Edit Article

How to Start Any Story

Community Q&A

You want to write, we know you do. Where to begin? Here is a step-by-step method of planning and starting a story of any length.


  1. 1
    Go to the store and buy a notebook (the type doesn't matter)..
  2. 2
    Think, no matter how long it takes. Come up with a situation that you would want to read about. Although unique, you're not isolated — there's no situation so bizarre or unconventional that no one else would want to read it, too. People think like you do, so focus on human universals and work from there.
  3. 3
    Bounce ideas off your friends. Say, "Hey, I want to write a story. These are my ideas. What do you think?" They might have some really good advice. If you have a story idea that you absolutely will not change, skip this step.
  4. 4
    In your notebook, think of every name you have ever seen in your life. Write them down, putting girl names in one list, boy names in another, and unisex names in a third. This way, whenever you add a new character, just look at your list and pick one.
    • Alternatively, you might like to visit baby-name sites, with thousands of names you've never heard of. This is especially useful when writing about cultures different from your own.
  5. 5
    Write a bullet-list with the important events of your story.
    • "Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop." — Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
  6. 6
    Write down the setting or make a web. Say "This is where my story takes place." You may make a fantasy land or go somewhere as simple is your own neighborhood. Write down descriptions, for example the average weather. Is the weather average? Is it humid? Is it always dark? Are the skies clear? Is there a paved road, or a dirt road? Is it green? Are there no trees? Does it snow? Is it cold at least? Ask yourself questions.
  7. 7
    Make a page for every character. For each character, or at least each major character, make a mind web, showing characteristics about each character. Do not do this for minor characters, or you'll end up spending more time planning than writing.
  8. 8
    Go back to your bulleted event list and edit it. Make notes for yourself about how the characters feel here and there. Add descriptions about the weather and atmosphere, too.
  9. 9
    Now that you know exactly how your story is going to go, open up a new document in your favourite word processor. At the top of the page, write something. Anything. Getting some words on the page, and removing the blankness, will make it less menacing. You'll most likely delete these initial efforts later, but the point is that it'll get you writing.
  10. 10
    When you're ready, write one sentence. Then another and another, letting the words flow. This is what you've been preparing for. Picture yourself as a spider, spinning your web. The first sentence is the beginning fiber of your web. Build on it. Keep it interesting, too. You're on your way.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • How do I add details that do not really go into the story, but still are important?
    wikiHow Contributor
    Create a small backstory that fits the additional details in so that they appear like an interesting sub-plot or sub-story that is worth reading.
Ask a Question



  • Knowing exactly how your story is going to go will help you write it. If you know what to write, it makes it easier to actually write it down.
  • Never write when you're tired. You won't remember what you wrote.
  • Your mood can be a powerful tool. Write when you feel the same way as the characters in your story, but don't skip parts because you're "not in the mood".
  • Write consistently and often, even if you have to go through a ritual (many writers do) to get yourself in the writing mood.
  • If you cannot think of ideas for your story, ask someone. Someone's opinion could inspire you with your story idea. However, be careful when asking the opinions of others on a new idea. Someone might say something discouraging, and you might abandon the idea before it's had a chance to bloom!
  • Know that, in general, your first draft is going to be revised, and that's okay. The beginning is always the part that needs the most rewriting, and the first idea is rarely the best idea.

Article Info

Categories: Writing

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 29,011 times.

Did this article help you?