How to tell stories Merlin Goldman

What is a story? Stories usually have a Beginning Middle End Some characters What is a story?

The Shapes of Stories https://youtu.be/oP3c1h8v2ZQ Kurt Vonnegut

A character exists in a place and something about it causes him to suffer. They realises they have to do something so they go on a journey which may or may not be physical. On their journey they confront obstacles which they may or may not overcome. They either learn something about themselves (= tragedy) or don’t (= comedy). Therefore there are 8 different endings. Recurring motif

Yes No *Yes Character gets what they want? Character gets what they need? Character learns something? Yes No *Yes * Luke Skywalker wants adventure. He needs companionship. He realises the value of friendship.

Wants vs. Needs Want need Something you’d like to have e.g. bigger TV All characters usually want something over and above their basic needs Wants vs. Needs need Something you have to have e.g. food Sometime the need can be so overwhelming it can drive the story e.g. survival

How do I write? Idea. Something that bothers you. Explore it. Let your subconscious work on it. Perform research Find a focus e.g. central character Select the best stuff Recognise an order Write a quick draft Edit How do I write?

Whether you follow these guidelines is up to you! There aren’t any But there are things you can do that should make your Plot more dramatic Your characters more rounded The story more fulfilling Whether you follow these guidelines is up to you! What are the rules?

Poetics Aristotle

"The real rules can be found in Aristotle's Poetics." Aaron Sorkin There are comedies, epics but tragedy is superior It should mimic real life We see representations of people worse, the same or better It should have a beginning, middle and an end You can have a plot without characterisation e.g. James Bond Structure

You can do anything to your characters but it should seem proportionate, however fantastical Scenes can be simple or complex Simple: a scene naturally follows the last one Complex: a scene involves new knowledge or an unexpected turn Complex scenes can include 1. Full knowledge 2. Partial knowledge e.g. attack wrong person 3. Partial knowledge to full knowledge Poetics: Structure

Poetics: Characterisation You don’t need to focus on a single character but if you do all their actions should be relevant to the plot The main characters should undergo a transformation Actions show character Characters should have some of these qualities Good Believable Likeable Consistent Symbols and objects can be powerful tools Poetics: Characterisation

Modern

Ten Questions Whose story is this? What do they want/need? What is the inciting incident? What does the protagonist want specifically? What obstacles are in the way? What’s at stake? Why should we care? What does the protagonist learn? How and why do they learn this? How does the story end? Ten Questions John Yorke

Excercise

Protagonist Profession Place Problem something you know or is familiar somewhere you know or we all know Problem wants something but can’t get it Protagonist

Antagonist The opponent to your hero He wants the same thing but for different reasons Or what he wants is at odds with what the protagonist wants He doesn’t have to be a he or a human e.g. Jaws. Can occasionally be multiple. Antagonist

Characterisation What do they love the most? What is their flaw? What is their conflict? How does it get worse? What bad decisions do they make? Characterisation

The clearest stories have two people who want the same thing but they both can’t have it. The cat sat on the mat The cat sat on the dog’s mat Exceptions? Summary

Beat An event, decision, or discovery that alters the way the protagonist pursues his or her goal.

Theme Stated Save the cat Opening Image Break into two Save the cat Act One (thesis) 10 Cards   Phases Set-up Debate Beat Required Opening Image Save the cat Theme Stated Inciting Incident Break into two Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Scene Description Beat Location Two (antithesis) 10 Cards B story Adventure Midpoint (False peak or collapse) 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 Bad Guys Close In Dark Night of the Soul All is lost (False defeat) Death 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 Three (synthesis) 10 Cards Finale Break into three Final Image 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 Theme Stated Save the cat Opening Image Break into two Save the cat Inciting Incident Time

Scenes Sequences Establishment Problem Possible Solution Action Crisis Resolution Scenes

Stories have different story arcs but usually revolve around one person seeking a solution but being prevented by something or someone else Characters should have familiar traits We show who they are through what they do Plots with more complexity have greater impact This can be achieved through action, reversals and surprises We can use sequences and beats to help us write scenes and structure our story Conclusion