Pixar, that ever lovable, movie company tells some pretty great stories. One person has collected a great list of how Pixar writes a great story.
From the list of 22(!) story points here’s numbers 4 through to 7:
#4: Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.
#5: Simplify. Focus. Combine characters. Hop over detours. You’ll feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.
#6: What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the polar opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?
#7: Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front.
If you’re interested in how to generally get a grasp on how to make your story engaging and worthwhile you ought to check out the list.