storytelling toolwhat to consider when working on a content project
storytelling toolwhat to consider when working on a content project
THE HOW, THE WHO AND THE WHAT
storytelling toolwhat to consider when working on a content project
THE HOW, THE WHO AND THE WHATACTIONABLE CHECKLIST BEFORE TO MAKE SURE YOU THOUGTH OF EVERYTHING
CONTROL
THE READER THE STORYTELLER
who controls the story?
STORY TIME: who controls the story time, i. e. the time when the story can be experienced?CHOICE: who controls the choices within the story?PLACE: who picks where the story is going to unfold?LENGTH: who decides what is the length of the episode or the whole story?
where lies the control of different story elements?
CONFLICT
who is against who
THE HERO
THE OPPONENT
OBJECT
is someone who tries to get something or achieve a certain goal
the hero is most easily defined when juxtaposed to some external forces (like time) or other character seeking the same object
there is no conflict if there is nothing to seek or to
gain – we need an object that holds a specific value within the story world and
for the hero and opponents (like the one ring to rule
them all)
DRAMA
dramatic arches
1st DRAMATIC ARCH
2nd DRAMATIC ARCH
drama builds when you increase the odds – every time you increase the odds, the viewer or listener is more and more unsure of the outcome. Doubt is a storytelling weapon.
dramatic arches
1st DRAMATIC ARCH
2nd DRAMATIC ARCH
drama builds when you increase the odds – every time you increase the odds, the viewer or listener is more and more unsure of the outcome. Doubt is a storytelling weapon.
build the tension gradually and remember that a loss that occurs early in the narrative only increases the tension later
the rule is simple: the next conflict has to be bigger than the previous – end with a bang not a whimper
INFORMATION
REVEAL
EXPOSE
INTERFERE
HIDE
stories are not about telling, but about hiding something till the right moment – the imbalance of knowledge between the storyteller and the listener is what drives the story. Where are different strategies to managing information
show or hide?
REVEAL
EXPOSE
INTERFERE
HIDE
you might hint at the fact that the information is there, but not allow to see it fully
show or hide?
you can choose to expose the information, i. e. disclose the end of the story
you could omit crucial information altogether without anyone suspecting that it exists
you would be able to show the information indirectly, through other story cues
ARCHETYPE
recognizable structures
good vs evil
effort vs inaction
known vs unknown
obscurity vs success
corruption vs purity
going from one state to another or the essential conflict between the two states gives the backbone to the story and makes it relatable and understandable
CHANNELS
telling
showing
remember that redundancy is a sin in a story – use the channels in such a way that they would contribute but not duplicate each
other – sort out what information is being presented in which channel and how the overall narrative becomes more that the
sum of its parts
VS
TIME
THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY
BACKWARD
FORWARD
moves in both directions
stories don’t just move forward – they can jump back and forth. A story unfolds in both directions, into the future as
much as into the past.
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