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Transcript

How to construct a story

Taking a look at characters, themes, world building and plot

Today’s video is about how to build a story from the key components: world building, themes, characters and plot. Which is quite a big topic, and clearly not something one should try to cover in a 25 minute video. Yet here we are.

Things we’ll cover in the video:

  • What are the building blocks of a story? 🧱

  • Which genres require world building? (spoiler: it’s all of them)

  • How does world building impact a story?

  • The seven components of defining a world 🌏

  • How to not get lost in your own world building

  • The iceberg metaphor 🧊

  • Why plot is overrated

  • Using themes as a navigational compass for your story 🧭

  • How to quickly sketch character personalities 🎭

  • How mobile phones messed with a lot of established thriller scenarios 📱

  • Why food is important 🍜

As a bonus, in this video you also get to hear my creaky house and my croaky throat.

Let me know what you think down in the comments, especially if you have a different take or methods that might help other writers.

If you found video useful, help me make more of them by supporting the newsletter. 👇


Last week I updated my Quickstart guide for Substack fiction writers. It’s slightly expanded, and I’ve got more up-to-date thoughts on generative AI:

Thanks for reading (and watching!). See you on Friday for more Triverse.

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Write More with Simon K Jones
Write More with Simon K Jones
Tips on how to write serial fiction and be a more productive writer from Simon K Jones. Find more at simonkjones.substack.com.
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