Organized by Storyteller B.Z. Smith of Hive-Arts.Org (209)532-7697 www.hive-arts.

org AND on Faceboo

STORY STRUCTURE VERY SIMPLIFIED

Based on "Story Structure" by Dan Harmon, juxtaposed with "The Hero's Journey" by Joseph Campbell

Remember the basic literary elements that are used to create a story?
SETTING
CHARACTERS
CONFLICT
PLOT DEVELOPMENT
CLIMAX
RESOLUTION
CONCLUSION
THEME.

But something is missing.

This list of essential elements is believable, even understandable, but it is flat and lifeless.
And GOOD STORIES are anything BUT flat and lifeless!

WHERE'S THE ACTION?--Discover it with The Circle of 8ths

How can we make it easy to analyze structure in action?
What if we could break a story's structure into 8 simple steps?

1) You
2) Need
3) Go
4) Search
5) Find
6) Take
7) Return
8) Change

A deeper look:
1) "YOU" THE CHARACTERS EMERGE IN A GIVEN SETTING! LIFE JUST "IS." THERE IS A
COMPLACENCY, AN ACCEPTANCE OF THINGS AS THEY ARE.
Who are we? A squirrel? The sun? A small sea coast town? America? A village of desert dwellers?

2) "NEED" THE CONFLICT IS ESTABLISHED! THERE IS A CATALYST.

Something is wrong, the world is out of balance. This is the reason why a story is going to take place.
• The YOU is a victim of someone else's curse.
• There have been increasing Great White Shark attacks off the shore.
• There is a drought and flora and fauna are suffering.
• There is a dream, but no money.
Joseph Campbell phrases: Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Supernatural Aid.

3) "GO" THE PLOT BEGINS, AS DOES INTERACTION WITH THE SETTING!

The "YOU" was in a certain situation ("NEED"). Now that situation changes ("GO").
• A hiker heads into the woods.
• Pearl Harbor's been bombed.
 Organized by Storyteller B.Z. Smith of Hive-Arts.Org (209)532-7697 www.hive-arts.org AND on Faceboo

• Someone sets out to find a new water source.

• The Dreamer gets a job to save money
Joseph Campbell phrase: Crossing of the Threshold

4) "SEARCH" THIS IS THE JOURNEY. ALONG THE WAY WE GET LOST. WE SUFFER
LOSSES. WE TAKE THE WRONG PATH. THERE ARE CHALLENGES, ENEMIES, OBSTACLES.
WE GET HURT PHYSICALLY & EMOTIONALLY. AND WE CANNOT SEE THE END AT HAND.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF EACH TURN.
The SEARCH is characterized by adapting, experimenting, being broken down
• A detective questions suspects.
• A group forms to travel together to search for water.
• A group of sea coast citizens decide to bring in a marine biologist/ shark expert.
• The Dreamer takes on several jobs, and gets cheated here and there.
Joseph Campbell phrases: Belly of the Whale, Road of Trials
Christopher Vogler phrase: Friends, Enemies and Allies.

5) "FIND" THE NEED FULFILLMENT IS WITHIN OUR GRASP. WE HAVE FINALLY IDENTIFIED
IT!
Whether it was the direct, conscious goal or not, the "NEED" from (2) is fulfilled.
• The water searchers discover a hidden dam.
• We can see the right key to the sacred lock.
• The biologist finds an anomaly in a micro-climate off the shore of the sea coast.
• The Dreamer has scrimped and saved, and finally has what she needs
Joseph Campbell phrase: Meeting with the Goddess
Christopher Vogler phrase: Approach to the Innermost Cave.

6) "TAKE" THE CATHARTIC MOMENT/ THE CLIMAX. IN SOME CASES THIS COULD MEAN TO
RECEIVE A GIFT.
The hardest part (both for the characters and for anyone trying to describe it). On one hand, there is
the price of the journey...
• The shark eats the boat.
• The water searchers begin to destroy the dam.
On the other hand, a goal achieved that we never even knew we had within our grasp...
• The shark now has an oxygen tank in his mouth.
• A rainbow appears over the dam and it begins to rain.
Joesph Campbell phrases: Atonement with the Father, Death and Resurrection, Apotheosis

7) "RETURN" THE RESOLUTION/ DENOUEMENT UNFOLDS OR UNRAVELS. THERE IS A

NARROW ESCAPE.
It's not a journey if you never come back. BUT on the road "home," you may decide to take
ANOTHER ROAD.
• The water searchers ride a raft, returning to their original spot. Then decide to continue their
journeys across the sea.
• A second shark suddenly emerges, and begins to cruise the coastline.
Joseph Campbell phrases: Magic Flight, Rescue from Without, Crossing of the Return
Threshold.
 Organized by Storyteller B.Z. Smith of Hive-Arts.Org (209)532-7697 www.hive-arts.org AND on Faceboo

8) "CHANGE" THE CONCLUSION, THE THEME/ UNIVERSAL MESSAGE IS REVEALED.

TRANSFORMATION. EMPOWERMENT. REDEMPTION. PERSPECTIVE. PURPOSE.
- The "YOU" is in charge of the situation again, but has now become a situation-changer. The NEED
is put in perspective for its glorious ability to call the YOU to action, or for the trivial insignificance that
it really held. Life will never be the same.
• The sea coast town realizes that they must find a way to accept and live in balance with The
Great White Sharks. They will do due diligence to address any human cause of the
environmental anomaly.
• The water searchers' legend is born, and carries a message of conservation, shared usage
and respecting the land and everyone's need for water.
• The son accepts his father's death, and finally understands that he was loved.
• The Dreamer's wishes are fulfilled, and everyone along the way gains.
Joseph Campbell phrases: Master of Both Worlds, Freedom to Live.

If you are unfamiliar with Campbell's "Hero's Journey," here is graphic that gives
a basic idea of how the journey to a good story progresses. The hero begins in
the ordinary world, then ultimately returns to that world, forever changed.

Follow the circle COUNTER-CLOCKWISE:

 Organized by Storyteller B.Z. Smith of Hive-Arts.Org (209)532-7697 www.hive-arts.org AND on Faceboo

The CIRCLE OF 8THS

Identify the building blocks for your story. Label each of the points on the Circle of 8ths
to use as a scaffolding as you begin to write and craft your story.

1. YOU_____________________________________________________________

2. NEED____________________________________________________________

3. GO______________________________________________________________

4. SEARCH_________________________________________________________

5. FIND______________________________________________________________

6. TAKE______________________________________________________________

7. RETURN___________________________________________________________

8. CHANGE___________________________________________________________
 Organized by Storyteller B.Z. Smith of Hive-Arts.Org (209)532-7697 www.hive-arts.org AND on Faceboo

PRACTICE SHEET FOR CREATING STORY STRUCTURE

Participant's Name:_____________________________________________________Date:__________

STORY TITLE:____________________________________________________________

CIRCLE OF 8THS

1. YOU_____________________________________________________________

2. NEED____________________________________________________________

3. GO______________________________________________________________

4. SEARCH_________________________________________________________

5. FIND______________________________________________________________

6. TAKE______________________________________________________________

7. RETURN___________________________________________________________

8. CHANGE___________________________________________________________
 Organized by Storyteller B.Z. Smith of Hive-Arts.Org (209)532-7697 www.hive-arts.org AND on Faceboo

EXAMPLE: The CIRCLE OF 8THS

STORY: "Coyote Rescues the Salmon: A Yokut Tale,"
from Back in the Beforetime by Jane Curry, MacMillan Pub Co., 1987
Identify the building blocks for your story. Label each of the points on the Circle of 8ths to use as a
scaffolding as you begin to write and craft your story.

1. YOU: COYOTE

2. NEED: TO FIND LOST SALMON

3. GO: GET SUPPLIES, INCLUDING "PRETEND FISH." AND CHOOSE A ROUTE

4. SEARCH: THERE ARE CATS, WHO LIVE IN THE HIGH COUNTRY NEAR A SECET WATER
SOURCE

5. FIND: YOU ARRIVE TO FIND THE CATS. THEN YOU DISCOVER THE HIDDEN SALMON.

6. TAKE: CONSIDER HOARDING THE SALMON FOR YOURSELF, BUT THEN REMEMBER THE
ANIMAL PEOPLE BACK AT HOME. YOU FREE THE SALMON!

7. RETURN: TRIUMPHANTLY, YOU HAVE DONE YOUR DEED AND YOU WATCH THE SALMON
RETURN TO THEIR RIGHTFUL HOME.

8. CHANGE: YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HELPING THE ANIMAL AND HUMAN PEOPLE.
YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN FOR YOU TRAVESTIES.

Once you have this basic information, you can now write a draft of your story. Even if you're
working from existing text, like in this example, sit and down and write your own version. This
will help bring the story to your own tongue!
As you try to block out timing for your full program, keep in mind that every 80 words of text
equals about 1 minute when spoken with good pacing.