What can I do to make my story more interesting and longer?

[Guest]

I need help.

I always manage to write a first chapter but never get myself to write another or speed write it (meaning it finishes really quickly and the story lasts maybe 4 chapters or less) what can I do to make it more interesting and longer.

[Dwain]

Maybe you're a natural short story writer! If you want to do a novel, I sense that you are going to have to do some planning. The good old outline or beat sheets, as mentioned by Caroline earlier could help. I'd recommend you not start writing until you know you have a fully developed story. Then set out on the writing journey!

[Heather]

Some writers are heavy plotters, others are not. Both have pros and cons. If you are not a plotter, then start with a wide lens and find the beginning (inciting incident), middle (turning point), and end (resolution) of your story.

Do this also chapter by chapter, if you’re a linear writer. If you don’t like to write that way, figure out what scenes must absolutely be in your story and write them individually. Then figure out how they connect.

You can storyboard this using index cards or any other method. There’s no one way to write a novel. Message me if you think you’d like a writing coach.

Good luck!

[Douglas]

Planning! You need a problem to solve (first chapter) and a solution (last chapter) and a lot of logical steps to get from A to B. But, of course, you don't have to write novels, you might be more suited to short stories. They still need a beginning, middle and end, but you can wrap them up in a couple of days.

Useful: I found out the story is so much more important than the grammar errors

[Rws]

Sounds like you may have a high level view of your story and now you may need to zoom in on segments to flesh them out. Or, as stated earlier, it's simply a short story and needs nothing more. Either way, let is sit and think it over for a bit and then revisit it. I found that very helpful. Also, check out what options people are offering here.

[Richard]

Ways of lengthening a story...add more characters...action scenes that show inner aspects of hero...sub plots that support the main plot.

I suggest you read more in and out of your genre.

Suggested: Do you just let the story tell the readers about it as you go or do you approach it in another manner?