My husband and I just purchased our first home, and we are so excited about finally putting down roots. We came upon the house when it was still just a skeleton; and we watched as they slowly added the ceiling and walls, plumbing, electricity, flooring, windows, and doors. We had the opportunity to select the color of paint for the walls, the style of countertops, and the tile and carpeting for our floors. What a different look for our home when we added on to the foundation and filled in the skeleton!
Writing a story, whether it is a short story or a novel, is just like building a house. You must first start with a foundation. This is, of course, the idea stage. What story do you want to tell? If you are experiencing writers block, try to write about what you know. If you have never been to Spain, then dont try to write a story about Spain unless you plan to do extensive research on the country.
Once you have set up your foundation, you will need to build a skeleton. Jot down your thoughts and ideas in an outline and build on them. This stage is an excellent time to create your characters for your story and to develop their attributes. Are they tall? Do they have...