“WHAT IS PREMISE? THE IMPORTANCE & STRUCTURE OF WRITING A SOLID PREMISES”

Your story, novel, or screenplay needs to have a premise. If you have a killer premise, you will be able to produce irresistible content as well as get many opportunities for publication.

"The premise is the theme behind your whole story. Even before we start writing, there is an idea that strikes our minds. The idea inspires imagination. Premises is part of the story that serves as a foundation."

It’s a summary that defines the main idea of your whole write-up. Which when properly crafted expresses your whole story in 2-3 lines.

Definition of the premises:

The term comes from the Latin word "Premissa". It was a term that originally referred to the mentioned items. However, now the word is used in a different context. And in literature, we take it as a brief description of what the content is all about.

In school, our teacher always used to tell us the theme of the story even explaining it in detail. Similarly, when our kids read a story book we ask them "what was the moral of the story?" The answer they gave was exactly what we said “the premise” of your content.

Importance of Premise?

The premise is what conveys the idea to the audience. It is the essence of what you do. If you fail to deliver it at all times, the whole point is lost.

The heart of your story lies in those one or two neat sentences i.e. premises. It communicates the story's purpose to the reader. A strong premise points out the main ideas of their books, novels, or short stories, so the reader can connect better. We can say a compelling premise is a helpful storytelling roadmap for both the reader and the writer.

And the premise extends beyond a sales pitch. It is your built-up confidence that your story or content will last for a long time. Of course, when you have a solid premise.

The importance of a solid premise becomes even clearer when it's time to persuade the reader. Readers, especially these days, aren't always willing to read lengthy descriptions/ introductions before making a decision. They may look at the first few lines and decide whether they are comfortable with it or not.

That's why premises must be transparent, intact, and logical. They set the foundation for your context. It should be relevant and well-connected to the original storyline. So everything seems to relate to one another and not the other way around.

How to structure premises?

Premises must be written in a way that emotionally engages your audience. Yet, you get the desired engagement.

In other words, your premise starts with a headline that promises something, then moves on to a CTA that converts your readers into customers. It should be compelling and persuasive.

When I read this concept for the first time, I almost thought that writing was not my thing. It's damn difficult to persuade someone by a mere 2-3 lines. Eventually, with time I grasped the main idea and learned how to do it.

Here are my 4 simple & effective strategies to create a solid foundation of your story. That would be unavoidable 99% of the time.

1.??Be unpredictable

Nothing kills attention faster than if the reader knows what you are up to. So the first thing to do is create curiosity. Being unpredictable and having an unexpected element makes it irresistible. Creative imagination, proper research, and your unique voice can set the basis for a successful premise.

2.??Be simple.

Convey your message in clear & simple terms. Be unpredictable but don't use fancy words that no one understands. Make it clear what you are talking about. Or what readers will get from certain content? By doing so, it hits the mind of the reader and he or she gets the right idea.

3.??Be you.

Be real. Be authentic. Speak with your human voice not that of any AI robot. Make your messages as real as possible. We all had to listen. “It's all about the audience, not you.” So the content must be relevant enough that the reader can relate to it. They can get what they desire. There's more to it than an order, a suggestion, or an argument.

4.??Be credible.

Your writing must strike the emotional part of the brain first and then the logical part second. It's like hitting the gut before the brain. Your premises should have an emotional element to them.

If people can relate to you on an intuitive level, logic will never even become a part of the game. They must believe in you, you’re premises and your credibility.

Now we must understand.

Why write the premises first?

The premise of the message matters first and foremost. Let people grasp the core meaning of the content. That's why it must be written first. As it is,

• It's your?story/writing baseline. The premise serves as the basis for the whole write-up. Then you can align the work accordingly and work in n much easier manner.
• Premises are?vital for idea organization & unity. At some point, we all get confused as to what the point is or write too many irrelevant things. We get stuck. A clear premise helps you stay on track.
• A marketing tool??Yes, the premises are. A well-crafted paragraph has the power to land you a dream opportunity. It can get you into publishing deals. Your audience can become your most loyal readers.
• It's a?summary?of the entire story.?In 2.3 solid lines, it summarizes the entire article. Those few lines are simpler and easier to understand than those complex metaphors.

The final thoughts

The definition of your story's premise is extremely critical to writing compelling, and solid content. Practice how to craft a premise as you learn to write, and you will be successful.

Furthermore, it shapes the writing, plus it is beneficial for marketing. It is the road that can guide you through the process of turning a simple idea into a whole damn story/book.

Happy Reading Fellas!!!!

Behind the scenes: It's damn difficult to be consistent for a person like me who is non-consistent most of the time. The next day will be spent writing and improving my skills.