How do you write original stories?

I think the most important aspect of storytelling is referring to real-life incidents and drawing inferences from them. Meeting someone in a coffee shop can leave a lasting impact on you and give you a topic for your next story. Something that happened in college, a conflict you witnessed, or strange behavior can make you rethink your entire perspective on something. This is how I get my inspiration. I observe situations and people around me, and then I share my experiences and learnings from them. It's honestly that simple.

For me, figuring out what I want to talk about feels like I've already won half the battle. But the real challenge is deciding what to share that will truly resonate with people. I draw inspiration from my own experiences and things I notice around me. It's not like I sit down with a mission to come up with ideas, they just come to me out of the blue, and that's when I feel inspired to share. Sticking to a fixed number of posts every week is not something I believe in. I think in sharing when I'm moved to, not because I feel I have to. It's about keeping it real and meaningful, or else, what's the point?

Observe the World Around You. Inspiration is everywhere. Pay attention to your surroundings, conversations, and the nuances of everyday life. A casual remark or an interesting event can spark an idea for a compelling narrative. Keep a journal to jot down these observations – they can be goldmines for original content.

In writing original stories, I take inspiration from real-life experiences and personal encounters. By taking elements from my own life into my storytelling, I create authentic and relatable narratives. I pay close attention to the details of everyday life, observing interactions, emotions, and events that resonate with me. These real-life experiences often serve as the foundation for my original stories, allowing me to infuse them with creative imagination.

I think original stories are myths. We subconsciously imitate something that has already been done by another storyteller with a different and fresh perspective. And that different story becomes another story. That another story can be called as an original story. But not every storyteller can do this. Not every storyteller has the ability to imitate the structure of an original story and create new scenes around it. That's why we have limited original stories that find different perspectives with the same story structure. But to create an original story, the first step must be to understand the structure of an original story. This makes the base where the house can now be built.

Most simplest ways to create characters: i) Meet people. ii) Spend quality time with them. Listen. A lot, actually. Don't speak. Just listen. iii) Write down their traits. Their idiosyncrasies. What makes them different from the crowd? Ask questions to yourself. iv) Stop meeting now and write.

Start with diversity. Change up your character's gender, ethinicity, sexual orientation, size, shape, colour, ability, etc. You may find that as you change these factors, your character's relationship to the world changes -- or not. How does this change your story? Then think of three character traits that are likeable, and one or two that are unlikeable (your character should be more likeable than not, but never perfect). Finally, think of something your character wants more than anything else in the world, and then write down what's stopping your character from having it.

Uma técnica interessante na hora de desenvolver seus personagens é criar a base do personagem e, a partir daí, tentar ouvi-lo, tentar imaginar o que ele diria, o que ele pensa, como ele vive. Tenha esse diálogo com o seu personagem e, a partir dele, você poderá tirar diversas características bem interessantes para para sua composição.

Introduce the main character and add sensory details- look, trait, personality and dialogue. Then consider adding the villain.

Original story .. or any story / communication .. you need a storytelling structure to follow. Keep the core principals - or layers as I call them in my storytelling model (the sprout model) - this will guide your story. Be sure to know the impact you want to make, the people that you are telling the story to, set starting context and direction, move into the main event and what in particular it is you are addressing, then bring clarity, conclusion and a lasting impression to the end point ... not forgetting to nurture the story with creativity, energy and perspective.

Plotting is the soul. Here is a breakdown for Harry Potter Part 1: i) Ordinary and miserable life of Harry Potter ii) Meets Hagrid. Harry is a wizard. He learns about Hogwarts and the magicians (Dumbledore, Snape, Hermione, Ron, etc., etc.). iii) The trio (Harry, Hermione and Ron) finds suspicious activities in Hogwarts. They learn about the sorcerer's stone that give immortal life to anyone. Their motive is to find out about the stone and Snape's (their professor) involvement in the whole matter. iv) At last, they go all the way to stop Snape from finding the stone. Somehow Harry finds another professor (instead of Snape) who is willing to get that stone. Harry stops that professor... and Harry goes back to his house.

Original stories are driven by your understanding of things and how you perceive them. It could come from what you see, hear & feel and collective experiences you have and even pursue. This also begins with going out of your comfort zone and being open to new perspectives, understanding differences and bringing it all together. Original stories come from a place of lots of effort, looking beneath the surface and of course your understanding of things.

Tout est une question d'organisation. Aussi, savoir jouer finement entre préparation et frustration semble être une clé en or. Ne vous lancez pas immédiatement dans l'écriture! 1- Ayez un endroit de bac a sable, toutes vos idées sont bonnes à se souvenir, pas forcément pour être intégrée, donc, préparez-vous un endroit pour recueillir toutes vos datas brutes! 2- la structure: A- pitch de 5 lignes. B- Ecrire 12 séquences (la première étant le début de votre histoire, la dernière la fin)... C'est 12 phrases, surtout pas plus à ce stade. Revenez-y, corrigez, recommencez jusqu'à satisfaction. C- Passez à 30 (/50 / 80) séquences selon média. Phrases simples, sobres, qui contiennent l'action principale. 3- Lancez vous dans l'écriture !

Work on the skeleton first: Context- Background Challenge- Struggle, Dilemma Consequence- Outcome, Version of Happily Ever After Then, work on the sugar, spice and everything State- Emotion Involved Scene- Time and Place Setting Seed- Moral and Lesson / Takeaway From Story

Writing isn't easy, let alone with creativity and originality added to the mix .... so be sure that you are exploring a genre that excites and stimulates you. In doing this you will give yourself the best chance to get going and get a rhythm. After which you can start to explore other genres which will challenge you more so.

Just write. Don't overthink the process ... just get going. You will have plenty of time for re-reading, refining, getting other feedback etc etc. Get pen to paper ... of fingers to keyboard .. or voice to text ... and start!

Progress over perfection. Your first draft is about getting something on the page. Don't self-edit as you go, that comes later. Your sole focus should be on moving forward and accepting that your first draft is just that -- a first draft. Warts and all. You're already leagues ahead of many would-be writers if you get that first draft done.

I highly recommend preparing your draft with memopad. This allows you to rearrange the sequence of the story, if necessary. Try out your story in full and see if there's any glitches in between. Then you may consider testing them with peers or a sparring partner.

Biggest piece of advice I have... When you're not on a deadline, do NOT look at your story for at least two weeks, preferably longer. When you come back, read it one chapter at a time and note the places you get stuck. When you go back again, figure out what got you hung up. In a first revision, try to ignore the copyediting and proofing. Instead, focus on the logical progression of each sentence and paragraph. Then ask yourself: "Does this chapter go from Point A to Point B the way I need it to?" In other words, on your first few revisions, focus on the big picture. As you progress through each draft, your focus will gradually narrow.

After completing your first draft, take a break before revising. Look for ways to improve character development, tighten your plot, and enhance your settings. Multiple revisions may be necessary.

After testing them in a friendly environment with peers, mentors or sparring partner, now it's show time. Deliver to an actual audience and reflect on what's right and what could be improved. Ask feedback from the event sponsor or organizing committee.

Existe um conselho mal compreendido no mundo das histórias que é "escreva sobre o que você sabe", que muita gente interpreta como "escreva sobre você" ou "sua profissão". Até que vi um conselho do diretor mexicano Alfonso Cuarón, quando lhe perguntaram como ele era capaz de escrever histórias tão universais. Ele disse "eu não escrevo histórias universais, eu escrevo sobre mim, sobre o que vivi e senti. Eu respeito minhas raízes. Quanto mais específico você for, mais universal você será." Não escreva tentando imitar um estilo de sucesso, ou mesmo que você admire. Escreva a melhor coisa que só você poderia escrever. Ou, para citar outro grande criativo, Neil Gaiman: "Eu sou o melhor escritor de histórias do Neil Gaiman que existe".

Read Widely: Reading across genres and styles can inspire new ideas and teach you different storytelling techniques. Seek Feedback: Share your drafts with trusted readers or writing groups. Constructive criticism can offer new perspectives and help improve your story. Writing Routine: Establish a regular writing routine. Consistency helps in maintaining momentum and can make the writing process more manageable. Stay Open to Change: Be willing to revise your story idea, plot, or characters based on where the story leads you or feedback you receive.

I often create original stories in strategic storytelling interventions. These are stories that fall under the category of realistic fiction, such that the listeners / audience share the world with the characters in the story. To give an example, I once created a set of original stories that were anchored around workplace experience of discrimination, sexual harassment at the workplace & unethical practices. The intention was to use these stories as possible case studies to discuss with new employees during a company onboarding module. Original stories are great fun!

Have a storytelling structure that you are working towards. Always keep the core principals - or layers as I call them in my storytelling model (the sprout model) - this will guide your story. Be sure to know the impact you want to make, the people that you are telling the story to, set starting context and direction, move into the main event and what in particular it is you are addressing, then bring clarity, conclusion and a lasting impression to the end point ... not forgetting to nurture the story with creativity, energy and perspective.

Writing original stories is about embracing your unique voice and experiences. Start by drawing from your personal life – those authentic moments resonate deeply with readers. Keep your eyes open to the world around you; everyday events can inspire amazing stories. Don’t hesitate to mix genres or experiment with styles to create something truly unique. Develop complex, relatable characters, and explore imaginative 'what if' scenarios to fuel your creativity. Read widely to understand different writing techniques and stay true to your own voice. Embrace feedback as part of the process. Remember, originality comes from authenticity and a willingness to see the world through your unique lens.