Master the 5 Key Elements of Story

What role does character play in creating reader engagement in a story and what are some of the imperatives of your character? Before moving on to the next video, be sure to watch the attached excerpt taken from the intro to the film Amelie. Again, I've included two resolutions. Don't watch both. 

Here, we examine what objective or desire is, how it differs from a character's likes or dislikes, and what role it plays in the reader's engagement.

Without conflict, what are you left with? We examine the role of conflict and how it interacts with character and objective. 

For such a simple element, this concept is surprisingly complex (and neglected by too many writers). Here we explain what the right kind of action is. 

Why are stakes necessary, what different kinds are there, and how can we create stakes?

If all stories have the minimal elements, why aren't all stories equally engaging (putting aside personal taste)? Here, we examine how to ramp up each element. The workbook available after the next lecture includes some valuable resources to come out of this lecture. 

Where do we take this foundational understanding? My Momentum classes, based in these foundational elements, explore:

• Desire, the Driving Force of Story: Use Character Objective to Build Scenes

• Conflict, Tension, and Continuous Hooking: Build Momentum Scene by Scene, Page by Page, Paragraph by Paragraph

• Action and Non-action: Use Non-action to Add Momentum Rather Than Stall Your Story

• Pacing and Speed: Control Pace to Maximize the Reader’s Speed

• Setup and Payoff: Shape the Pieces of the Story Puzzle To Create a Seamless Whole

I give you some key questions to ask of successful stories and some questions to ask of your own story or story excerpts. Download the workbook and get started on examining your own story. You do not need a completed story to get started. A scene will do. And the five elements apply to any kind of storytelling--fiction, nonfiction; long-form, short-form. Email me with any questions: td@stormwritingschool.com.

The questions to ask of an effective story:

1. Is there a character you care about, and if so, why do you care about him?

2. What’s the character’s goal and what does he stand to lose?

3. What’s the big conflict, and what small conflicts does the character face?

Map it out for your story:

• Who’s your protagonist? Why would the reader care about your protagonist?

• What’s his/her objective for the whole story? What’s the objective for the chapter or excerpt you’re examining closely?

• What hurdles does your protagonist face in this chapter or scene? What’s the overarching conflict for the entire story?

• What are the consequences of failure? Or if you prefer, what kind of death is the character facing?

*** Be sure to download the workbook. Many past students have missed out on it, thinking the above questions are the only "practice activities" in the course.