If you’re writing a story, there are lots of things you need to know how to do.
You need to know how to create interesting characters.
You need to know how to write dialogue.
You need to know how to build tension.
You need to know how to write a good ending.
Once you’ve got all those things and a finished story, you can celebrate. Then you need to be able to figure out how to tell your story in one sentence.
If you can’t tell your story in one sentence, you might not know your story. It’s also possible you might not HAVE a story.
If you have any plans to send your story to a magazine, agent, or publisher, you should be able to share it in one sentence.
I’ll be brave and share my one sentence summary:
“Sixth grader Whitney decides to run a marathon to win a bet and prove she’s not Quit-ney.”
So – what’s your story in a sentence?
Run!