Achieving the “So What?”Factor in your Narrative

You read a story, and after it ends, you are left wondering, “so what?

what’s the point of this story?”

“So What?”

You don’t want your reader to ask: “so what?”

Having the “so what” factor means that your reader understands the point, moral, or purpose of your

story. Let’s look at some examples…

“So What?”

Does this story have a “so what?” Example #1

When I was a little girl, my imagination created castles and forests and dragons. I made a sword out of a stick, and my mother would scream “go to your room!” whenever I tried to defeat monsters with it…because really the monsters were our three little dogs. I was happy to go to my room (sometimes) because the story would continue. I then became a prisoner waiting to be rescued by my loyal companions. I couldn’t wait to grow up, because I believed I would have real adventures just as exciting as the ones in my head.

Does this story have a “so what?” Example #2

When I was a little girl, my imagination created castles and forests and dragons. I made a sword out of a stick, and my mother would scream “go to your room!” whenever I tried to defeat monsters with it…because really the monsters were our three little dogs. I was happy to go to my room (sometimes) because the story would continue. I then became a prisoner waiting to be rescued by my loyal companions. I couldn’t wait to grow up, because I believed I would have real adventures just as exciting as the ones in my head. I’m thirty years old now, and there are no more castles or dragons in my life. When I first realized that real life isn’t as exciting as a story, it made me sad, but I’m no longer sad. I’m happy that we all get the chance to live in fantasy worlds while we are children. I know that I won’t be slaying dragons in the future, but at least I got the chance when I was a kid. Long ago, I used to be hero.

How to include a “so what”: (a point, moral, or purpose)

Tip: Answer one of the following questions somewhere in your story:

1. What did your character(s) learn? 2. How did your character(s) change? 3. How did your character(s) mature? 4. Why were the events of the story

meaningful or important to your character(s)?

5. What should your readers learn? 6. What do the events in your story tell us

about people / human nature?