7 Elements of Story Structure. See the video Here.
(In Story order. Consider them in Number order.)
2. Hook
Starting state Harry is orphan under
the stairs
4. Plot Turn 1 – Conflict is
introduced. Sets the story in motion.
Harry learns he is a wizard
There is a problem to be solved. Call
to adventure.
6. Pinch 1 – Apply
pressure to force the characters action
Troll attack in Harry Potter
3. Midpoint – moving from
reaction (running away) to action (do something about it)
Harry learns of Voldemort and
decides to fight against him
7. Pinch 2 – Applies
more pressure, things really get bad. the jaws of defeat.
Mentor is lost. Gandalf is gone.
Loss of everything.
Loss of companions. Ron and Hermione
are lost to traps in the dungeion
5. Plot turn 2 – Get the last
piece you need. The Clue that we need.
Luke. Use the force.
The power is in the shoes.
Grasping victory from the jaws of
defeat.
The shark has the tank in his mouth.
I am your father and I have human
emotion and I care about you.
The mirror puts the stone in Harry's
pocket.
1. Resolution
Start at the end.
Where is the story going Harry
defeats Voldemart
Plot (External conflict)
Character (Internal conflict)
Simple Growth Arc- Starts with
weakness, Ends with strength
Complex Shift Arc – One kind of
strength to another kind of strength
Other items
- Round characters
- Enrich environments
- Ice Monster prologue
- Try / Fail cycles
- Subplots
The Hero's Journey
- Hook. Hero has a sad boring life.
- Plot Turn 1. Hero becomes a role.
- Pinch 1. A bad guy attacks.
- Midpoint. Here learns the truth about something and swears to defeat the villain.
- Pinch 2. Companions fall to the villain, and hero is left alone.
- Plot Turn 2. Facing villain, hero discovers the power is in him.
- Resolution. Hero defeats villain.
Romance
Plots
Ends well
Tragedy Plot
Ends bad.
- Hook. Happy
- Plot turn 1. Iago swears destruction
- Pinch Point 1. Creates rumor of unfaithfulness
- Midpoint. Suspicion
- Plot turn 2. Othello Kills her
- Pinch Point 2.Othello finds she was innocent
- Resolution. Everyone Dies
Horror
- Hook. Narrator is sane
- Plot turn 1. Narrator decides to murder.
- Pinch Point 1. Narrator tries, but cannot do it.
- Midpoint. Narrator kills.
- Plot turn 2. Police come to house.
- Pinch Point 2. Hears heart still beating.
- Resolution. Narrator is insane
Ice Monster Prologue.
Action fighting ice monster in
prologue. Avoids boredom during the hook. Grabs them early.
Starts with space battle. Then lay the
foundation.
Try / Fail Cycles.
Victory must be earned. First time
success is too easy. Hero must try and fail multiple times.
Demonstrate consequences
Sometimes the cycles look like
victories. They are just en route obstacles
Plots and Subplots
More than one plot.
Each has the journey.
Each can follow the Action, Character,
Romance, or Betrayal plot form.
Important things in various plots
happen at the same time, but may be at different point of structure.
