Disney's much hyped adaptation of Beauty and the Beast was released at the weekend. The film broke box office records with an estimated $170 million, making it the seventh largest opening weekend of all time. It's a story that engages your emotions and keeps you hooked to the end. I was discussing the film with someone today who … Continue reading What we can learn from Beauty and the Beast About Plot, Tension and Obstacles
Tag: plot
Here are 25 thoughts on creating stories, in no particular order: A lot of things have beginnings, middles and ends — but that doesn’t make them stories. True stories have two parts: first something bad happens, second something bad is fixed (or a fix is at least attempted) Plot-driven and character-driven stories don’t really exist; all stories are … Continue reading Story is Everything
What is a story arc and why is it important? A story arc is the episodes within a storyline; it is the narrative structure of a book or a story (or even a film, or a series of TV episodes). It is the rising and falling of tension, and the pacing and timbre of a plot. … Continue reading Narrative Arc: Shaping Your Story
The more I write, the more I am aware of the variety of elements involved in creating a compelling story. These elements are all individual parts but they have to be pulled together to work effectively. Alone, each part would sound musical, lyrical, but together they create a depth of sound which cannot be created … Continue reading What Do Authors Have in Common with Orchestra Conductors?
“Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.” ― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing Character description is crucial to a good story that is both readable and convincing. For a reader … Continue reading Creating Believable Characters
