The Last Page

All right, so maybe title is confusing. I'm not actually talking about the last page of the book, or whatever story you may be working on.

No, I am talking about the importance of the components of a story. Too often, people think that this great concept of theirs is the key to getting their story out there, and making them a recognized and well liked author. Sure, that can work, but it takes so much more.

Stories are not composed of concepts alone, or themes alone, or characters alone. Each part plays a role in making the story come together, find itself and be told in the best way. Writers have to do more than have a story to tell; they have to tell it in a novel and convincing way. The reader has to come along for the journey, and not be handed a fact sheet.

This brings me back to the title of this post. You can't have a concept as your only striking element or else you have an incomplete story. Just as nobody should (I'm looking at you now) read the last page first, or omit it altogether, nobody should have to wade through an incomplete story that has a great premise, but misses on the key elements of bringing the reader through the emotional journey of the main character or characters. That is just as important as the last page of the book, because without that, the story is not finished.