The Anatomy of Story by John Truby

In a previous post, I stated that we didn't need to buy another book on writing because we could learn from the "master" authors themselves by studying and emulating their work.  Well, I found a book worth buying and reading.  It's called "The Anatomy of Story" by John Truby.

John covers 22 steps to becoming a "master storyteller".  Unlike most other books on writing fiction, his book contains many examples on the principles he writing about.  For example, the chapter on Scene Weaving (Outlining) is worth the price of the book because he shows how the order of the book scenes can significantly effect the quality of the story and shows you how to order scenes for a better story.

If you were like me, I wrote in a 3 Act format where my beginning was good, my ending was OK to good, I had a few good plot twists, and the rest of the story just limped along. And if you still insist on a 3 Act format, then John's book can provide valuable insights into the concepts such as character motivation, conflict, growing conflict, etc. which seem a bit nebulas in other books.

I am now reviewing several of my stories and plan to revamp/rewrite one based on John Truby's book.

Progress Update #2

Well, I know that I have not posted in about 2 months.  However,  work, paying the bills, and illness have kept me busy.  I must admit that I have not written or read too much in the last 60 days or so.

I have renewed my resolve to follow my passion of writing, and I hope to have some new posts in the near future.

Aristotle's Incline

Most stories and movies are formatted into what's called a 3 Act format:

Act I
In Act I, the characters are set up and the (primary) conflict is defined.  If you're writing a novel, then Act I is about 1/3 of the book.

Act II
In Act II, the conflict builds and the characters are deepened.  Act II is usually a bit longer than Act I.


Act III
In Act III, the conflict builds until the final climax.
 
 
Opening Scene (Beginning of Book):
Start with a dramatic scene; something that will hook the reader's attention.

Plot Point #1:

Plot Point #1 occurs at end of Act I.  It’s a scene or a moment in a scene that grabs the action and throws it into a new direction (usually a plot twist).

Midpoint:

The scene or moment when “Something happens.” The Midpoint is a dramatic action or a change direction (plot). The Midpoint anchors 2 other chain of events: one leading up to the midpoint and the other leading away from it. These chain of events change direction at the midpoint.  For a character it could be the point at which they "change."  For a mystery it is point at which the story changes from deepening mystery to unrevealing of the mystery.

Plot Point #2:

Plot Point #2 occurs at the end of Act II.  Like Plot Point #1, it’s a scene or a moment in a scene that grabs the action and throws it into a new direction (usually a plot twist).

Catharsis (Climax Scene):

The high point of the story when it “explodes” while it reveals and releases—a purging of emotion, theme, symbols, and character.  All the major characters should be involved and the hero (protagonist) should be doing the large action.  

Wrap-up Scene (End of Book):
Try to create a unforgettable final scene that uses images and symbols from the story.  Also try to frame the scene with the opening scene

The Elements of a Plot

As you've noticed I like acronyms when trying to remember things.  I came up with the acronym CHAOS to remember the elements of a plot:

C - Change
H - Hero
A - Aristotle
O - Opposition
S - Story Line


Change:

If nothing is changes, then you have a boring story. Your character needs to change (grow) or the environment needs to be changing (e.g., action adventure).


Hero:
I use the word “hero” to refer to the fact that very story needs to have a believable and likeable hero (protagonist). Along with the hero, other characters are needed for the plot (e.g., villain [or antagonist], hero’s helper, etc.).


Aristotle:
This refers to Aristotle’s Incline and is a way to format the story. Most stories, TV series, and movies are based on a 3 Act format. Next time you watch an hour long TV series, look at the clock when the plot twists and climax occur. A plot twist usually occurs at 15 and 45 minutes and the climax around 55 minutes. Think this is an accident?


Opposition:
They say that tension is what fuels a plot. And the best way to create tension is to have opposition. If your hero needs an item, then tension will be created if the hero cannot get the item.


Story Line:
The story line is the sequence of the scenes or story events.  It focuses on the larger action, primary character movitations, etc.

Recording Your Ideas

We're not always at our computer typing away, so how can a person record their ideas or work about their stories when away from their computer?

Notebooks
Some people carry 8.5" x 11" notebooks or steno (shorthand) pads. The notebook not only contains the story, but notes on plot and characters.  It's an inexpensive option, but it's not always convenient to carry around a notebook.

Index Cards
Other people use index cards.  They're like the notebook but more portable, though you need to keep the cards in order.  You can have different cards for plot, characters, etc.  If you rewrite or change something then you can just get ride of the old card.  It has the main advantage of writing the summary of a scene on a card and then being able to reorganize them at will.

Phone
My phone has a voice record feature that I sometimes use to record things when I can't write it down.

iPad
The iPad is a good alternative to a notebook.  I can't type as fast as on a computer, but it's faster than handwriting and I don't need to type in my hand written notes.