The Ultimate

Story Structure

Worksheet Hey there, fellow scribe!

If story structure has ever given you a headache, youre going to love this 17-page, 2-part worksheet. Its a trusty framework that will help you create a strong backbone for your novel or screenplay.

You might even want to fill it out multiple times during your writing process. For example, you can answer the questions, at the very beginning, when you first think of your brilliant ideaand then later, after youve done more research on your story world.

At first, you may not be able to answer every question. Thats okay. Write down as much as you can. Your creative genius will fill in the blankseventually!

For more writing tips and story structure secrets, make sure to visit:

scribemeetsworld.com

I wish you much success on your writing journey.

ScribeMeetsWorld.com

Presents

Part I: Concept

In a nutshell, what is your story idea?

Below, jot down all your initial thoughtsany images you see, lines of dialogue you hear, ideas for subplots, set pieces, character relationships, theme, etc.

By the time you refine your story idea, these initial thoughts may be discarded. But its good to keep a record of these story seeds. If you get stuck (especially at the end), these seeds often contain the perfect solution.

Briefly describe your hero.

What is his profession?

What is his overall goal?

Is this goal SMART? Ie, is it:

S - Specific? (its concrete, not abstract)

M Measurable? (it has a clear indicator of success or failure)

A - Actionable? (a few action steps immediately come to mind)

R Realistic? (its credible for your hero to accomplish it)

T - Time-bound? (it contains a built-in deadline)

If your heros goal isnt specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound, use the space below to revise it accordingly. For more details, read this: http://scribemeetsworld.com/2014/screenplay-writing/hero-goal/

Who or what is stopping your hero from achieving his goal?

Whats at stake if your hero fails?

Now, rewrite your story idea as a one-sentence logline. If you have difficulty, try using this simple logline formula:

An interesting hero must accomplish a goal (x), despite extraordinary resistance (y), because of emotionally-compelling stakes (z).

Note: dont describe your heros goal using all of its SMART attributes. Be as specific as you can, while balancing clarity with conciseness.

Part II: Structure

Inciting Incident

What is your heros everyday world like?

What event changes everything (ie the inciting incident)?

Is this event:

Passive?

Disruptive?

Personal?

Causally linked to your first act break?

At what point in your heros life does your story begin?

Time-wise, how far away is your story beginning from the inciting incident?

If you HAD TO, how could you begin your story closer to the inciting incident?

Optional:

Does your story beginning coincide with a special occasion? (This is what Hal Ackerman refers to as a propitious or auspicious event in Write Screenplays That Sellthe Ackerman Way.)

Yes

No

If yes, what is the special occasion? If no, would using a special occasion as a backdrop enhance your story? How?

Still puzzled about the inciting incident?

Uncover the secrets behind this essential plot point with my fluff-free writing guide, Inciting Incident: How to Begin Your Story & Engage Audiences Right Away.

Click here to learn more, or type this link into your web browser:

http://scribemeetsworld.com/inciting/

First Act Break

Describe the events which conclude Act One (and begin Act Two).

Do these events, in combination, directly lead to your hero taking a concrete step towards his overall goal?

Yes

No

Can they be described as your logline in motion?

Yes

No

If the answer to these questions is no, choose a different pair of events for your Act One ending/Act Two beginningor reword your logline. Do so here:

Optional:

Does your first act break involve a change in geographical location?

Yes

No

If the answer is yes, where does your hero journey to?

By the end of Act One, what background information does the audience know (about your hero, about your story world, etc)?

If you HAD TO, could you delay revealing any of this information until Act Two? How could you accomplish this?

To achieve his goal, does your hero need to assemble a team (OCEANS 11) or toolkit (HARRY POTTER AND THE SOCERERS STONE)?

Yes

No

If yes, describe this team and/or toolkit here:

When will this assembly occur?

During Act One

During the first half of Act Two (2A)

Other:

Does this assembly lend itself to set pieces? Describe possibilities here:

A definition of a set piece, courtesy of John August:

A scene or sequence with escalated stakes and production values, as appropriate to the genre. For instance, in an action film, a set-piece might be a helicopter chase amid skyscrapers.

In a high-concept comedy, a set piece might find the claustrophobic hero on an increasingly crowded bus, until he cant take it anymore. Done right, set-pieces are moments you remember weeks after seeing a movie.

Midpoint

The midpoint of Act Two is a fulcrum which usually takes your story into a new direction, and at the same time, frequently raises the stakes.

What event could be the midpoint of your story?

Does this event have set piece potential?

Yes

No

If no, how could you tweak it to create a set piece?

In five words or less, what overarching principle could govern Act 2A?

Examples: On the rundefensive (MINORITY REPORT)

Pursue ex-boyfriend (LEGALLY BLONDE)

In five words or less, what overarching principle could govern Act 2B?

Examples: Prove innocenceoffensive (MINORITY REPORT)

Pursue professional advancement (LEGALLY BLONDE)

All Is Lost, aka the Trough of Hell

At the end of Act Two, the hero is often described as being the furthest away from his goal. This low point is what I like to call the heros trough of hell.

How could you dig a trough for your hero and completely destroy his odds of success? Check all that apply:

Unmasking of true identity

Capture

Physical peril

Banishment

Alienation from friend or romantic partner

Betrayal by a supposed ally

Other:_________________________________

Kurt Vonnegut once advised writers to, Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to themin order that the reader may see what they are made of.

At the end of Act Two, have you been cruel to your hero (in a way which is genre-appropriate)?

Yes

No

What kind of pain does your hero endure? Check all that apply:

Physical pain

Emotional pain

Psychological pain

Psychic pain

What is the silver lining of the major setback (or series of setbacks) which occurs at the end of Act Two?

Does it, for example, enable your hero to learn new information, critical to achieving his goal? Does it force him to do the very thing he wanted to avoid, but which he must, in order to succeed?

Does your hero realize the lesson of his setback(s) on his own?

Yes

No

If no, who pushes your hero into that realization? Name him/her here.

Need help figuring out your heros all is lost moment, ie his trough of hell?

Discover how to combine pain, emotion, and paradox into a powerful Act Two ending with my writing guide, Trough of Hell: How to Wrap Up the Middle of Your Story with Maximum Impact.

Includes special tips for thrillers/action movies, comedies, and romantic comedies.

Click here to learn more, or type this link into your web browser:

http://scribemeetsworld.com/trough/

Climax

Does your hero have to conduct any last-minute preparation before the climax? Like what?

Describe the climax of your story. Whom does your protagonist confront?

How does your story climax fulfill genre expectations?

Where does it take place?

On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), how well does the setting enable you to fulfill genre expectations?

1

2

3

4

5

If your rating is 3, how could you change the setting to increase the ability of your climax to fulfill genre expectations?

Also, how could this setting help you keep the protagonist and his antagonist well-matched? (See the question below.)

How do you plan to balance the power between your protagonist and his antagonist so your protagonist can, (assuming a happy ending), win?

Remove the protagonists mentor

Divest the protagonist of his mass people

Divest the antagonist of his mass people

Fortify the protagonist through illusory mass people

Change the setting

Restrict either partys magical or special powers

Other: ____________________________

(For an explanation of mass people, and for more details on this topic, read this: http://scribemeetsworld.com/2015/writing-tips/gripping-screenplay-novel-climax/)

Is there a mini all is lost moment within the climax where it seems like your protagonist is about to fail? Describe it here.

Note: I call this moment the false defeat. You mayve heard it referred to as the high tower surprise (Blake Snyder) or a eucatastrophe (JRR Tolkien).

How will your protagonist extricate himself from this dicey

predicament?

How do you plan to make the climax feel escalated in comparison to previous story events?

For tips on crafting a climax which thrills and delights, check out Story Climax.

With it, youll learn:

--how to build your story climax on a strong foundation

--about 2 criteria at the core of the climax which are crucial to fulfill to avoid disappointed audiences

--about 3 quality control tests your climax must pass to earn audiences enthusiastic seal of approval

Click here to learn more, or type this link into your web browser:

http://scribemeetsworld.com/climax/

Resolution

How does your story end?

Have you wrapped up all loose ends:

For your A story (main plot)?

For your B story (subplot)?

For your C story, etc?

Have you given the audience closure?

Yes

No

Optional:

Is the ending of your story, in some way, the reverse of its beginning?

Yes

No

A note on endings from Michael Hauge:

the audience is willing to hear that life is hard, that life is sad, or even that life is tragic. But they dont want to hear that life is crap.

Given a choice, give your movie a happy ending, because, by and large, happy endings sell.

~ Writing Screenplays That Sell

If yes, how, specifically?

Briefly explain the theme of your story.

If you had to pick one image to end your story, what would it be?

Does this image reflect your storys theme?

Yes

No

* * *

Good Luck with your story!