Let's start discussing the second of Stephen Sondheim's principles: "God is in the details." That's another way of saying something I've said several times in this blog -- it's how you express your idea that matters more than the idea itself.
For example, I might want to create a comedy about a group of friends in their 20s living in New York. But depending upon the details of who the characters are I might create "Friends," or "How I Met Your Mother." If I make the group older and have one of them be a comedian I might create "Seinfeld." All of these shows have a very similar basic premise, but became hits because of the character details that the writers, producers, and the actors created that made these characters live for the audience.
The great creative artists care about every detail when they create a show. Not just the words of the script, but the set and costume design. Not just the design, but the props that the actors use - - what brand of coffee they drink and what type of coffee maker do they use? A compelling, memorable story is the accumulation of lots of evocative details. No detail is too small for you to ignore; every detail you choose to put into your story is significant.
You may not get everything right in your first draft of your content. (I hope you do, but not everyone does). Stephen Sondheim keeps looking for ways to improve his songs even after his shows open, and sometimes after they close. As you keep working to improve your piece, think about how the details you're adding advance your story and make your content more compelling.
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