Your premise is the foundation of your interactive story adventure. A strong premise will spark imagination and create opportunities for interesting choices and developments.
What Makes a Good Premise
A compelling story premise typically includes:
- A character or group with goals, desires, or problems
- A setting or world that frames the story
- A situation or conflict that drives the action
- Stakes that make the outcome matter
How to Create Your Premise
- You don't need to write a detailed plot - just a starting point that has potential for an interesting journey
- Your premise can be as short as 1-3 sentences
Try one of these formats:
- "A [type of person] must [accomplish something] in/despite [setting or obstacle]."
- "After [inciting incident], a [type of person] discovers [something unexpected] that changes everything."
- "In a world where [interesting condition], a [type of person] decides to [take action]."
Examples of Strong Premises
"A retired detective is called back for one last case when bodies begin appearing that match his nemesis's signature - but that killer has been dead for years."
"A botanist stranded on Mars must use her scientific ingenuity to survive until a rescue mission can reach her."
"In a world where dreams physically manifest while people sleep, a dream-trapper discovers a nightmare so powerful it threatens to break into the waking world."
"Two rival wizards attending a magical academy must set aside their feud when they accidentally unleash an ancient curse on the school."
"A shy librarian inherits a mysterious bookshop that sells stories which come true, and must decide how to use this power responsibly."
Your Turn
Now, create your own premise using the guidelines above. What story world do you want to explore? What interesting character or situation will drive the narrative?