Comments on: The Shape of a Story, and Why We Tell/Read Stories http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/ about the craft and business of fiction Thu, 24 May 2012 16:15:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129751 Ray Rhamey Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:07:41 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129751 Steve, now we're getting into definition of terms. The story you refer to fits the structure just fine. Once upon a time, a boy was a slave. That is his current life when the story opens. No, it's not described in detail, but that's where he is. These are broad strokes, Steve, a look at a consistent and viable pattern for stories. Every character starts somewhere, i.e., at a particular time and place his/her situation is so and so. The example you cite does not stray from that simple premise. However, if it's not useful to you, then don't use it. Steve, now we’re getting into definition of terms. The story you refer to fits the structure just fine. Once upon a time, a boy was a slave.

That is his current life when the story opens. No, it’s not described in detail, but that’s where he is.

These are broad strokes, Steve, a look at a consistent and viable pattern for stories. Every character starts somewhere, i.e., at a particular time and place his/her situation is so and so. The example you cite does not stray from that simple premise. However, if it’s not useful to you, then don’t use it.

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]]> By: Steve http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129740 Steve Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:38:17 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129740 Hi Ray and thanks for the response. You almost had me agreeing with you that this is one of several ways to look at a story, and might not apply to them all. But then you said: "It says that a story starts in some kind of status quo, then something happens to change things, there are complications, then action to resolve the unbalance, and then a resolution. Does any story fail to follow this basic “shape?” " With that, you are back to asserting the universal applicability of the viewpoint you present. Okay, here's a quick and dirty counterexample. Robert Heinlein's Citizen of the Galaxy begins with the slave boy Thorby being sold at auction to Baslim the Cripple, licensed beggar under the Mercy of the Sargon. (And, as we find out much later, secretly Colonel Richard Baslim of the X-Corps of the Terran Hegenomy, working undercover on Jubalpore to amass data on the slave trade.) We are shown nothing of Thorby's day-to-day life prior to this incident, although we are briefly told in later backstory that it consisted of cold, hunger and whippings in the hold of a slave ship. At several later points of the story, Thorby does indeed settle into a daily routine of sorts, but each time events intervene to move him on to the next stage of the story. So, I suppose the pattern you speak of exists within this story, in a sense, in the context of the subplots; but it is not the pattern of the story overall. Again, I have no problem with your viewpoint being useful and that many good stories probably follow that pattern. But I think it's important to acknowledge that there are other patterns which are also workable. -Steve Hi Ray and thanks for the response.

You almost had me agreeing with you that this is one of several ways to look at a story, and might not apply to them all. But then you said:

“It says that a story starts in some kind of status quo, then something happens to change things, there are complications, then action to resolve the unbalance, and then a resolution. Does any story fail to follow this basic “shape?” ”

With that, you are back to asserting the universal applicability of the viewpoint you present. Okay, here’s a quick and dirty counterexample.

Robert Heinlein’s Citizen of the Galaxy begins with the slave boy Thorby being sold at auction to Baslim the Cripple, licensed beggar under the Mercy of the Sargon. (And, as we find out much later, secretly Colonel Richard Baslim of the X-Corps of the Terran Hegenomy, working undercover on Jubalpore to amass data on the slave trade.)

We are shown nothing of Thorby’s day-to-day life prior to this incident, although we are briefly told in later backstory that it consisted of cold, hunger and whippings in the hold of a slave ship. At several later points of the story, Thorby does indeed settle into a daily routine of sorts, but each time events intervene to move him on to the next stage of the story.

So, I suppose the pattern you speak of exists within this story, in a sense, in the context of the subplots; but it is not the pattern of the story overall.

Again, I have no problem with your viewpoint being useful and that many good stories probably follow that pattern. But I think it’s important to acknowledge that there are other patterns which are also workable.

-Steve

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]]> By: Matches Malone http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129727 Matches Malone Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:19:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129727 Somehow, my comment Luv didn't register, so, here it is :) .-= Matches Malone´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WhoIsTheWatchmaker/~3/_y8JVWYGq-k/13-from-13-people-for-team-13-on.html" rel="nofollow">$13 from 13 people for Team #13 on December 13th</a> =-. Somehow, my comment Luv didn’t register, so, here it is :)
.-= Matches Malone´s last blog ..$13 from 13 people for Team #13 on December 13th =-.

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]]> By: Matches Malone http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129726 Matches Malone Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:18:45 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129726 This is simple stuff that should be obvious, however, most don't grasp the concept. There should be something about creating a character that's compelling as well.... This is simple stuff that should be obvious, however, most don’t grasp the concept. There should be something about creating a character that’s compelling as well….

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]]> By: Ray Rhamey http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129718 Ray Rhamey Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:04:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129718 Steve, there's no claim that this is THE "formula." Nor even that it's a formula. It's just a tool for how to think about the fundamental elements of any story. It says that a story starts in some kind of status quo, then something happens to change things, there are complications, then action to resolve the unbalance, and then a resolution. Does any story fail to follow this basic "shape?" For me, this elemental way of looking at it is a way to diagnose structural weaknesses in a story. Sorry if it's no help to you. Steve, there’s no claim that this is THE “formula.” Nor even that it’s a formula. It’s just a tool for how to think about the fundamental elements of any story. It says that a story starts in some kind of status quo, then something happens to change things, there are complications, then action to resolve the unbalance, and then a resolution. Does any story fail to follow this basic “shape?” For me, this elemental way of looking at it is a way to diagnose structural weaknesses in a story. Sorry if it’s no help to you.

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]]> By: Steve http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129707 Steve Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:20:23 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129707 I'm going to ask what I ask every time I see a story formula (and there are many floating around) If this it THE formula, then why are there so many successful published novels that don't follow it? -Steve I’m going to ask what I ask every time I see a story formula (and there are many floating around) If this it THE formula, then why are there so many successful published novels that don’t follow it?

-Steve

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]]> By: Wise words « After the first draft http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129645 Wise words « After the first draft Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:38:57 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129645 [...] in Uncategorized. Tagged: storytelling. Leave a Comment I just read a lovely blog entry over at Writer Unboxed. It mentions the words of a keynote speaker at the Write on the Sound Writers Conference: film [...] [...] in Uncategorized. Tagged: storytelling. Leave a Comment I just read a lovely blog entry over at Writer Unboxed. It mentions the words of a keynote speaker at the Write on the Sound Writers Conference: film [...]

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129618 Kristan Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:56:08 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129618 Fantastic post! Ever since taking screenwriting classes in college, I've drawn parallels between writing for print and writing for the screen, and I think being able to think in screenwriting terms helps me structure my stories. I love your example, and I think making a worksheet with those guidelines ("Because of this... Until this..." etc.) would probably help any writer, either in his/her brainstorming process, OR in his/her revising process (to make sure the story is coherent and on-track at all times). .-= Kristan´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kristanhoffman/~3/eRiLvv0fpFc/" rel="nofollow">All shapes & sizes</a> =-. Fantastic post! Ever since taking screenwriting classes in college, I’ve drawn parallels between writing for print and writing for the screen, and I think being able to think in screenwriting terms helps me structure my stories. I love your example, and I think making a worksheet with those guidelines (“Because of this… Until this…” etc.) would probably help any writer, either in his/her brainstorming process, OR in his/her revising process (to make sure the story is coherent and on-track at all times).
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..All shapes & sizes =-.

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]]> By: Mary E http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129581 Mary E Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:22:33 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129581 Someone mentioned The Writer's Journey--there is also a very good book on story structure for screenplays called Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. His description of the screenplay 'beats' is useful for all storytelling. Someone mentioned The Writer’s Journey–there is also a very good book on story structure for screenplays called Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. His description of the screenplay ‘beats’ is useful for all storytelling.

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]]> By: Tim Woods http://writerunboxed.com/2009/12/17/the-shape-of-a-story-and-why-we-tellread-stories/#comment-129569 Tim Woods Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:14:42 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/?p=2206#comment-129569 This is a great way to approach structure. Now all I need is a room full of people shouting out ideas. :-) Thanks for sharing this. .-= Tim Woods´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/timwoods/~3/DpKLxMRy4Yc/" rel="nofollow">The Music Video</a> =-. This is a great way to approach structure. Now all I need is a room full of people shouting out ideas. :-) Thanks for sharing this.
.-= Tim Woods´s last blog ..The Music Video =-.

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