How a Premise Can Help Your Writing.

A premise is ideally a single statement—a moral, value, or declaration the story illustrates. Stories that endure, that captivate and haunt us, all share one thing in common: a clear premise.

So, what is a premise? It arises from a strong feeling the author holds. In *Romeo and Juliet*, Shakespeare’s underlying conviction is that love conquers all—even death. He didn’t sit down intending to preach this lesson; he believed it so deeply that the story flowed from his conviction. He wasn’t trying to convince us of his belief—he was compelled to express it.

Because the author already embraces the premise wholeheartedly, the resulting story naturally persuades readers, whether or not the writer cares if they’re “won over.” The premise isn’t the point; it simply galvanizes the emotive strength of the story.

Don’t Start with the Premise.

If you’re beginning a story, forget about your premise—at least for the first draft. Writing to a preconceived statement often makes the writing ring false. Instead, let the narrative emerge organically. Once you have a complete draft, identify the underlying premise and use it to sharpen your focus, decide what to remove, and give your story stronger direction.

A Great Story Comes from Passion, Not Premise. For the writer, premise comes after passion. You may have heard, write what you know. A similar statement will help you write with passion: write about what triggers an emotional responce in you. Write about what frightens you, makes you excited, makes you want to learn more...

A compelling story and a strong premise both stem from the author’s passion. Shakespeare cared deeply about love’s power, and that passion generated *Romeo and Juliet* and its premise. He may have later used the premise to refine the play, but it wasn't the starting point.

In short, when you begin writing, don’t worry about crafting a premise. Write freely and let your convictions reveal themselves in subsequent drafts. Only then should you distill and sharpen your premise to guide the story’s final shape.