We watched Andrew Stanton's TED talk, "The Clues to a Great Story" (from 1 minute and 15 seconds onward) to develop a list of story writing guidelines.
Here is the list that we came up with.
- Make me care
- Make a promise that it will be worth the time (hook)
- Make the reader work for their meal, but hide the fact - unifying theory of 2+2, don't give them 4 (don't explain, just give all the steps to get there)
- Stories are inevitable but not predictable
- Every character has an itch they need to scratch – endless need or driving force, a spine, sometimes drive you to make good choices sometimes not.
- Change is fundamental; life is never static and stories shouldn't be either.
- “Drama is anticipation mingled with uncertainty” include conflict, doubt, desire to know
- Can you invoke wonder? The secret ingredient
- Have a strong theme running throughout
- Use what you know, express the values and experiences that run through you
Remember: Plot Quiz Wednesday up to page 154!! this is a few pages different than I put on the last blog, but go for this one!
