Stories need structure. You don’t have to outline your story but the structure must be there. One of the essential pieces of story structure is the story obstacle or antagonist. As a writer, you know you need a strong obstacle to make a super story, but how does that work on paper? The Power of…… Continue reading Create Strong Obstacles to Make A Super Story
Category: Writing
Do You Know The Secrets of Successful Story-writing?
Yes, there are secrets to successful story-writing but don’t worry, the recipes aren’t hard. The ingredients are classic and simple. The directions aren’t difficult. The execution…well, that part’s up to you. Let’s start with the basic M-R unit. Story equals change…equals cause and effect…equals motivation and reaction. —Dwight V. Swain The Motivation-Reaction Unit Remember the…… Continue reading Do You Know The Secrets of Successful Story-writing?
Scenes, the Lego bricks of Story Structure
A child learns to use Lego bricks and builds a tower one brick on top of another. The older the child gets, the more he understands that interlocking the bricks makes a stronger structure. Her structures grow taller, sturdier, and more complex. So it is with understanding story structure. Scenes are the Lego bricks of story structure.
Because There Are Lies, Secrets, and Scars
The plot is what happens to your character. The story is about how your character reacts to the things that happen. It’s simple cause and effect, right? Hold on there. It’s not quite that simple. For the most effective story your forces of antagonism (see this post) and your character’s lies, secrets, and scars (see…… Continue reading Because There Are Lies, Secrets, and Scars
Lies, Secrets, and Scars Create Better Characters
The lies, secrets, and scars of your characters will give your stories power. What makes the story work is that emotion that ties it all together.