Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's Journey.
The Hero's Journey is the most usable story structure consisting of at least 106 stages and the template for successful contemporary stories, from Star Wars to Al Pacino Scarface to The Incredibles to War of the Worlds to The Dirty Dozen to Midnight Cowboy. The Hero's Journey is a valuable template because:
a) It attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) It gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Interpreted metaphorically and symbolically, it allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
One critical stage of the journey is the Final Conflict.
In the last act, the hero must finally battle with the antagonist.
Whether fiction or non-fiction, subtle or direct, psychological of physical, the confrontation follows a familiar pattern that encompasses time pressure, impossible dilemma, polarization, final antagonism, three catharses and possibly the Afterlife Act.
The Final Conflict contains 81 common steps that bring the story to a satisfactory close. This is very valuable, as the ending can be the hardest part of a story to write.
Often the hero is under time pressure to battle the antagonist. In classic good versus evil the antagonist will force the issue, by holding an ally hostage (Spiderman), attack with superior forces or similar. But time pressure is nearly always an element of every story, no matter what. In Midnight Cowboy for example, it is created by Ratzo Rizzo's illness and the need to get to Florida.
The antagonist will often put the hero in an impossible dilemma. He will have to save himself, his love or the world ? he cannot do both. This seemingly impossible task is overcome and prompts the antagonist to take the threat more seriously.
There is also usually a polarization between the good and bad. The difference between them is highlighted visually, verbally and symbolically. This helps the ultimate catharses (there are three) have more impact.
The three catharses allow the audience to attain maximum emotional fulfilment. Catharsis 1 usually involves the antagonist realising he has lost and pleading for mercy on some level. Catharsis 2 usually involves the death of the antagonist, following a deception to regain control. Catharsis 3 involves the death of the lieutenant or some symbol representative of the evil. This process is very obvious and common in Bond films, for example.
The Afterlife Act is less common in modern stories but it still has a valuable place (Out of Africa, Conan the Barbarian). It is an ending that briefly informs us what happens to the hero after we leave him. This will be discussed in another article.
The 81 common steps of the Final Conflict and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller.
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove ..It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
Ever wondered how the most successful children's book writers get... Read More
Every writer knows that the urge to write is not... Read More
In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More
It never ceases to amaze me when a prospective writer... Read More
Recently I was watching the Oprah show and it was... Read More
Arrogance has a bad rap. We think of arrogant people... Read More
Listen, consider this scenario.You have a deadline to honour. Time... Read More
Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read More
Every writer eventually develops her own unique style of writing.... Read More
Sure you can write, but can you write crisp, compelling... Read More
Taming the Book Proposal: The BasicsOh, that most maddening of... Read More
When you run an online agency for freelance writers, editors... Read More
A well-punctuated approach letter may make the difference between acceptance... Read More
One morning, you open your inbox and find several e-mails... Read More
Why would anyone want to write for trade journals? Aren't... Read More
There is no doubt that a staff writer enjoys advantages... Read More
You must write a hypnotic persuasion letter to help you... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
How to Start Your Story with a BangThe purpose of... Read More
I'm in the process of moving from one computer to... Read More
"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
I've just come back to work after nine glorious, sun-drenched... Read More
As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More
When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
Your query letter can be a deal maker or a... Read More
Remember the days when we wrote with pen and paper?... Read More
A frequent conversation I have with my writing clients is... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
Why should you consider creating a memoir of your personal... Read More
Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More
What to do when you get rejected.You've just finished your... Read More
In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More
There are many ways you can generate ideas you can... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?I have said above that if a... Read More
Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips,... Read More
Chaos and confusion come when established rules and procedures are... Read More
SALE, SAIL Sale is either offering something for purchase... Read More
Just about everyone is familiar with this beginning: "In the... Read More
DEFINITIONSRetail margin is basically the difference between your book's wholesale... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
Writing |