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Writing Notes: The Shape of Story

by Christina Wodtke 

Start with Conflicted Characters

The character needs a goal, a motivation and a conflict.

The goal can be alien to your audience,

but the motivation must be shared by them, and

the conflict creates struggles that increase engagement.

Paint a Picture

Details transport you into the story.

The world disappears and you have a story play in your head.

Even though there are no literal pictures.

But be careful—Too many details and the story gets bogged down.

Make the Protagonist Suffer

“Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them - in order that the reader may see what they are made of.” (Kurt Vonnegut, How to Write a Great Story)

And when it can’t get any worse, make it worse before it gets better

The two key moments that create the peak of excitement in a story is the darkness before the dawn, and the dawn. 

The climax is the moment when the protagonist is either rescued or rescues themself.

In older tales, we saw a lot of Deux ex Machina (the hand of god) rescuing the hero. A hero could be rescued by luck, a partner, another hero…but modern audiences strongly prefer stories where the protagonist helps themself.

Resolution is Boring, Keep it Short

Interest grows with every additional conflict, but once the hero figures out the solution, our fascination collapses.

Don’t natter on while the audience’s mind is drifting.

Also Consider:

You need a good inciting incident to move your protagonist to action.

A setting is more than a place, it’s a situation and a moment in time. A vivid place has details.

Modern audiences prefer “return home changed” to “return home the same.”

EXAMPLES: ARCHETYPAL PLOTS ALONG THE ARC

Boy Meets Girl

Internal conflict is always satisfactory (e.g., she believes love interferes with his career, he believes love interferes with his beer.)

The crises usually revolves around betrayal — lying, cheating — and the climax shows it was a misunderstanding or we get atonement.

The struggle is always about them being separated.

The resolution is about binding them more tightly together than ever.

The Quest

You seek things, and find yourself.

Return home changed and don’t pass go.

Common elements include companions, a mentor, great losses and extreme character arcs.

The Underdog

Even though they do not have a shot in hell, the underdog wants something. They want it so bad.

Common elements include an enemy who blocks their path, and a coach who helps them forward.

In this case, they do not return home changed but rather move into a new life that fits their changed self.

Coming of Age

Naive person has the world teaches them a hard lesson, and they become a better person for it.

Struggle revolve around life sucking and then sucking more.

The hero grows and becomes better because of it, and via new understandings becomes competent.

In some tragedies, the world breaks them.

They can return home changed, but more often they move to a new life they have earned.

More Examples. Justice & Pursuit:

Weaving Multiple Plots:

Weaving multiple plots together to make subplots can further increase tension.

Multiple plots woven together makes the whole story not only unique but very compelling.

Why are there so few didboi stuff??? Im only on s3 + seen spoilers but it makes sense as a hc??

Im not informed enough so have some ori series headcanons (i am so very underinformed)

They havent figured out theyre a system yet

Tanah/gempa usually fronts during math lessons

The alters havent really strayed too much from the 'default'/host/singlet persona (im figuring it out) of boboiboy considering they havent really found a lot of their own interests yet

They currently think they just have a really bad and spotty memory (either in general or as a side affect) and think theyre prone to changes in interests and stuff based off their mood. Which adds to the confusion and makes it harder for them to figure out what they like

Fang being more observant as someone with training/experience(?? I got this from spoilers) notices some inconsistencies just enough to take note of in his head but not enough to point out or specify anything

Halilintar/petir holds some of the more traumatic memories (not a lot considering they havent experienced a lot yet)

Angin/taufan is the one who hangs out with kokotiam gang the most minus boboiboy (the elements really spend about the same amount of time with them. Angin just spends slightly more than the other two)

They think blanks in their memories and sudden 'mood' (actually alter) switches are normalish (like not common but not exactly uncommon or noteworthy)

Angin/taufan is/was actually somewhat pessimistic (see: multimonster ep where he decides theyre doomed)

I actually think he still is pessimistic to an extent but he tries to focus more on happier and fun stuff like games and all and just avoids that stuff completely

Tanah/gempa isnt as interested in games as the others

RELEASE THE SOUNDTRACK FOR EP 8!

PLEASE.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Isolation Starters

"Your friends are a bad influence on you."

"Why do you even need anyone else when you have me?"

"Your family doesn’t really care about you."

"You should spend more time with me instead."

"They’re just jealous of us."

"I don’t like it when you hang out with them."

"You don’t need them in your life."

"They don’t understand you like I do."

"Why are you always with them and not with me?"

"They’re just trying to come between us."

"You’re better off without them."

"I’m the only one who truly loves you."

"They’re talking behind your back."

"Why do you trust them over me?"

"I don’t want you to see them anymore."

"They don’t have your best interests at heart."

"They’re trying to ruin our relationship."

"You’re not allowed to see them."

"I’m all you need."

"They don’t appreciate you like I do."

When A Character Is in love they…

can't stop thinking about the other person.

smile for no reason.

feel nervous and excited around their crush.

go out of their way to do nice things for the person.

get lost in daydreams.

blush at the mention of their crush's name.

feel a warm, fluttery feeling in their chest.

constantly check their phone for messages.

have trouble focusing on anything else.

write or doodle the person's name absentmindedly.

feel a surge of happiness when they see their crush.

replay their interactions over and over in their mind.

Manipulative Starters

"If you loved me, you’d do this."

"Everyone else thinks it’s a good idea, why don’t you?"

"I’m the only one who cares about you."

"Without me, you’d be nothing."

"You’re so lucky to have me."

"Nobody else would put up with you."

"I’m the best thing that ever happened to you."

"You owe me this."

"I sacrificed so much for you."

"Remember all those times I helped you?"

When A Character Is dealing with anxiety they…

"I can't breathe... I need to get out of here."

"Why is my heart racing like this?"

"I'm sorry, I just can't focus right now."

"What if something goes wrong? What if I mess up?"

"I need to calm down... deep breaths, deep breaths."

"Can we talk later? I just need some time alone."

"I keep overthinking everything."

"I know it's irrational, but I can't help it."

"Please, don't leave me alone right now."

"Every little thing feels overwhelming."

"I feel like I'm losing control."

"Is there a way to make this stop?"

Showing 'Anticipation' in Writing

Fingers tapping rhythmically on a surface.

Shifting weight from one foot to the other.

Checking the time frequently.

Eyes darting to the door or window expectantly.

Taking deep, excited breaths.

Biting the lower lip in nervous excitement.

Rubbing hands together eagerly.

Whispering, “I can’t wait” to themselves or others.

Fidgeting with objects, like twisting a ring or playing with a pen.

Heart pounding with eagerness.

Perking up at any noise that might signal the anticipated event.

Smiling slightly, as if imagining the future moment.

Knees bouncing up and down while seated.

Glancing at their phone or watch repeatedly.

Clutching a piece of clothing or accessory tightly.

Standing on tiptoe to get a better view.

Ears straining to catch any sound.

Swallowing nervously, throat dry with excitement.

Humming or softly singing to pass the time.

Practicing a speech or action they are looking forward to.

off with whoever is in control's head

I feel like we can all come to the conclusion that the reason why all Hoyoverse characters are practically GLOWING NEON LED skin tones, is because someone in the higher ups is changing things last minute. look at all the concept arts, they were accurate and diverse skin tones. paler characters like alhaitham probably had an undertone, and candaces clothes actually stood out from her skin. the natlan characters all look very strange until you darken their skin colour, then their outfits make sense. what I'm trying to say is that it might not be the design team being horrifically ignorant, but whoever is in control of them being horrifically colorist, if not just outright racist.

oh dear God Tumblr I said "not interested" no get off my dash

Genshin Impact | Ajaw & Kinich

me in my futuristic novel

writing tip #3598:

the correct response to 'no one speaks like that in real life' is 'yet'. no one speaks like that in real life yet

Idc what the poll results say, Punk Border was MADE for this song

The fact that these outfit concepts never include shoes never ceases to confound me

wdym this ain't happening in the show

“Series finale!”

suddenly I switch up after years

I don't get ideas per se, I ask them to suggest reasons why did that happen

You will not use AI to get ideas for your story. You will lie on the floor and have wretched visions like god intended

there is a STORY in my HEAD and I cannot WRITE IT. tredha and gera.

there is an IMAGE in my HEAD and i cannot DRAW IT. hatred and rage.

Leon at the olympics

iiiiiiii love the song iiiiiiiiii love these costumes iiiiiiiiiiii love natsumi

ehehehhe I am very happy with how it came out very so bright and shiny happy birthday to oni-natsuuuu

This is probably how nori looked when sharing her visions with khan

Reference:

HAHAHAHAHAHA