6 Steps for Focusing that Fine Story

Time to focus, people!

I recently spoke to someone seeking a ghostwriter for his memoir. He bent my ear for more than an hour, telling stories about his life.

And he has had quite a life. From his time working at a top advertising company, to his time in the Nixon, Ford, and Reagan White Houses to his dealings with famous people (he name-checked Bob Dole, Anwar Sadat, Yasser Arafat, Gen. Omar Bradley, Andy Warhol, Muhammad Ali, and Lee Iacocca), he has more stories than he has years on this planet.

He regaled me with tales of how he created a magazine at the University of Wisconsin and got a regent to rescue him from the dean who wanted to expel him, what the Chinese ambassador really thought of Richard Nixon, how Iacocca was racist and extremely insecure, and how during his first term Donald Trump name-checked him in a speech.

I thought he had some amazingly compelling stories. Yet I also realized he wasn’t quite sure what his book was going to be about. He lacked focus.

Every story needs a clear theme, point, or outline so it doesn’t wander off into irrelevant tangents and lose the reader. 

Here are six steps to ensure a focused story.

1. Identify the Core Theme. What is the central message or idea you want to convey? What’s the story really about? This guy could find a way to weave all his stories about famous people into one fascinating narrative. Or he could just write about the times in the various presidential administrations.

It’s a good idea to think about what makes you passionate about this story and what you want to say through it. This guy wanted to impart life lessons, so he would have to figure out which lessons he would want to include and find the stories that apply.

2. Develop a Clear Plot Outline. Outline the main events and turning points of the story, ensuring they all contribute to the central theme. If this prospect wanted to take the impart-life-lessons approach, the outline would be easy: Each chapter would be the actual lesson, and then he’d tell the various stories that reflect it.

To help with that, I would take a look at the seven basic story plots. His life-lessons approach would fall under Voyage and Return, in which he goes places and overcomes obstacles, learns from them, and returns wiser for it. His times in the various presidential administrations could be Overcoming the Monster, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy or Tragedy, depending on the stories.

3. Focus the Characters. There’s only one main character: the author. It should be easy for him to define his motivations and relationships to the people he’s met along the way. If he can’t, a ghostwriter in Austin or anywhere can help him focus on how his choices and actions drive the plot and reveal his story’s theme.

4. Eliminate Irrelevant Details. These would be the stories that aren’t truly necessary for the story’s development and could be cut. A ghostwriter can help the author be ruthless in removing details that don’t contribute to the central focus or plot.

The prospect told me, “Next to Trump, Iacocca was the most insecure person I ever met.” If he’s going to impart a lesson about confidence, this quote (and the related story) might be relevant. But if he’s going to focus on the White House years, it might not fit.

5. Focus on the Essential. What are the essential elements that readers need to understand the story’s message and impact? This guy called himself “a storyteller,” so he likely would be able to ensure every scene, character interaction, and piece of dialogue serves a purpose within the larger narrative.

6. Create a Cohesive Narrative. Use transitions effectively to connect different parts of the story and maintain a strong flow. Ensure the story feels complete and satisfying, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the theme.

By following these steps, you can create a well-focused story that leaves a lasting impression on your audience. I hope to get a chance to use this steps with him.

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