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The Dance of the Divine Where Story Arc and Character Arc Meet
WWW.AARONMRITCHEY.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM\THENEVERPRAYER [email protected]
Story Arc – Old School Greek CoolExposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Dénouement
Sets up story and ends with inciting incident
Hook me!
Obstacles, problems, trouble
Show me conflict!
Comedy-things go bad. Tragedy-things go well.
Show me huge change!
Moment of reversal after the climax, final suspense.
Start wrapping things up
Conflicts are resolved. Catharsis.
Give me a feeling a that lingers
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New School Story Arc Now in Technicolor!
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Story Arc – Save The Cat!
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Classic Character ArcClassic Character Arc• a call to adventure - accept or decline?• a road of trials• achieving the goal or boon (self-knowledge)• a return to the ordinary world• application of the boon
Thank you , Mr. Campbell
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The Don’s Character IdeasThe Don’s Character IdeasThree Types of Characters
EverymanClassic HeroDark Protagonist
Internal conflict – When does your character want what they most desire and when do they want the exact opposite?
What in your character’s past has hurt them the most? What is the mystery?
What in your character’s life could dramatically change them forever? No going back.
Thank you, Donald Maass
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Save the Cat Save the Cat Character StuffCharacter StuffThe trick is to create a character who…
Offers the most conflict in that situation
Has the longest way to go emotionally
Is the most demographically pleasing.
Thank you, Blake Snyder, wherever you are.
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PuppiesPuppiesPet the puppy. What makes the heroine the
heroine? Why should we care?
Kick the puppy. What makes the villain the villain? Why should we hate her?
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My Character Arc My Character Arc QuestionsQuestionsWhat does my heroine most want?
What does my heroine most fear?
What is the worst thing that could possibly happen to my heroine?
Thank you, Battlestar Galactica
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Story Arc and Character ArcACT I ACT II ACT III
What does your character most want?
How is your character weak or strong?
Pet the puppy scene\kick the puppy scene.
Becoming the Hero – The Big Decision
What does your character most fear? Show me through the obstacles.
How is your character changing because of the obstacles? Handling good times\bad times.
What is the worst thing that can happen? Make it happen and leave us in darkness.
How has your character changed in order to get out of the dark moment?
How has your character grown in order to defeat the villain?
What unique perspective into the human condition has your character gained?
Confirm the theme\answer all story questions.
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Story Arc and Character Arc Use character for a strong opening – what is it about the character that makes us
want to love her?
Use character for Act II – trials and obstacles that make the character grow
Use character to create dark moment – what is the worst thing that can possibly happen?
Use character for climax – How has the character grown so they can defeat the villain?
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BibliographyBibliography The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Screenplay: The Foundation of Screenwriting by Syd Field
Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling by Donald Maass
Story by Robert McKee
The Never Prayer by Aaron Michael Ritchey
Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
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