Writing Tip Tuesday

According to scriptwriting "formulas", one of the critical elements in the setup of a story is the central question.

• The central question is simply what the story is about or what the problem is.

• The story should ask a question in the setup that will be answered in the climax.

• The central question should be revealed as early as possible. (This is particularly true for young readers. They don't want to have to keep reading and reading to find out what the heck the story is about. In fact, if you take too long to reveal the central question, they will stop reading and go watch Sponge Bob.)

• The central question must be clear. (Again, if it is not clear, young readers will go watch Sponge Bob instead.)

• Once the central question is raised, everything that happens in the story after that should revolve around or relate to that question.

• The climax of the story answers the central question (e.g. solves the problem).

Recycled from October 30, 2007