It helps to know the terms of the craft when writing a story. Concept, premise and story are not the same things. Confusing them or using them interchangeably is a common mistake, but one that weakens writing. In this two-part series, we’ll explore what each of these terms means and how to use each technique to build stronger stories.
Defining Terms:
Concept
A concept is the barest idea, the random thought that sparks the imagination. It’s the what if question that drives curiosity. Concept is not story or premise. It represents that raw kernel of inspiration. The spark. Nothing more.
Premise
A premise is what you put in a book blurb to grab attention. It’s the logline. It contains a bit more than the concept, but is mainly designed to hook an audience. Think of it as the pitch. The few words used to sell an idea. It alone is not deep enough to sustain a story to its fruition, but it does put it on the right path and helps sell the idea to others.
Story
Story is the realization of what came before. While the concept sparks the imagination and the premise starts the story-building process, they are not story. Rather, the premise is the nugget of the story, the seed that grows into a full-fledged story. The story contains the entire plant. The plot, character development, theme, conflict, resolution.
Let’s break it down by looking at some examples:
Concept Examples
These are the what if questions. What if a man tried to run away without leaving home? What if there were demons in the world that needed to be conquered? What if you could write a book about what it was like to be in a successful rock band in the 1970s?
It’s also the I wonder queries. I wonder how dictionaries are put together? I wonder what it’s like to work in a convenience store?
The concept should include some details that elevate it from boy meets girl (common) to something richer and more nuanced, such as zombie boy meets girl. This lifts the concept out of the mundane and allows for more complex storytelling.
Premise Examples
The premise takes those concept ideas and develops them into loglines or pitches. The premise takes the concept from the simple idea to a short description tor blurb that has the power to get you to sit down and read or watch. The premise is the logline that guides the story and gives you what you need to sell the idea.
Some premise examples include the following:
A grieving man takes one last adventure to fulfill his late wife’s dream without leaving his house or memories behind.
Pixar’s Up.
A desperate boy becomes a demon slayer to slay the demon who turned his sister and find a cure to make her human again.
Demon Slayer Anime/Manga
A successful 1970s band talks about their glory days and breakup in a VH-1 Behind the Music format.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
A shy man joins a team putting together a dictionary and finds how to express himself.
The Great Passage by Shion Miura (Anime and book)
A woman discovers herself and her truth in terms of her life as a Japanese convenience store worker.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
In the next blog, we’ll look at what makes a good premise and story.