Book: Story Engineering (Larry Brooks)
Six core competencies:
- Concept
- Character
- Theme
- Story structure
- Scene execution
- Writing voice
The first four are the elements of story, and the last two are narrative skills.
Concept
An idea can spring forth from any of the elements of story. A premise is a concept plus character.
Criteria:
- Is the concept fresh and original?
- If it’s not particularly fresh and original, does the concept at least present an opportunity to impart a new spin on a familiar theme or premise?
- Is the concept compelling?
- Does the concept set the stage for an unfolding dramatic story?
- Does the concept lend itself to the other three essential elements of storytelling?
- Can the concept be expressed as a succinct “what if” question?
Character
Key characterizations:
- Surface affectations and personality
- Backstory
- Character arc
- Inner demons and conflicts
- Worldview
- Goals and motivations
- Decisions, actions and behaviors
Dimensions:
- Surface traits, quirks and habits
- Backstory and inner demons
- Action, behavior, and worldview
Character questions
- What is your character’s backstory, the experiences that programmed how he thinks and feels and acts today?
- What is his inner demon, and how does it influence decisions and actions in the face of the outer demon you are about to throw at him?
- What does he resent?
- What is his drive to get revenge?
- How does he feel about himself, and what is the gap between that assessment and how others feel about him?
- What is your character’s worldview?
- What is your character’s moral compass?
- Is your character a giver or a taker in life?
- To what extent does your character adhere to gender roles and stereo-types? And if he doesn’t fit cleanly into one, how is he different?
- What lessons has your character not yet learned in life?
- What lessons has he experienced but rejected or failed to learn?
- Who are his friends? Are they like-for-like, or either above or below him in intelligence?
- What is your character’s social I.Q.? Is he awkward? Eager? Easy? Life of the party? Wallflower? Totally faking it?
- To what extent is your character either an introvert or an extrovert? How does this manifest in his life?
- What is your character’s most secret yearning?
- What childhood dream never came true, and why?
- What is your character’s religious or spiritual belief system?
- What is the worst thing your character has ever done?
- Does your character have secrets? Perhaps a secret life? What does your character’s life partner, closest friends, and employer not know about him?
- When, how, and why does he hold back, procrastinate?
- What has held him back in life?
- How many people would come to his funeral? Why might someone decide not to attend?
- What is the most unlikely or the most contradictory aspect of your character?
- What are your character’s first-dimension quirks, habits, and choices?
- Why are they in evidence, what are they saying or covering for?
- What is the backstory that leads to those choices?
- What are the psychological scars that affect your character’s life, and how does this link to backstory?
- How strong is your character under pressure?
- What is your character’s arc in your story? How does he change and grow over the course of the story? How does he apply that learning toward becoming the catalytic force that drives the denouement of the story?
Theme
To do.
Story structure
To do.
Scene execution
To do.
Writing voice
To do.