Developing story is the process of taking an idea from the back of your mind and turning it into something tangible. Whether you’re a writer, director or producer, developing story is a critical skill to master. It allows you to take the raw materials of your idea and turn them into a compelling screenplay or pitch. From building characters to brainstorming set pieces to distilling notes into a cogent outline, the ability to develop story is an essential tool for any screenwriter.
A key to developing story is finding ways to elevate your premise with big stakes. This can be obvious, like when your protagonist’s life is on the line or as subtle as an inherent conflict within a character’s quest. In any case, finding these hot spots early on in the development process can save you time and energy in constructing your plot later.
Establishing the tone of your story is also crucial to developing a successful treatment. This can include the setting, as well as the mood you’re trying to evoke through your characters and actions. It’s important to consider how your tone will translate to a wider audience when creating it.
Using your character and stakes as a starting point, you’ll want to begin constructing your story structure by defining the three acts – conflict, action, and resolution. This can be done in a variety of ways but the most common is to start with an inciting incident and then map out the progressive complications that lead to your character’s climactic choice and ultimate fate.
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