The main info
Genres of my book:
Main:
Sub:
Central questions:
Romance - Will these two individuals get together and live happily ever after?
Worldview - Will the protagonist change their worldview or stay stuck in an outdated way of
thinking?
Where should my story start?:
Love Stories:
Start: (with the meeting of two separate individuals)
End: (with the two individuals getting together in a romantic relationship (or not))
Worldview (Coming of Age) Stories:
Start: (with a challenge to the protagonist’s worldview)
End: (with the protagonist losing some of their innocence but developing a deeper
understanding of the world and their place in it.)
What is a Worldview story?
As Shawn Coyne demonstrates in the Story Grid Gas Gauge of Need, a Worldview story is
driven by the protagonist’s need for self-actualization. When Worldview is your primary genre,
your protagonist is not concerned with staying alive (as in an Action story), or with safety and
security (as in a Crime story), but with fulfilling their talents and their potential, making sense of
the world, and understanding their role in it.
The Six Core Questions:
1. What’s the genre?
Time – How long will the story last? Is this a short story, novella, or novel?⟶
Reality – How far will I need to suspend my disbelief? Does this story take place in the real
world, a made-up world, or a combination of the two?⟶
Style – What style is this book written in, or how will I experience this story? Is this a comedy? A
drama? A literary work? An epistolary piece told through letters or diary entries?⟶
Structure – How will this story be structured? Is it an arch-plot following the hero’s journey? A
mini-plot? An anti-plot?⟶
Content – What is the general content of this story? Is it primarily a love story? An action story?
A coming-of-age story? A murder mystery? A fast-paced thriller?⟶
2. What are the conventions and obligatory scenes for that genre?
Main: WORLDVIEW
Obligatory scenes:
A scene where the protagonist's worldview is threatened or challenged.⟶
A scene where the protagonist commits to the wrong thing (their want vs. need).⟶
WANT:
NEED:
A scene where the protagonist sees the truth (or part of it) but chooses to ignore it.⟶
A scene where the protagonist realizes they can't run from the truth any longer.⟶
A scene where the protagonist embraces the truth and sheds their outdated worldview.⟶
A scene where the protagonist's loss of innocence is rewarded (it's usually bittersweet)⟶
Conventions:
A mentor figure that can guide and support your protagonist.⟶
A protagonist with an outdated worldview or some kind of false belief.⟶
Social problems or moral challenges for your protagonist to face.⟶
At least one shapeshifter character who says one thing and does another.⟶
An internal change within your protagonist that leads to an updated worldview.⟶
A confrontation with the adult world (no matter the age of your protagonist).⟶
An emphasis on friendship.⟶
External pressure from friends, family, or society to be a certain way.⟶
Secrets kept from your protagonist or by your protagonist.⟶
A bittersweet ending⟶
Sub: ROMANCE
Obligatory scenes:
A scene where your characters meet or first appear on the page together.⟶
A scene where your characters share their first kiss or their first intimate moment.⟶
A scene where one or both of your character confesses their feelings for the other.⟶
A scene where your characters break up or separate temporarily.⟶
A scene where one or both of your characters prove their love for the other.⟶
A scene where your characters come back together and reunite.⟶
Conventions:
A love triangle or a rival love interest.⟶
Helpers and harmers (aka those for and against the relationship).⟶
A specific external goal that drives the story forward.⟶
Masculine and feminine sensibilities (or different ways of approaching love).⟶
An external force of conflict that comes from outside of your character.⟶
An internal force of conflict that comes from inside of your character.⟶
Secrets kept from your protagonist or by your protagonist.⟶
Intimacy rituals that bring the couple together (ex: shared traditions, jokes, etc.)⟶
A change within the protagonist so that they can finally open up to true love.⟶
A happily-ever-after (HEA) ending.⟶
3. What’s the point of view?
4. What are the objects of desire?
EXTERNEL (what she WANTS) :
INTERNAL (what she NEEDS) :
5. What’s the controlling idea or theme?
6. What’s the beginning, the middle, and the end?
EXERCISE: 2-3 sentence summary of the beginning, middle and end
(Romance - Will these two individuals get together and live happily ever after?
Worldview - Will the protagonist change their worldview or stay stuck in an outdated way of
thinking?)
BEGINNING:
MIDDLE:
END:
THE BEGINNING (25%)=This is where you introduce your protagonist, the world they inhabit,
their goals, and what’s at stake if they fail to achieve their goals. The purpose of the beginning
section is to hook the reader into your story and make them care about your protagonist.
Inciting Incident – (something that upsets the balance of the protagonist’s life)=
Turning Point Progressive Complication – (something that forces the protagonist to react and
results in an irrevocable change)=
Crisis – (a question or dilemma that arises after the Turning Point)=
Climax – (the decision made in response to the Crisis question)=
Resolution – (the result of the decision)=
THE MIDDLE (50%)=This is where the stakes are raised as the protagonist is forced to take
risks as they pursue what they want and/or need. They must face obstacles, master new skills,
and learn the lessons needed to face the upcoming climax. The purpose of the middle is to
ready your protagonist for the ultimate confrontation with the antagonistic force.
Inciting Incident – (something that upsets the balance of the protagonist’s life)=
Turning Point Progressive Complication –(something that forces the protagonist to react and
results in an irrevocable change)=
Crisis – (a question or dilemma that arises after the Turning Point)=
Climax – (the decision made in response to the Crisis question)=
Resolution – (the result of the decision)=
THE END (25%)=This is where you tie together all the threads of your story, answer all the
questions raised in the beginning and middle, and resolve the story’s central conflict. The
purpose of the ending section is to pay-off everything that was set up in the beginning and
middle in a way that leaves the reader feeling satisfied.
Inciting Incident – (something that upsets the balance of the protagonist’s life)=
Turning Point Progressive Complication –(something that forces the protagonist to react and
results in an irrevocable change)=
Crisis – (a question or dilemma that arises after the Turning Point)=
Climax – (the decision made in response to the Crisis question)=
Resolution – (the result of the decision)=
SAVE THE CAT OUTLINE
Step 1: Divide Your Target Word Count Into 3 Acts
First Act (10,000 x.25) = about 25,000 words
Second Act (10,000 x.50) = about 50,000 words
Third Act (10,000 x.25) = about 25,000 words
Step 2: Divide Each Act Into Scenes
If you don’t know how many words per scene you write on average, use a target word count of
1,500 words per scene
First Act (25,000 words / 1,500-word scenes) = about x scenes
Second Act (50,000 words / 1,500-word scenes) = about x scenes
Third Act (25,000 words / 1,500-word scenes) = about x scenes
In total: about x scenes
Step 3: Figure Out Where the 15 Story Beats Go
Opening Image – 0% to 1% = x scene=(there is something we don’t know/understand about the
protagonist’s life but we will soon find out, meaningful action in your opening scene of what is
your protagonist’s life like right now)
Theme Stated – 5% = x scene =
Setup – 1% to 10% = x to z scene=
Work:
Play:
Catalyst – 10% = x scene=
Debate – 10% to 20% = x to z scene=(home, work, play - you want to show how your
protagonist is going to react in all 3 aspects of life)
Break Into Two – 20% = x scene=
B Story – 22% = x scene=
Fun and Games – 20% to 50% = x to z scene=
Midpoint – 50% = x scene=The midpoint is a single-scene beat in which three super important
things happen:
First, this is where the fun and games beat culminates in either a false victory or false defeat.
Second, this is where the stakes are raised making it even harder for your protagonist to go
back home.
And third, this is where the A and B stories cross.
Bad Guys Close In – 50% to 75% = x to z scene=
All is Lost – 75% = x scene=
Dark Night of the Soul – 75% to 80% = x to z scene=
Break Into Three – 80% = x scene=
Finale – 80% to 99% = x to z scene=
Final Image – 99% to 100% = x to z scene=
Step 4: What Happens in Each Beat?
