Novel Premise Generator

The Premise: Your Story's Foundation

To put it simply, a story can be told in a few sentences through a premise. When a reader reads a premise, they understand what to expect from the novel and become interested in reading the entire book. The central character, the conflicts they face, and how they confront these conflicts are usually highlighted in a premise.

Since a premise is essentially a clear, concise summary of a story, a well-written premise helps an author stay focused on the main story while writing. In addition to providing this benefit to the author, it also helps with book sales if it can catch the readers' attention.

What points should we focus on when writing a Novel Premise?

1. Central Character/Characters: The main character or characters of the story strongly desire something or face a very difficult situation. Their desire is so powerful that they are compelled to do something.
2. Conflict: Society, state, family, etc., mentioned in the story, or another specific character, obstructs the main character from reaching their goal, or the main character has to face some kind of challenge. These types of conflicts create tension in the story and keep the reader engaged.
3. Stakes: The character risks losing something if they fail. The consequences must be personal and either terrible or immense, and they must be related to their fear or goal.
4. Theme: The core idea or message hidden deep within the story. It can be love, power, freedom, revenge, identity, or any fundamental truth that gives the story a deeper meaning beyond its surface events.

Here are some examples of premises for best-selling books:

“A young orphan boy discovers he is a wizard and must attend a magical school while facing the dark legacy of an evil sorcerer” – from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. This sets the stage for a fantasy story about growing up, exploring ideas of friendship, courage, and the fight between good and evil.

“A brilliant but troubled Harvard professor of symbology races against time to solve a murder and uncover a hidden religious secret that could shake the world” – from The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. This creates a fast-paced thriller that looks at faith, history, and the conflict between science and religion.

“A teenager in a futuristic world takes a virtual reality game to its limits, where winning means survival in both the digital and real world” – from Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. This sets up an exciting virtual adventure that also touches on themes of escaping reality, finding yourself, and the strength of imagination.

“A young woman returns home after her sister’s death and uncovers dark secrets about her family, her town, and herself” – from Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This provides the foundation for a psychological thriller that delves into themes of trauma, family problems, and hidden violence.

A Practical Guide for New Writers

Here’s a simple process advised by experts.

Step 1: Turn a Vague Idea into a Seed

Start with a concept that excites you. Think about what you love (or dislike) in your favorite books and movies. Then sharpen the idea with a &ldquowhat if” question. For example:

What if a small-town detective realizes every clue in a murder case points back to his own wife?

Protagonist: the detective

Conflict: solving the murder while facing family ties

Stakes: justice vs. loyalty

Step 2: Use the Three-Question Framework

Ask yourself three questions to develop the seed into a premise:

Why? What motivates your character? Why are they the “least likely hero”?

(Example: Why would his wife be behind the murder?)

What? What is the character’s goal? What are they trying to achieve?

(Example: Winning, mastering, or protecting something.)

How? How will they try to reach that goal? What obstacles will they face?

(Example: Dangerous missions in a spy story or emotional struggles in a romance.)

Step 3: Test and Refine the Premise

Once you have a draft premise, check if it’s strong enough for a full novel by asking:

Does it create enough material for a full story?

Can the main character change in a meaningful way?

Is the world and situation rich enough to explore?

Does it feel unique and believable?

Will it keep readers hooked?

What Experts Say

Stephen King, a famous author known for writing horror novels, mentioned in his book "On Writing" that writers don't need a strict outline. They start with a situation or a "What if" question and follow its lead. According to him, a writer's job is to dig up the stories buried underground.

According to Neil Gaiman, fiction presents a true story about society through the author's made-up stories.