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 #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.
Q & A: Can a Hero Also Be His Own Nemesis?
After reading your “Conflict #4: The Nemesis” article and considering the “coming of age/personal development” story I’m writing, you have me wondering what you would think about…
QUALITIES OF A GREAT NEMESIS #3: Principled
Back in the Bronze Age, when I was a kid watching even more TV than I do now, one of my favorite series was The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.