conflict prevent character from reaching his goal?

j.What’s motivating character?

6.Middle of story

a.What will happen in beginning section, of middle of your story?

b.How will this be tied to beginning of your story?

c.What will happen in middle section, of middle of your story?

d.What will happen in end section, of middle of your story?