Thoughts on Story Premise

[khiemtran]

A good story premise is the point where the reader decides this can't possibly end dully. I'm stuck up a tree. Surrounded by wild dogs. The tree is on fire. Now it gets interesting. (I grab a burning branch and use it to drive away the dogs - Story!).

The story doesn't have to end the way the reader think it will, but it has to end at least as well as the premise alleges.