As mentioned in my last thread, I plan to make a series of discussions, with the primary topics being things pointed out in my previous ones. This is an attempt to learn why the people here are well, here.
Today's topic is storytelling in general. Simply put, what is it about a story that makes it interesting, or what makes a story good?
Don't worry about sounding redundant, the goal isn't necessarily to get a definitive answer, it's more important to get everyone's views
For me, what makes a story most interesting is realistic characters. Ones whose goals make sense, who feel like they could exist. This applies to both heroes and villains, as they are both highly important characters. Heck, I find that even random temporary characters are more enjoyable if the writer puts that kind of effort into them. To me, it's the characters that make the story, everything else is secondary.
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I think a story is good when the villain is a guy you can actually hate, you can immerse yourself into the stories world, and you can connect with the protagonist. I also believe that if you feel you can come back to it again and again, them the story did its job well (whether it's a game or book).
*story's, then
Sorry, small keyboard.
Sorry, small keyboard.
Story needs to first grab the audience's attention fast and deliver story with amazing character development, a clear goal for the protags, and good writing and pacing in general, this is what a good story needs imo
A good story needs to build up both characters good and bad to give us reasons to care about or hate them. A good story needs to give us a world with good story and history. It needs to give us a world to care about. If those can all be fulfilled, that makes the story good, build up and history.
I believe a good story establishes strong characters and gives them a goal realistic to the universe. It gives a perspective of the world based on the protagonist and shows clear flaws in it (world and world view). It should also have an ending that makes sense given the characters and world. I find Bloodborne to do all of these things well accept for the protagonist have a world view, because you are the protagonist.
It's been long enough I feel safe bumping.
Realistic timeless dialogue so you don't cringe at what teen characters say.
I'll be echoing two points I said in this thread: https://phansite.net/forum/topic.php?topic=8435 in the context of a reader as they mirror each other.
The words that the story uses need to draw you in from the get go. If I end up cringing or thinking, "this could have been worded better" the story loses any appeal it might have had as a concept. The diction doesn't have to be expansive and force me to Google every fifth word or anything, but it's the use of the words present that makes or breaks a story in the beginning.
A good story knows who it wants to reach. Spreading too thinly trying to hit a bunch of different demographics only hurts a story if it can't execute what it wants to accomplish. Questionable choices can come up in story direction when a story doesn't have a clear set of people to appeal to. Trying to fit into a specific niche is one thing, and trying to cover all bases is another entirely. Knowing the difference can help you find good stories.
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The words that the story uses need to draw you in from the get go. If I end up cringing or thinking, "this could have been worded better" the story loses any appeal it might have had as a concept. The diction doesn't have to be expansive and force me to Google every fifth word or anything, but it's the use of the words present that makes or breaks a story in the beginning.
A good story knows who it wants to reach. Spreading too thinly trying to hit a bunch of different demographics only hurts a story if it can't execute what it wants to accomplish. Questionable choices can come up in story direction when a story doesn't have a clear set of people to appeal to. Trying to fit into a specific niche is one thing, and trying to cover all bases is another entirely. Knowing the difference can help you find good stories.
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A good story will have characters that a reader can get attached to. Protagonists that contain flaws they have to overcome, antagonists that are more than just "I'm evil" when that achetype doesn't fit, etc... The characters should drive the story, and draw it to a natural conclusion.
Often not a steadfast requirement, but having a fleshed out setting that makes the work feel alive helps a story maintain it's quality. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of __ series probably has the best world building I've seen in an RPG. And the story within the games is immensely better for it.
Last thing I'll say is that a good story is written in a style that you can enjoy. People have favorite authors because they way they write makes their stories fun to read. Having what it takes to have a good story can just fail because the style can't resonate with you.
My point is that it's not one thing that makes a story good or not. It's how well the aspects combine that makes a story good. You can like characters, but hat the world they reside in because it isn't fleshed out. A setting can be greatly detailed, but the characters can fall flat or the story itself doesn't do it justice. A good story is one where all the pieces that make it up come together to make something you can wholeheartedly enjoy
A good story will have characters that a reader can get attached to. Protagonists that contain flaws they have to overcome, antagonists that are more than just "I'm evil" when that achetype doesn't fit, etc... The characters should drive the story, and draw it to a natural conclusion.
Often not a steadfast requirement, but having a fleshed out setting that makes the work feel alive helps a story maintain it's quality. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of __ series probably has the best world building I've seen in an RPG. And the story within the games is immensely better for it.
Last thing I'll say is that a good story is written in a style that you can enjoy. People have favorite authors because they way they write makes their stories fun to read. Having what it takes to have a good story can just fail because the style can't resonate with you.
My point is that it's not one thing that makes a story good or not. It's how well the aspects combine that makes a story good. You can like characters, but hat the world they reside in because it isn't fleshed out. A setting can be greatly detailed, but the characters can fall flat or the story itself doesn't do it justice. A good story is one where all the pieces that make it up come together to make something you can wholeheartedly enjoy
A good story needs to have possible losses and risk for the characters iinvolved depending on the genre, whether it is life in something ike persona or love in a romance, war in one of those war movies ect. It makes everything more realistic It can also bring comedic effect as in most situational comedies. also i want someone to get mutilated, i want a little kid to put his arm in a drain then that arm to get ripped of by a malevolent entity then for a gardener to hear him scream and find the kids body, all because of a paper booat!
time zones are a thing that I will use as a reason for bringing a topic that has not been replied to in a long time up towards the top of the page utilizing the process known as "bumping"