#118: How To Find The Major Dramatic Question Of Your Story
Nov 28, 2023
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Discover the importance of the Major Dramatic Question (MDQ) in storytelling, and how it engages readers. Explore how genre determines the MDQ, and see examples from 'Yellow Face'. Learn how the MDQ guides writing, editing, and publishing, and how it can be used in book covers, social media posts, and teaser email copy.
The major dramatic question (MDQ) is the driving force behind any story, serving as the central question that readers should be asking from the beginning and getting answered by the end.
The MDQ plays a crucial role throughout the writing, editing, and publishing process, helping to keep the story focused, guide the protagonist's actions and conflicts, identify scenes that contribute to answering the central question, and aid in creating effective back cover copy and marketing materials.
Deep dives
Importance of the Major Dramatic Question
The major dramatic question (MDQ) is the driving force behind any story, serving as the central question that readers should be asking from the beginning and getting answered by the end. It is crucial in creating conflict, keeping readers engaged, and providing narrative drive. The MDQ differs based on the story genre, such as survival in an action story, love in a romance story, or uncovering a criminal in a crime story.
Personalizing the MDQ for Specific Stories
While every genre has its generic MDQ, it is important to personalize it for each specific story. Examples from different genres, like 'Fourth Wing', 'Ugly Love', and 'Yellow Faced', show how the MDQ is tailored to fit the unique goals and conflicts of the protagonists. Each scene aims to answer the central question, moving the characters closer or farther away from their ultimate goals.
Utilizing the MDQ in Writing, Editing, and Publishing
The MDQ plays a crucial role throughout the writing, editing, and publishing process. During drafting, it helps keep the story focused and guides the protagonist's actions and conflicts. When editing, it helps identify scenes that contribute to answering the central question while removing anything that doesn't serve the story. In publishing, it aids in creating effective back cover copy and marketing materials, giving potential readers a clear idea of the story's premise, as seen in the example of 'Fourth Wing'. Overall, identifying the MDQ is essential for every stage of storytelling.
“Every story has one main question that it raises in the beginning and answers by the end.” - Savannah Gilbo
In this latest podcast episode, we'll explore a fundamental element of storytelling: the Major Dramatic Question (MDQ). From the outset of your story, readers should be gripped by this central question. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[01:31] Savannah talks about why the major dramatic question (MDQ) of a story is a helpful question for writers and how you can find the MDQ of your story.
[04:27] What's going to help you write a story that's full of narrative drive (the thing that keeps readers turning the pages)?
[08:12] Once you know your story's Major Dramatic Question (MDQ), what do you do with it?
[09:44] How your story’s MDQ can help during the publishing process and can pique a potential reader's interest.