How to write a good story?

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1. Genre​
Recommendation-werewolf, billionaire, romance, mafia​
Not recommendation but can be considered-vampire, YA/Teen, LGBTQ+, royal​
2. Tropes​
T1-reject, betrayed, sold, contract/replaced/forced marriage, revenge, second chance, one-night
stand, auction, secret babies, surrogacy, werewolf reverse harem, cursed...​
T2-hidden identity, rebirth/reborn, enemies to lovers, one mate for twins, hybrid, crossing
through time and space/transmigration, lost memories...​
Not recommendation but can be considered-stripper, female Alpha vs male omega, commit
treason...
3. Character sets​
(1) FL's character sets​
It's important to create a female lead(FL) who is not just a collection of popular traits, but a fully
realized character with her own strengths, weaknesses, goals, fears, and growth.​
• Vulnerable or Flawed: A female lead who has vulnerabilities or flaws can be more relatable
and dimensional. Usually she will be limited by their identity(omega, slave, breeder, hybrid,
human in the werewolf world...) , capability(wolfless, weak wolf...), initial life
situation(poverty, in debt, one of the family has a bad illness，cursed...), ect.​
• Kind and Compassionate: A female lead who is kind, compassionate, and treats others with
respect is often loved by readers. This positive trait can make her more likable and
admirable. Usually she will choose to sacrifice herself to satisfy/please others'
requirements/save others' life/try to keep a harmonious atmosphere...​
• Strong and Independent: A female lead who is capable, confident, and can stand up for
herself is often admired by readers. She doesn't necessarily have to be physically strong; her
strength can also be shown through her intelligence, emotional resilience, or determination.
This character set usually appears after the FL has grown up after she experienced betrayal,
danger, death, dilemma...​
• Complex: A female lead who is complex, with multiple facets to her personality, can be more
intriguing and realistic. This complexity can make her character development more
satisfying. Usually she has many skills(dance, martial art, design...) and
identities(billionaire's heir, famous person in xxx industry, mystery doctor...).​
(2) ML's character sets​
It's important to create a balanced and multi-dimensional character that fits within the context
of your story. The male lead should have his own strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and
personal growth.​
• Strong, Competent: A male lead who is skilled in his profession or is physically strong can be
very appealing. This can give the character a sense of confidence and capability. Usually the
character sets are shown through his identity(lycan king, Alpha, rogue king, billionaire,
mafia...), capability(the most powerful/richest man in the werewolf world/human
world/city...), etc.​
• Protective, Possessive and Caring: Many readers enjoy a male lead who is protective,
possessive and caring towards the female lead. This can be shown through his actions and
decisions. Protective usually performs as he won't allow the FL to be bullied/hurt by others;
possessive usually performs as he can not allow the FL to be too close to other men; caring
usually performs as he cares about the FL's thoughts, wishes, health and all FL's cares about.​
• Flawed or Tortured: A male lead who has flaws(e.g. ruthless) or a troubled past can add
depth to his character and create opportunities for character growth. This can make the
character more relatable and his journey more engaging. For example, he had a sorrowful
childhood; he was cursed; his parents/family were killed, etc.​
• Charming and Witty: A male lead who is charming and has a sense of humor can lighten the
mood and add an element of fun to the story. This can make the character more likable and
his interactions with the FL more entertaining. For example, the playboy.​
• Respectful and Understanding: A male lead who respects and understands the female lead,
values her opinions, and treats her as an equal can be very attractive. This can show a
healthy dynamic between the two leads. Usually he will be the person who can address the
FL's dilemma, rescue her spirits and let her feel valuable and deserve to be loved.​
4. Beginning​
The beginning of a story, also known as the opening or the hook, is crucial because it sets the
tone for the entire narrative and it's what draws your reader in. Here are some features of an
engaging and interesting story beginning:​
(1) Immediate Engagement​
The story begins in a way that piques the reader's curiosity. This could be an intriguing situation,
a provocative statement, or a captivating image. ​
Example 1: intriguing situation (From: Offered to the Lycan King)​
River was shocked. She looked at Hector and Victoria incredulously.​
On her eighteenth birthday, River smelled her mate as soon as she entered her school. The
mouthwatering smell of her mate made her run in the direction of the main ground of the school.​
Excited, she opened the door and realized that her mate was none other than Hector, son of Alpha
Maxim. Standing in the middle of the school’s ground he looked gorgeous. She was attracted to him like
Icarus to the sun.​
She started to walk towards him when suddenly she saw that Hector’s arms were wrapped around
Victoria’s waist as he glared at her with furrowed brows and clenched teeth, warning her to come any
closer.​
Upon seeing her coming closer, Victoria swept her dark hair on the other side, pressed her hand on his
chest, and strategically upturned her neck for him.​
River halted in her tracks, her stomach getting twisted into knots. All the students had their eyes on
Hector and Victoria. Anticipation rippled in the air.​
After a few seconds of glaring at her, Hector turned to Victoria and sank his teeth in her neck, marking her
as his mate.​

Example 2: provocative statement (From: Alpha Alexander)​

I hissed as he pulled out of me, the feeling of being empty somewhat being foreign despite the
discomfort that I felt during the experience. My body was somewhat sore; however, this was
nevertheless, one of the most beautiful nights of my life.
The way he held me in his arms, cradled, and kissed me, everything just kept playing in my head as I
watched him get out of bed.​
“Why didn’t you mark me?” I asked, frowning in confusion. He wouldn’t even let me mark him, and
instead, he chose to take control of the whole night, not that I minded, I was just confused by his action.​
“Because I never planned to” he answered coldly. ​

Example 3: captivating image (From: ALPHA’S FORBIDDEN SLAVE MATE)​

Oral Pleasure. A lady being generous and willing enough to take the penis of her sexual partner into her
mouth, and pleasure it.​
In normal circumstances, men are supposed to groan — and/or sometimes moan, or give any sort of
indication of being driven into sheer ecstasy whenever their sexual partners are rightly pleasuring them
orally.​
 However, it is the complete opposite to my mate, Beta Max Mayfield.​
No matter how hard I try, how purposeful I am with my tongue and it’s strokes and glides, down, up
and around his dick, how much I use my hands— ‘a lot of spit and no teeth’, how much I go all the way
down and have him triggering my gag reflexes, I’m never good enough for him, apparently.​

(2) Introduction of the Main Character​

The protagonist is often introduced early on, giving the reader someone to connect with. This
character might be in the middle of an action or situation that reveals something about their
personality or predicament.​
Example (From: Rejected Mate: The Alpha's Secret Luna):​

(3) Establishment of Setting​

The time, place, and cultural context of the story are usually established in the beginning,
immersing the reader in the world of the story.​
Example (From: Possessive CEO Daddy)​
(4) Intriguing Conflict or Problem​
The main conflict or problem that drives the narrative is often hinted at or introduced, creating
tension and a sense of anticipation.​
Example (From: A Gift from the Goddess)​
(5) Tone and Mood​
The beginning sets the tone and mood of the story (e.g., serious, humorous, mysterious,
romantic, sad...).​
5. Plots​
(1) Components of the plot​
• Introduction: The story begins by introducing the characters, setting, and situation. When
the two main characters meet, there may be an instant attraction between them(e.g. mate;
love at first sight), they might dislike each other at first(e.g. enemies to lover), or there will
one person love another person but he/she fated to be hurt(e.g. rejected at the beginning).
This stage sets up the initial dynamics between the characters and gives the reader a sense of
their personalities, backgrounds, and the potential obstacles they might face.​
• Building Attraction: This is the stage where the characters interact more and their
relationship begins to develop. There might be moments of tension, flirting, or deep
conversations that reveal more about the characters. The attraction between them grows,
but they're not together yet due to certain obstacles, misunderstandings, or fears.（e.g.1 The
FL is the breeder or one of the ML's harems and they are mates, but the FL can not accept the
ML has other women and the ML doesn't release those women; e.g.2 The FL was rejected by
the ML since the ML misunstood that the FL's father kills his family in his childhood.)​
• Conflict and Complications: The story introduces a major conflict or complication that
challenges the relationship. This could be an external factor (like a disapproving family, a
rival love interest, or a difference in social status) or an internal one (like a fear of
commitment, a secret from the past, or a miscommunication). The characters might have
some disagreements or misunderstandings, leading to emotional tension and drama.​
• Climax: This is the turning point of the story, where the conflict reaches its peak. The
characters confront the possible issues they have to apart, involve a big argument, a
dramatic revelation, or a situation that forces them to confront their feelings for each other.​
• Resolution: After the climax, the characters find a way to resolve their issues. They might
have a heart-to-heart conversation, make a grand romantic gesture, or come to a realization
about their feelings. They confess their love for each other and decide to be together, leading
to a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion.​
• Happily Ever After (HEA) or Happy For Now (HFN): In the romance genre, it's a common
expectation that the story will end on a positive note, with the characters finding happiness
together. This doesn't always mean they get married or live "happily ever after" - it could be
a "happy for now" ending where they look forward to exploring their relationship further. ​
(2) How are plot points performed in a chapter? ​
The plot is typically driven by the relationship between the two main characters and their
journey towards finding love, so the plot should be written around the events and emotions of
the ML and the FL. ​
Usually, a book eligible for a contract should contain 2-4 plot points per chapter, and a good
book should contain 4-8 plot points per chapter.​
For example (The plots of the prologue of Alpha Asher):​
*Note: +: positive emotion​
++: strong positive emotion​
-: negative emotion​
--: strong negative emotion​
---: stronger negative emotion​
1. Prior to Tyler finding his true mate, Lora was convinced that she was meant to be with Tyler (+).
Despite her family's disapproval of her relationship with Tyler, she remained steadfast in her decision
(-), even going as far as ignoring her parents' objections (--).​
2. Tyler had always harbored a desire to be intimate with Lola, so Lola resolved to give herself to him on
the night they visited the nightclub (+). ​
3. Upon their arrival at the nightclub, Lola and Tyler encountered their friends. Ethan, a close friend of
Tyler's, known for his playboy reputation, he had entertaining thoughts about Lola (-).​
 4. In the playful teasing atmosphere, Tyler abruptly pulled away from Lola upon spotting his destined
mate. Without hesitation, he rushed to embrace his mate (--).​
5. Witnessing Tyler's actions, Lola was overcome with shock and disbelief, causing her to lose her
rationality and flee the scene (---).​

Analysis: As we see, in the prologue, there are 5 plot points, and all of them are around the FL
and ML, and can show their emotion which in whole is constantly down. ​
6. Story Pace​
According to the plot points in a chapter, we can classify the story pace as:​
1-2 plot points in a chapter: slow pace​
2-4 plot points in a chapter: normal pace​
>4 plot points in a chapter: fast pace​
Usually, a book eligible for a contract should contain 2-4 plot points per chapter, and a good
book should contain 4-8 plot points per chapter.​
*Note: This is only a referral standard, not the absolute standard. Story quality is the most
important!​
We can not reject or pass a book only according to the story pace but according to
comprehensive judgement.​
7. Cliffhanger​
A cliffhanger in a good story is a narrative device where a chapter or the story ends at a
suspenseful or dramatic moment, compelling readers to continue reading to find out what
happens next.​
Good cliffhangers in a story might involve:​
• Emotional Revelations: A character might be about to confess their feelings, or a secret
relating to their relationship might be about to be revealed.​
Werewolves were strong, but none of them can compare to a Lycan. My heart pounded rapidly. The joy of
escaping soon gave way to greater fear. And for an instant, Helen’s words echoed in my mind:​
“The King is looking for a girl.”​
However, the next second, I blinked and found that the golden eyes were suddenly nowhere to find. His
eyes were deep black, as if everything just now was an illusion.​
His dark eyes gleamed and his hair swayed around his chiseled face. He kept approaching as I scrambled
away. My arm bent backward and gave out. I fell on my back. My body was abnormally hot, as if one had
met her mate.​
The man swooped in and scooped me into his arms. His body was radiating heat that soaked into my
skin, and his muscles clamped around me.​
It was a deep, smooth voice. But what he said made my body freeze for an instant.​
“Are you Nora?”
He coldly demanded.​

• Critical Decisions: A character might be faced with a decision that could drastically impact
their relationship, such as choosing between two potential love interests, deciding whether
to move for a job, or considering a marriage proposal.​
In that moment, I vowed that I wouldn’t just get her wolf back but I would protect her from the dangers
of magic. She was too sweet and gentle to have to endure the same hardships I’d lived through.​
I would live through them all over again if it meant shielding her.​
My eyelids grew heavy and I let them close. I was starting to drift to sleep when I felt something warm
nearby. I moved closer to the warmth and wrapped my arms around something soft and pliable.
Something that sighed against me when I held it close.​

• Unexpected Interruptions: A romantic moment could be interrupted by an unexpected

event, such as the sudden appearance of an ex, a family emergency, or a misunderstanding.​
I subconsciously cover my private parts with my hands, but I don't know that this behavior looks even
more tempting in Jesper's eyes.​
He says hoarsely, "Take your hands away."​
I shake my head.​
He takes a deep breath. His eyes are red, and his expression becomes impatient.​
He directly locks my wrists with one hand, and then raises my arms above my head.​
Immediately afterwards, his entire muscular body pressed towards me.​
"You cannot escape." Jesper says harshly.​
However, just then, the phone in the room suddenly rings.​
"Ring, ring!"​
The abrupt ringing interrupts Jesper's next move.​

• Tense Conflicts: A major argument or conflict between the characters could be left
unresolved.​
“You’re wasting time,” Blake accused, pointing a finger at me.​
 “What time? We’ve had less than a day together and you’re already expecting me to be the perfect
wife and perfect… something, I don’t even know what,” I said. I sighed vehemently and turned away
from Blake.​
“Do not turn away from me!” Blake snapped. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him.​
I glared at him, crossing my arms and jerking away. “Do not touch me!” I spat. I hit his arm away.​
I saw Blake’s eyes change, getting darker in color, his wolf threatening to reveal itself. I refused to back
away and I refused to look away.​
He needed to know. He might have been my husband but he wasn’t the Alpha I bowed my head to!​

• Dramatic Twists: Something unexpected could happen that changes the course of the
relationship, such as a surprise pregnancy, a secret from the past coming to light, or one
character suddenly having to leave town.​
My hands started to shake. Something was really, really wrong! I shook my hands, trying to stop the
tremors but tears sprang to my eyes. I blinked them back, even as I started to hyperventilate.​
I blinked them back, even as I started to hyperventilate.​
Tu-tump, tu-tump, tu-tump.​
All I could hear was my heart beating.​
There was something wrong.​
I couldn’t feel her.​
I couldn’t sense her.​
I couldn’t find her.​
My wolf was gone!​

The key to a good cliffhanger is that it should feel both surprising and inevitable - surprising in
the moment, but in hindsight, the reader can see how the story led to this point. It should also
be meaningful to the characters and their relationship, raising the stakes and creating tension
that makes the reader eager to find out what happens next. However, the resolution of the
cliffhanger should never feel cheap or unsatisfying - the ensuing actions or revelations should be
consistent with the characters and the established story.​