The beginning of a story needs to be strong enough to whet the reader's appetite for what's to come. By the end of the first page, the reader should know who the protagonist is, what the story is about, and with what conflict the main character will struggle. A good way to grab the reader's attention is to start in the middle of an action or with a conversation that hints at conflict. Take a look at this beginning:

'I'm getting out of here!' shouted Jack as he slammed the door behind him.

Tim looked up from his book. 'Where are you going?' he asked.

'I'm moving out,' said Jack.

'I could hear all the yelling downstairs,' said Tim. 'What happened?'

Read the first page of three books and note how the author pulls you into the story.

The middle

The pacing used to stir the story needs to be fast enough to hold the reader's interest. The middle of the plot should include a series of related scenes that drive the story towards a major crisis, or climax. To start a scene, set up a situation. Then add conflict and complications for the protagonist to deal with. End with unanswered questions so that you 'hook' the reader.

A hook is a technique that makes the reader want to turn the page to see what happens next. Read the first and last paragraphs of three chapters in your favourite book. Note how the author sets up a situation at the beginning and leaves you hanging at the end.

The end

As you approach the end of your story, you need to whip things to the point of climax - the all-or-nothing scene in which the protagonist either succeeds or fails to resolve the conflict in his life. The climax is followed by the resolution (or ending), a final scene that ties up any loose ends. The ending must be a logical outcome of everything that has happened.

Whether you're writing a mystery or a science-fiction story, you need to drop crumbs that lead to an inevitable ending. But endings need not be predictable or happy. In some stories, life doesn't turn out the way the protagonist wants it to. Take a look at the endings of three books you've read and jot down what makes them memorable.

If you've had an idea on the back burner for a while, then it's time to cook up a story. You could start by developing a plot outline that includes a one-line summary of each scene. This will focus your writing and give you an ending to head for. Once you've worked out your plot, test it by asking the following:

Is there a problem to be resolved?

Is there a beginning, a middle and an end?

Is there plenty of conflict?

Is there a climax?

Does the ending tie up any loose ends?

If the answer is yes, start writing. If it's no, think again.