I'm gearing up teaching my online classes for the year and I thought I'd post about storytelling structure. I cover this topic in my Basics of Romance Writing and Characterization and Plot workshops.
Some of you know how much I love writing books by the late Jack M. Bickham and if you do, too you'll recognize this information.
A story is more than a jumble of words on the page. For anyone serious about their writing, this aspect of the craft needs to be understood and implemented.
Storytelling Structure
Information from Jack M. Bickham and Dwight Swain
Storytelling structure provides a life-like reading experience. To achieve this read through these check points and see if you have all the needed elements. I may have included this information elsewhere but this is so important, I’m probably repeating myself.
1. It is lived moment-by-moment, with no summary. Developed through stimulus and response.
2. It is lived from a singled viewpoint.
3. It is lived now.
4. It is lived with the knowledge that what we do has results.
*All novels are written in scene and sequel.
Scene Pattern: goal, conflict, disaster.
Scene as above in the storytelling structure is ACTION. Scene provides excitement, involvement but it has structure. The goal is clear, specific and attainable now.
Every scene starts with a goal and the goal statement raises a scene question in the reader’s mind.
Sequel Pattern: Emotion, quandary, decision. Once a decision is made and acted upon it leads you right back into scene.
Sequel allows summary, transition, skipped time, logic with emotion and characterization.
The next time you're reading a book or watching a movie, see if you can spot scene and sequel and how the writer utilized this to the best effect.
Hugs,
Tambra Kendall/Keelia Greer
7 comments:
This makes a lot of sense to me. When I plot out a book, I write down specific scenes and what I'm trying to accomplish with them. Then I add little sequels to fill everything in with emotion, reaction, etc. That's the only way I can do it :)
I only wish I could be this savvy when I write, LOL. By that, I mean that I could deliberately, consciously, aim for this structure. But I just write. Which unfortunately means that if scene isn't working, then I have to pull it to bits to analyze it. Takes much longer that way. Grrr....
Hi Kaylea,
I find it fascinating how we all use the same information.
I try to figure out what high points are in the story and then I work like Maree does, by just writing.
Its great you've found a combination of ways to get you where you want to be with your story.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Tambra
Maree,
You're probably already be doing some of this naturally. Like you, I seem to be a combination plotter. I plot what I can and then pantser the rest. I read over and then figure out what the problem is.
You're right, about having to go back and fix things. But for me, I guess the pantser part is the fun part of the journey. If I knew everything that happnened I would be bored.
Hugs,
Tambra
Yeah, this does make a lot of sense. I am going to see if I can see it in my own writing. I don't think my thought process works this way, but the story doesn't always stop in the front of my brain. Sometimes it goes from ether to fingers and I don't even know what I've written. LOL.
Great info - thanks. Yes - it does make sense.
Structure? Ah-choo, I'm allergic. But I'm trying to reform. Good review of some basics I needed to touch back on, Tambra, thank you!
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