Premise

The core engine of a story in a sentence or two: who wants what, what stands in the way, and why it matters.

A premise is not a plot summary — it's the compressed dramatic core that everything else grows from. A good one names the protagonist, their want, the central obstacle, and the stakes, tightly enough that you can steer a whole draft by it.

A vague premise produces a vague book (and vague AI suggestions, if you write with a tool). Sharpening it early is some of the highest-leverage work in fiction. (See how to write a strong story premise.)

Example

'A guarded ex-nurse takes one last criminal job to clear her brother's debt, and it goes wrong in a way that exposes the lie her family is built on.'

See also: How to write a strong story premise

Related terms

Premise — definition & example · Muze Writer