Writing a story from front-page headlines provides readers an opportunity to feel, explore, and imagine themselves as characters who experienced the event. The writer borrows information from a real event to create a distinct and unpredictable story. A fictitious character who journeys through a newsworthy ordeal makes an incredible story.

The challenge has two parts:

How much can a writer use legally without being guilty of plagiarism?

How can the newsworthy article be used to create an intriguing story?

At first glance, the prospect is intriguing. The facts and research are documented, and adding characters and fiction to tell the story should be . . . easy. But the process requires skill and technique.

How does a writer weave fact and fiction to accomplish the goals of an unforgettable story?

A novelist’s goals are the objectives necessary to ensure a desired result.

• A character who steps into a reader’s heart and takes permanent residence. He or she is a real, three-dimensional, feeling, thinking, acting person who has a dynamic backstory that explains behavior in the present.
• A plot that identifies a problem and employs a complicated means of solving it. Twists and turns move the story line forward.
• A strong point of view expressed by the character who has the most to lose in any given scene.
• A credible display of character emotions motivated by the past, present, passion, personality, and persuasion.
• Dialogue linked to genre, culture, setting, and detailed characterization.
• A setting with strong antagonistic characteristics.
• A climax that explodes naturally from all the events leading up to the black moment.
• A critical resolution designed to meet reader satisfaction. It must tie all the loose ends and answer all the questions.

With the above criteria, how does a writer incorporate front-page headlines into an amazing story?

The key is character. What kind of person has the most to gain if the story goal is successful? The same person must also have the most to lose. Like the people in the headlines, the character lives in a similar situation and is struggling above insurmountable odds to change or impact people’s lives.

The plot doesn’t have to match the front-page headlines. Take a seed from what’s been planted and make it part of your character’s life. Those fascinating media articles help us create either a similar or remote story idea.

Point of view is always the writer’s choice. The front-page headline may inspire the writer to add to what’s already been stated, interview any of those from the article, or establish a unique point of view.

Emotions keep the reader turning pages. Life experiences influence how a character reacts and responds to different moments. A writer uses the plot and the character’s personality to establish emotions.

Dialogue carries much of the story’s action. The character’s spoken words are influenced by the situation, personality, and how the situation has impacted the problem.

Setting is often an overlooked gold mine. The story setting must be antagonistic to the protagonist in order to overcome obstacles and experience growth and change. Like a true villain, the setting appears to be charming, enticing, and can turn on the character in a flash.

Climax is the black moment. The front-page headline shows the real event, but it’s up to the writer to use this crisis or develop one similar. This is where the writer shows the protagonist may most likely fail.

Resolution gives the reader time to take a breath and appreciate the hard work of the character(s). Writers review the article again. Does the story resemble the headline? Has the writer added depth and insight into a real event?

The prospect and process of creating a story from a front-page headline is a challenge worth the hard work. Are you up to the task?

Thanks so much for sharing, DiAnn – great insights!

Heather Lawrence’s long-awaited vacation to Salzburg wasn’t supposed to go like this. Mere hours into the transatlantic flight, the Houston FBI agent is awakened when passengers begin exhibiting horrific symptoms of an unknown infection. As the virus quickly spreads and dozens of passengers fall ill, Heather fears she’s witnessing an epidemic similar to ones her estranged husband studies for a living—but this airborne contagion may have been deliberately released.

While Heather remains quarantined with other survivors, she works with her FBI colleagues to identify the person behind this attack. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s husband. The Lawrences’ marriage has been on the rocks since Chad announced his career took precedence over his wife and future family and moved out.

As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to hunt down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected.

Read Necee’s review of Airborne here.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her most recent novel, Airborne, released from Tyndale in April 2020.

DiAnn’s titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her FBI: Houston series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014. Connect with DiAnn at diannmills.com.

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Buy at Amazon: Airborne or Koorong