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Q&A Is the "what" more important than the "how"?

It's the other way around - How you present your story is more important than What you are presenting There are only a couple of different base-stories in existence. I've heard different numbers r...

posted 7y ago by Secespitus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-12T23:01:20Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/32925
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T07:49:47Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/32925
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T07:49:47Z (almost 5 years ago)
### It's the other way around - _How_ you present your story is more important than _What_ you are presenting

There are only a couple of different base-stories in existence. I've heard different numbers ranging from 10 to 40, but in essence all stories are basically the same. Try to list all the "save-the-world" stories you have ever read/heard/watched. Now try to list all the "save-the-princess" stories. See? There are lots of them. This holds true for basically every story you can think of. Some may be more popular in our current times, while some may be less popular, but in essence every story has been done over and over again.

What makes a story compelling is the way the author presents his version of the story. _How_ you describe the characters. _How_ you describe the scenery. _How_ you describe the emotions involved. _How_ you manage to show all of the scenes one after another. _How_ you present the conflict of your characters. _How_ you use your language.

If your goal is to be completely original and write stuff that nobody has ever thought of you will never finish your book.

If your goal is to present a story with your own words and with your own style then you will be able to finish it and be proud of yourself.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-02-01T10:31:41Z (almost 7 years ago)
Original score: 13