When a short story is read and discussed in a classroom, the teacher never misses discussing the theme of the story. Why is the theme so important? Is it just as important for the writer as it is for the reader? The answer is yes. The theme is a rather simpler version of the premise. The premise of any given work of fiction or non-fiction is a two or three liner that tells what a particular writing is about.
 

If the writing is fiction, the premise will speak of the character, the conflict, the plot, the resolution. You can also understand the premise as a statement that reveals how the elements of the story are connected to form coherence. So, to be able to tell and define the premise of your story, you must be familiar with the elements of a good story. Before moving to detail of elements, we also must know why the premise must be defined and why is it important.
 

The Art and Science of Storytelling

Storytelling is both an art and a science. The scientific side of it is more about structuring, outlining, setting up a premise, considering and entertaining each element one by one. While as art, storytelling knows no bounds and can always break free from the confines of the science just mentioned. The premise, being the underlying idea of a story, caters to both the art and science of storytelling.

A premise is more or less like a research objective that is stated in a research proposal in brief two to three lines or sentences. This handiness of a premise allows writers to introduce their work whenever is the need. It may be used to attract publishers and agents. This means that premise is very central to the publishing process. Therefore, it must be very well written and well presented.

None of the essentiality should be missing from your premise. Your story or novel or book is a success if its premise is well defined. Just as a research objective guides the whole research, a premise guides the story. At any time, you can turn to re-read your premise and it will save you from going astray. Your premise is more like a guiding principle. For the story to turn out well, the premise must be thoughtfully defined.
 

An understanding of the elements of a story will help the writer to acquire a functioning premise for their book. Let’s have a closer look at each of these elements that make up a story.
 

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Character

Characters are the soul of any fictional writing. Of the many characters a story may have, there is a central character that can be attributed as the heart of a story. the story revolves around the main character or the protagonist. All other characters are more like support towards the central figure. If you ask what is the function of a character in a story, the character gives life to all other elements of the story. It is the character who a certain situation, a conflict, or an opponent for that matter. It is the character who possesses a certain trait that is responsible for things turning out the way they do. A story is lifeless without a character.

A well-written character has all the potential to make your writing a best-seller. In fact, portraying the protagonist as brilliantly as you can is one of the many storytelling techniques. Your character may be a confused soul. Then, you must be able to highlight this aspect of their personality in every situation they face. A character’s mind and actions should speak to the reader. Usually, the opening sentence of a story premise introduces the character and a characteristic that defines them.
 

Situation

The situation is more like the plot of a story. Situation covers the circumstances that the main character comes across. For example, it can look like a chance encounter with a person while the protagonist may be having a very bad day. In some cases, a situation may overlap with the disaster. This happens when the writer writes a story in a way that the climax comes earlier and the rest of the story reveals the context and life of the protagonist (as a throwback or recalling the character does when bed-stuck due to a severe injury).

You will be able to better differentiate a situation from a disaster in a while. For now, a situation involves other characters and the main character may or may not come in direct contact with each of these characters. Situation sets the larger context for what is to come next. An opponent or a villain is also born out of the situation. Not every writing will introduce a villain as a villain. Remember, the situation is not static, rather dynamic. So, a situation might take a course where say the main character’s friend or a family member may come to openly oppose them.
 

Objective

Objective relates solely to the main character. Encountered with a situation, there is somewhere the protagonist wants to reach or something that they want to achieve. The objective is very intricately tied to the character’s personality and if you are to have a protagonist that people are not able to forget for years and decades, the objective must be in unison with the character’s defining trait. Nothing can make us better understand ‘traits’ than Shakespeare’s plays. Remember the character flaw? That is exactly what a defining trait will look like.

Now consider for a while the all-time celebrated American classic – Gone With the Wind! What did Scarlett O’Hara want? To return to her family’s home and lands and live the life she lived before the civil war. This is the objective Margaret Mitchell clearly set for her protagonist. The novel comes to a close when Scarlett is finally able to make it to Tara. This is how an objective is set. All that the main character does is reach the objective. The premise must clearly state this objective.
 

Opponent

An opponent does not necessarily have to be a person. An opponent can be the protagonist’s own thoughts or the dualism in their personality. Most of the stories have a person as the opponent. The opponent turns the situation for the worst and nothing remains in favour of the main character. A lot of contemporary literature does not deal with the subject of the opponent in the classical notion of a villain. Rather, the protagonist’s own conflicts serve as the opponent or say the society at large becomes the opponent.

As far as storytelling goes, creating a conflict or an opponent helps reveal the protagonist fully. Readers develop a particular interest in the main character as the story proceeds. This interest can be intensified through the conflict and the protagonist’s response to the conflict. Readers attach hope to how the central figure responds and tackles what comes their way. You certainly would not want to disappoint your reader audience.
 

Disaster

Disaster is the climax point and an essential element of a story. It may or may not be exclusive of the situation. In most cases, disaster comes out of the situation and is inflicted or caused by the opponent. Disaster is a key to creating intrigue and thrill in your story. While disaster is very apparent in crime, mystery, and thrillers, it is rather hidden and more subtle in a lot of contemporary writings.

Not all writers are keen to create ripples in the waters. We also have seen such masterpieces which lack action and disaster altogether. Yet, the writer manages to pull out a best-seller. There are all sorts of readers out there in the world. Some prefer action and drama while some do not. Our advice for the disaster part is to see the requirements of your story and also how you, the creator, would like it to soar. When you are holding the pen, it is you who dictates the art and science of storytelling. Never shy away from hitting in unexpected directions.
 

Knowing and understanding the elements of a story, you will never go wrong with setting the premise for your writing.

Good luck!

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