Finding the Spark for Seoulmates: A Journey into Storytelling

Eric Lupis
Jul 4
4 min read

Updated: Aug 19

Steven Spielberg once said, "All good ideas start out as bad ideas." That's truly inspirational, although I can't see Jaws ever being a bad idea—unless you’re sitting in a rowboat fishing out at Montauk Point with nothing but a line and tackle. Not so inspiring, right?

But turning any idea into a full narrative takes more than just inspiration. For my first real idea, Seoulmates (working title), the spark came from my fascination with South Korea's pop culture breakout party and its capital city's vibrant culture. More personally, it stemmed from my own heart and soul. I wanted to explore the idea of two people separated by thousands of miles of ocean but still connected by fate in a city that never sleeps.

Themes Worth Exploring

I aimed to delve into themes of deep connection, cosmic attraction, identity, individuality, tradition, and the unexpected ways lives can intersect. There’s also heartbreak, friendship, true love, and, of course, comedy.

Starting a feature narrative is a challenge filled with excitement and uncertainty. When I began working on Seoulmates, I knew it would be a journey of discovery, creativity, and learning. This post shares a bit of my experience crafting this story, the creative choices I made, and the lessons I learned along the way.

Whether you’re an aspiring writer or simply curious about the process behind storytelling, I hope this insight encourages you to take your own creative steps. And remember, it's all a work in progress.

Laying the Groundwork

To develop this story, I started by asking some questions:

Who are these characters?
How much of me are they?
Do I have the right?
What truly brings them together?
How does each character's home city shape their story?
And how much of my city shapes me?

Answering these questions helped me build a solid foundation. I created character profiles, noting their backgrounds, motivations, attributes, and flaws. This step made the characters feel real and gave me a clear direction for the plot.

Structuring the Narrative

With characters in place, the next step was structuring the story. I chose a three-act structure to keep the narrative focused and engaging. It’s what I learned in film school and what almost every storyteller I consider a mentor has taught me since I started watching cinema.

Act 1: Introduction — Establish the characters and setting, introduce the conflict.
Act 2: Development — Deepen relationships, introduce an inciting event or obstacles the protagonist needs to overcome.
Act 3: Resolution — Resolve obstacles and conflicts through a sharp climax and reveal a human message through deep character growth and well-placed subtext.

This structure helped me pace the story and maintain tension. I mapped out key scenes on index cards, which I could rearrange easily. Okay, I didn’t do the index card part, but I really wanted to! I did use a whiteboard over my desk, and this visual approach made the plot clearer. It allowed me to spot gaps or pacing issues early and gave me accountability for the goals and deadlines I set for myself at the very start.

Writing with Authenticity

One of my goals was—and still is—to portray the city of Seoul authentically. To achieve this, I immersed myself in research:

Reading books and articles about Seoul’s neighborhoods and culture.
Watching Korean films and dramas for atmosphere and dialogue style. (I recommend Bad Guy (2001) by director Kim Ki-Duk (RIP).)
Bad Guy (2001 Film))
Listening to local music to capture the city’s mood (very fun).
Of course, speaking with close friends who live and work there. Bogosipda!

This research influenced details like setting descriptions, character habits, and dialogue. For example, I included scenes set in popular spots like Bukchon Hanok Village and Hongdae, which added texture and realism.

Overcoming Creative Challenges

Writing a feature narrative is not without obstacles. I faced moments of self-doubt and writer’s block. To push through, I used several strategies:

Setting small goals: Writing 500 words a day kept me moving forward.
Freewriting sessions: When stuck, I wrote without editing to unlock ideas.
Seeking feedback: Sharing drafts with trusted friends helped me see blind spots.

These approaches kept the momentum going and improved the story’s quality.

Editing and Refining

Understanding that the first draft is really just the start is crucial. After completing multiple drafts, I shifted to editing. This phase involved:

Cutting unnecessary scenes to tighten the plot.
Clarifying character motivations.
Enhancing dialogue to sound natural and purposeful.

Editing took longer than writing because it required stepping back and viewing the story objectively. I also read the narrative aloud to catch awkward phrasing and rhythm issues.

Lessons Learned from Seoulmates

This project taught me valuable lessons about storytelling:

Patience is essential: Writing a feature narrative takes time and persistence.
Research enriches storytelling: Authentic details create immersive worlds.
Flexibility helps: Being open to changing plot or characters improves the story.
Feedback is a gift: Outside perspectives reveal what works and what doesn’t.

These lessons will guide me in future writing projects.

Encouragement for Aspiring Writers

If you’re thinking about writing your first feature narrative, remember that every writer starts somewhere. Begin with a clear idea, build your characters, and structure your story. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or rewrite sections. Writing is a process of discovery.

Try these tips: