When a story is developing, reporters and producers are covering an unfolding event with the public that requires a mix of formats for engagement. The goal is to provide timely updates and keep the audience informed as the situation evolves.
The key to getting an idea to blossom into a fully-realized story is development. Developing a story means expanding an initial seed into a compelling narrative with powerful themes, immersive settings and captivating characters. Developing a story also involves crafting the overall structure and ensuring that the story has true narrative potential (i.e. that the story can sustain a full plot).
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to this process, and some writers—known as plotters—will go through extensive pre-writing tasks before drafting, while others, called pansters, may complete very few preparatory activities and discover their stories while they write. Most writers fall somewhere in between these extremes.
Once the writer has a solid grip on their main concept and understands the structure of the story, they can begin to delve into character and theme. They’ll begin by identifying the protagonist’s flaw or weakness and exploring their motivation to address it. They’ll also identify the antagonist or force opposing their protagonist and define their worldview, helping to intensify the conflict.
Then, they’ll start to develop the antagonist and key supporting characters. Often, these will be people who are closest to the protagonist and who help to shape their perspective on the issue at hand. Finally, the characters will be set up for their climactic moment. This is typically a powerful scene that showcases the antagonist’s attempt to upend the protagonist’s worldview, and highlights the protagonist’s struggle to overcome it.