The Essential Ingredients of Every Complete Story

In order to wind up the dramatic potential for a story, an Author must answer eight essential questions. In this episode, we cover the first two ingredients of an effective narrative.

Stories are not simply about three-dimensional characters bumping up against rising tension. Rather, they model the human mind's problem-solving process in an attempt to argue the effectiveness of a particular point-of-view. The closer a story mirrors this process the clearer it's message and the less likely an Audience will sense there are any story "holes".

We also take our first look at the animated film The Little Prince and offer a suggestion for improving the narrative drive that seems to die out towards the end of the film.

Links and Show Notes

• The Audience Appreciations of Story series of articles covering story points from the Audience's point-of-view
• From Logline to Treatment E-Mail Course sign up now and start developing that great story idea!
• How to Tell If Your Main Character Faces Overwhelming or Surmountable Odds the balance of two story points helps determine the essence of dramatic tension in a story
• What the Inciting Incident of a Story Really Is the difference between Inciting Incident and the Story Driver
• Robert the Bruce is Not the Main Character of Braveheart Robert the Bruce the Main Character? Ehhh.....
• How to Build a Strong Narrative great explanation of the inequity within a story
• The Little Prince fails to soar L.A. Times critic Charles Solomon's review of The Little Prince

Narrative First theme by Alex Hull. Hear more on his Soundcloud, Operation Solace