Part 1: The Concept

Your story will be strongest if you know, in a nutshell, what your story is about. It's a good exercise... More

Part 2: Conflict

Every story must have conflict. You can make an experimental film that is only about images or sounds. But to tell a narrative story... More

Part 3: The Goal

Your main character(s) has to want something at the outset. The conflict arises in the character's pursuit of that goal. In a longer... More

Part 4: Theme

Good narrative stories generally have something to tell us about ourselves or our world. This is where the... More

Part 5: Escalation

It's probably not enough to have a great concept, a goal for the main character, or even a powerful... More

Part 6: Contrast

A plot develops through characters' failures and successes. As much as the overall arc of a story should escalate... More

Part 7: Endings

Yup, the best stories have them. Even a cliffhanger that leaves a lot of questions is an ending. It's an ending that says... More