🔄Failure is part of the growth process, so accept it and forgive yourself for mistakes.
🔑Define your story's core idea and build around it to stay focused.
✂️Separate what's working from what isn't and decide what needs to be improved or cut.
🔥Combine weaker ideas to create stronger ones that align with your core idea.
👥Choose the best possible cast of characters, including protagonist, antagonist, and major supporting characters.
Is it normal for a story to fail in the first draft?
—Yes, many stories go through failures in their initial drafts. Failure is part of the growth process and can lead to eventual success.
Do I need to follow a specific plot structure?
—Plot structure is important for crafting a coherent story, whether you're a planner or prefer to figure things out as you go. It provides guideposts and keeps the story on track.
Should I revise or rewrite my broken story?
—If your story is broken, it's often best to start fresh and rewrite it from scratch. This allows you to approach it with a fresh mindset and test new ideas.
How do I know which ideas to cut or combine?
—Evaluate your ideas based on their relevance to your core idea. Cut ideas that don't fit and combine ideas that can create stronger connections and dynamics in your story.
What is the most important step in fixing a broken story?
—Defining your story's core idea and building around it is crucial. It helps you maintain focus and ensures that all elements in your story align with your central concept.
00:00Introduction to the importance of fixing a broken story and the author's personal experience with their novels.
00:46Three guidelines to identify if your story is broken: characters lacking motivation, inconsistencies or poor structure, and major issues that small changes can't fix.
03:09Seven steps to fix a broken story: accept failure, define your core idea, separate what's working from what isn't, cut and combine weaker ideas, pick the best cast of characters, write the critical scenes, and rewrite from scratch.
09:52Closing thoughts and invitation to share the most important thing individuals need to improve in their current work.
