FOLLOW THE PAIN
Not a great recommendation for celebrating the holidays, I know. But if you want to find great stories to tell, this is the key. I first came up with the phrase “follow the pain” during a presentation.
STORY ESSENTIALS #9: Transformation
“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” CHINATOWN, screenplay by Robert Towne. This final line, from one of the greatest scripts ever written for Hollywood.
STORY ESSENTIALS #8: Aftermath
Humanity is drawn to stories because they provide us with entertainment, enlightenment, emotional experiences and escape from our everyday lives.
STORY ESSENTIALS #7: The Climax
Let’s talk about sports…. I know, this is supposed to be about storytelling, but bear with me – even if you have no interest in sports at all.
STORY ESSENTIALS #6: Conflict
When you create a story for the page, stage or screen, your primary objective must always be to create an emotional experience for your readers and audiences.
STORY ESSENTIALS #5: A Goal
Great stories are driven by desire. The hero of the story wants something, and the story is about the actions that character takes to achieve it.
STORY ESSENTIALS #4: Opportunity/Crisis/Tipping Point
Great stories are driven by desire. The hero wants something, and the pursuit of that goal keeps readers and audiences emotionally invested in its outcome.
STORY ESSENTIALS #3: Empathy
As soon as you introduce the hero of your story, you must begin creating empathy with that character. Empathy is an absolutely critical component of drawing readers and audiences.
STORY ESSENTIALS #2: A Setup
Every successful story begins with a setup – a sequence that introduces us to the hero, living his or her everyday life before beginning the journey that will define the story.
STORY ESSENTIALS #1: A Hero
Your successful story must have a hero – a protagonist that your readers and audiences will be captivated by, identify with, and root for as he or she strives to achieve some compelling desire.