When a writer first gets an idea for a story, developing that idea is what turns it into a fully fleshed-out narrative. It’s the process of taking a seed of an idea and nurturing it into an immersive story world, compelling characters, powerful themes, and gripping plot.
The development phase involves exploring the premise and key character, setting, and conflict of the story as well as identifying potential spin-off ideas, character arcs, and possible obstacles that could stand in your way of completing the narrative. This stage is where you’ll begin laying the foundation for your story’s plot, and can include any additional subplots or characters you may need to ensure your main character’s journey is as complex as possible.
Character lives at the heart of every story, and as such you’ll want to spend time teasing out your key protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) with detailed descriptions, their goals, their flaws and strengths, and the trials they’ll have to overcome to reach their ultimate goal. This can help your audience relate to and empathize with your key players, making them a driving force in completing the narrative.
Themes are the overarching moral, philosophical, or societal ideas you want your story to evoke in your audience. Many writers will discover their theme in the development stage, while others may leave it until after the first draft of the screenplay to consciously create the theme they desire.