Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 16

ScribeMeetsWorld.

com
Presents

The Ultimate Story Structure Worksheet


Hey there, fellow scribe! If story structure has ever given you a headache, youre going to love this 16-page, 2-part worksheet. Its a trusty framework that will help you create a strong backbone for your story. You might even want to fill it out multiple times during your writing process. For example, you can answer the questions, at the very beginning, when you first think of your brilliant movie ideaand then later, after youve done more research on your story world. At first, you may not be able to answer every question. Thats okay. Write down as much as you can. Your creative genius will fill in the blanks eventually! For more screenwriting tips and story structure secrets, make sure to visit: scribemeetsworld.com I wish you much success on your screenwriting journey.

Part I: Concept In a nutshell, what is your movie idea?

Below, jot down all your initial thoughtsany images you see, lines of dialogue you hear, ideas for subplots, set pieces, character relationships, theme, etc. By the time you refine your idea, these may be discarded. But its good to keep a record of these story seeds. If you get stuck (especially at the end), these seeds often contain the perfect solution.

Briefly describe your hero.

What is his overall goal?

Who or what is stopping him from achieving it?

Whats at stake if he fails?

Now, rewrite your movie idea as a one-sentence logline. If you have difficulty, try using this simple logline formula:

An interesting hero must accomplish a goal (x), despite extraordinary obstacles (y), because of emotionallycompelling stakes (z).

Part II: Structure Inciting Incident What is your heros everyday world like?

What event changes everything (ie the inciting incident)?

Is this event: Passive? Disruptive? Personal? Causally linked to your first act break? Still puzzled about the inciting incident? Uncover the secrets behind this essential plot point with my fluff-free writing guide, Inciting Incident. Click here to learn more, or type this link into your browser: http://scribemeetsworld.com/inciting/

At what point in your heros life does your story begin?

How far in time is it from the inciting incident?

Optional: Does your story beginning occur on a special occasion? (This is what Hal Ackerman refers to as a propitious or auspicious event in Write Screenplays That Sellthe Ackerman Way.) Yes No If yes, what is the special occasion?

First Act Break What event concludes Act One (and begins Act Two)?

Do these events, in combination, directly lead to your hero taking a concrete step towards his goal? Yes No Can they be described as your logline in action? Yes No If the answer to these questions is no, choose a different pair of eventsor reword your logline. Do so below:

Optional: Does your first act break involve a change in geographical location? Yes No If the answer is yes, where does your hero journey to?

By the end of Act One, what background information does the audience know (about your hero, about your story world, etc)?

If you HAD TO, could you delay revealing any of this information until Act Two? How could you accomplish this?

To achieve his goal, does your hero need to assemble a team (OCEANS 11) or toolkit (HARRY POTTER AND THE SOCERERS STONE)? Describe the team and/or toolkit here.

When will this assembly occur? During Act One During the first half of Act Two (2A) Other Does this assembly lend itself to set pieces? Describe possibilities here:

A definition of a set piece, courtesy of John August: A scene or sequence with escalated stakes and production values, as appropriate to the genre. For instance, in an action film, a set-piece might be a helicopter chase amid skyscrapers. In a high-concept comedy, a set piece might find the claustrophobic hero on an increasingly crowded bus, until he cant take it anymore. Done right, set-pieces are moments you remember weeks after seeing a movie.

Midpoint The midpoint of Act Two is a fulcrum which usually takes your story into a new direction, and at the same time, frequently increases the stakes. What event could be the midpoint of your movie?

Does this event have set piece potential? Yes No If no, how could you tweak it to create a set piece?

In five words or less, what overarching principle could govern Act 2A? Examples: On the rundefensive (MINORITY REPORT) Please ex-boyfriend (LEGALLY BLONDE)

In five words or less, what overarching principle could govern Act 2B? Examples: Prove innocenceoffensive (MINORITY REPORT) Please herself (LEGALLY BLONDE)

At the end of Act Two, the hero is often described as being the furthest away from his goal. This low point is what I like to call the heros trough of hell. How could you dig a trough for your hero and completely destroy his odds of success? In what ways could you devastate him? Check all that apply: Physical peril/torture Capture Betrayal by a supposed ally Alienation from friend or romantic partner Unmasking of true identity Other

Need help figuring out your heros all is lost moment, ie his trough of hell? Discover how to combine pain, emotion, and paradox into a powerful Act 2 ending with my writing guide, Trough of Hell. Includes special tips for thrillers/action movies, comedies, and romantic comedies. Click here to learn more, or type this link into your web browser: http://scribemeetsworld.com/trough/

What is the silver lining of the major setback (or series of setbacks), which occurs at the end of Act 2? Does it enable your hero to learn new information, critical to achieving his goal? Does it force him to do the very thing he wanted to avoid, but which he must, in order to succeed?

Does your hero realize the lesson of his setback on his own? Yes No If no, who pushes your hero into that realization? Name him/her here.

Climax Does your hero have to conduct any last minute preparation before the climax? Like what?

Describe the climax of your story.

Where does it take place?

On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), how much set piece potential does your setting contain? 1 2 3 4 5

If your rating is 3, how could you change the setting to increase its set piece potential?

Does your climax fulfill genre expectations? How?

Does your hero receive assistance at the climax? Yes No If yes, from whom? And have you established the existence of this helpful personage beforehand?

Optional: Is there a moment within your climax, where it looks like your hero is going to fail? (This is what Blake Snyder refers to as the high tower surprise in Save the Cat! Strikes Back.)

Resolution How does your story end?

Yes No

A note on endings from Michael Hauge: the audience is willing to hear that life is hard, that life is sad, or even that life is tragic. But they dont want to hear that life is crap. Given a choice, give your movie a happy ending, because, by and large, happy endings sell. ~ Writing Screenplays That Sell

Have you wrapped up all loose ends: for your A story (main plot)? for your B story (subplot)? for your C story, etc? Have you given the audience closure?

Optional: Is this ending of your story the reverse of its beginning? Yes No If yes, how, specifically?

If you had to pick one image to end your story, what would it be?

Does this image reflect your storys theme? Yes No * * *

Good Luck with your story!

Вам также может понравиться