A validated premise provides the story’s big picture plus the writer’s development strategy, combining in one sentence the character, plot, theme, symbol, event, and overall, conveys a sense of the outcome — the hero’s change and story’s climax.
Satisfy Your Readers’ Expectations!
This download Includes the 23 page step-by-step guide to develop your story’s premise. The worksheet prompts turn an idea into a premise, recording your killer concept, storytelling approach, best lead character, and chief opposition. These steps evaluate your premise’s appeal to readers while you explore your passions and dreams.
For example:
- Core Reason: Discover the core reasons you want to write this book.
- Envision Story: Develop a vision of how the story could work.
- Consider Marketplace: Increase your confidence that the book can compete successfully in today’s marketplace.
- Increase Productivity: Avoid wasting time writing 50,000 to 100,000 words that go nowhere.
What Writers Are Saying
Series
“I’m struggling with the beginning of my next trilogy (as my critique group will tell you) so this was quite helpful.”
— Jacqui
Story Length
“Great reminders for any length of story.”
— Taran
Premise Validation
“I like to think I’ve validated a premise before writing, but I wonder if I sometimes fool myself (just so I can get on with the writing portion). But that’s where beta readers are so helpful, even in the early, outline stage.”
— Vera
Free Overview
Click Step 2: Validate Premise to download an overview of premise development.
Author’s Bio
Grant P. Ferguson developed his reading superpower as an under-tall kid in grade school. After balancing on tiptoes to pluck a science fiction novel from the library’s top shelf, it was love at first reading. Like a nerd turned super hero, books transformed his ordinary life into an extraordinary genre mashup of thriller, romance, and faith. He studied writing, and like a mad (but not evil) scientist, turned his research into the Trellis Method. From their ‘Fortress of Solitude’ in Central Texas, Grant and wife share their love of writing.