Fiction Tip: Write With Intention To Avoid Aimless Storytelling

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen writers make is to start writing without having a clue where they’re going. I’ve seen this a lot; they throw in random plot twists or ideas, simply because they don’t know what comes next. They ramble and jump from one thing to another, introducing ideas or twists that make absolutely no sense. 

It’s beyond frustrating and a complete waste of time to read a bunch of disconnected thoughts that are irrelevant to one another and don’t actually tell a story.

Being spontaneous can spark creativity, but in the context of not knowing where you’re going and throwing in unrelated or loosely connected ideas for no good reason, it’s much more likely to lead to incoherent plots, underdeveloped characters, and a story that doesn’t make any sense at all.

You don’t need to draft an elaborate outline, especially if it’s a short story or if it’s not your style. But you do need to understand your characters’ motivations, the central conflict in the story (you MUST have a conflict!) and the resolution you want for the character(s).

It’s like setting out on a journey. If you have no idea where you’re going, you’ll wander aimlessly. This might be fun on a road trip, but it sucks for a story and your readers won’t like it.

When you aren’t sure what to write next, go back to the point of the story. What does your protagonist want? What’s stopping him from achieving it? How will he grow by the end of the story?

Readers won’t care about what’s happening if they don’t understand why it matters.

When you write with intention and a clear direction, it ensures that you’re writing a cohesive story that will resonate with your readers. It’ll also save you loads of frustration trying to back up and fix something that doesn’t make sense.

With just a little planning, you’ll have loads of room for your creativity to play and have fun!

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