Everyone's complaining about the kids in the background. What got me was the tiny ukulele loop repeating over and over for minutes on end. Good explanation of the 8 points though.
This is my attempt at summarizing the 8-Point Story Arc 1. Stasis-Everyday Life 2. Trigger-Event outside the control of the protagonist (Can be positive or negative) 3. Quest-Rising Action (Result of the trigger) 4. Surprises-Unexpected Events (+ve or -ve) (Commonly Challenges) (Don’t let protagonist complete his/her Quest) 5. Critical Choice-Decision is key to the Story, Reveals the protagonist’s true character 6. Climax-Decision leads to the climax, highest level of tension for reader 7. Reversal-Outcome of the Critical Choice and the Climax, results in changes for the characters, should be logical and based on the events leading up to it 8. Resolution-Protagonist reaches a new stasis, characters should have evolved learning important life lessons through their experiences.
Basically, it is the Pixar story structure: Once upon a time... and every day... but one day...because of that...and because of that... and because of that... until finally... the end.
+camotophat Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Regarding the sounds, I recorded it while my students were outside for recess, not realizing my mic was picking up all the noise.
The 8-Point Story Arc 1. Stasis: Protagonist's everyday life 2. Trigger: Something happens which is outside of the control of the protagonist 3. Quest: The rising action, is a direct result of the story's trigger 3a. Positive trigger --> Leads protagonist on a quest to an improved existence. 3b. Negative trigger --> Leads protagonist to return life to its normal existence. 4. Surprise: Unexpected events that occur during the protagonist's quest 4a. Positive 4b. Challenges or obstacles that prevent protagonist from completing his/her quest 4c. Introduction of a new character who helps or stands in their way 5. Critical Choice: The protagonist is put in a position where they have to make a critical choice. Their decision is key to the story and reveals the protagonist's true character. 5a. Easier, bad course of action 5b. Harder, righteous choice. 6. Climax: Decision with critical choice leads to climax. Has the most tension. 7. Reversal: Outcome of the critical choice. Major changes for the characters. Has to be logical and based on the events leading up to it. 8. Resolution: Protagonist reaches a new stasis and typically dynamic characters have evolved.
I noticed that the music was on the louder side compared to the narration (in order to drown out the children playing in the background), but I LOVED THIS! It proves you don't have to let anything distract you from what you are doing. I listened to it the first time through, then I re-watched it to take down notes. When I did this, I saw how I could fill in the gaps. After, I finished my notes, I was convinced that I needed the book, because a single phrase may be the KEY to getting past the other blocks I have with my current story.
A great beginning starts at the inciting incident with just a few sentences of stasis. Don't question your reader's intelligence. They can understand that things were normal before with inciting moment. They don't need a whole page of background before the actual story worthy problem is addressed/introduced.
I feel like this is similar to the 3-Act Structure for screenplays. The stasis is the first 10 pages - normal life. The trigger is the inciting incident (about page 10-15). The quest is the key incident or the plot point at the end of Act 1 (around page 30) The surprises are most of the second act (around pages 30-90) The critical choice is probably plot point at the end of Act 2 (around page 90) The climax is the climax (around page 100) The reversal and the resolution are the rest of Act 3 (around pages 100-120) This is just a simple comparison since I'm more interested in writing features than short stories, but this was still very helpful and informative. Good job.
Jacob Varney I think that the three act structure is too oversimplified (a beginning, a middle, and an end). What is the point of calling it a three act structure, if every act (like you've shown) has two to three seperate points that has to explain everything in further detail.
Understanding these kinds of story arcs, along with the Monomyth is important to story telling, narrative structure and characterization. Thanks for bringing amazing content to the masses. Keep up the great work. Fingers crossed that I'll be able to produce such high-quality videos.
I like how easy that was spelled out. I've never heard it called 'The Trigger' though. I've always read the inciting incident but thats essentially the same thing.
Educational, immersive, massive, and a huge impact for those who are trying to write or begin their own stories. Amazing video. You just earned a subscriber.
EJShelby Using Cinderella as an example again: She's now married to the prince, as opposed to living in her step mother's attic like before, all because of her decision to go to the ball caused by her fairy godmother's appearance. Basically, it shows where the character is compared to where they were when the story began. EDIT: Well, it's more of the immediate outcome of the actions they chose, so it's specifically the marriage.
Could you use this multiple times for a story? For example, if you want to make a very long comic with a long story/adventure, could you have many arcs like these throughout?
Yeah I think that you can add or substract some things in the plot. It really just depends on what type of story you're doing. Its like a show with many seasons and each season has its own arc. I dont know I helped I hope so ^^
This would sort of be a question of Plot within Plot. On a macro scale looking at the entire run of your comic, each of those arcs would probably be "Surprises," challenges that divert from or lead to the final climax of the story. As you scale down, each of those mini "Surprise" arcs have their own fully fleshed-out story structure. If you're looking to make a longer-running comic, mini-arcs are pretty much essential for people to actually know what's going on within the story and stay engaged. I would honestly recommend looking at other pieces of media that did this really well. Comics, of course, are a great place to start. TV shows also do this all the time. I would seriously recommend watching the first 5 seasons of Supernatural, even if you've already seen it. I have a lot of problems with that show, but those first five seasons are incredible examples of episodic storytelling. The first five seasons have a clear, concise story to tell. Each season within that is a relatively self-contained arc. Each episode in those seasons, except the finales, are their own self-contained Monster of the Week stories. Parks and Rec also does this pretty well, although there isn't so much in the way of a single season telling a story. Each episode tells a story, though, and the whole thing tells the story of Lot 48 in Pawnee. JigglyDoo is correct. If you write from a formula, it can sometimes end up a little stale, so this structure is mostly a set of guidelines. If you think it would be better for your MC to make their Critical Choice before the challenges get in their way, and the story is just a matter of perseverance, that could be a fun shakeup. If you want to leave a story at the height of Climax, time skip forward a few months into a new stasis, and leave everyone wondering what the hell happened in the interim, that could also work. Everyone has a different idea for how story structure works. Really the only necessary elements are the trigger, the quest, and the climax. Everything else makes for a stronger story, but beyond those three elements, you can play around as much as you want.
In the Hollywood journey you have the character changing a lot. Maybe being indecisive and have misplaced priorities at first but then at the end being confident and fighting for what is right. So you probably can’t have him be indecisive again. You couldn’t have Scrooge 2 where he becomes miserly again or people would think he actually didn’t change in the first place. But besides dramatic changes in the protagonists, yeah. But you have a different protagonists each time or have the protagonists help another person to change or you could have the protagonists change but not too much each time.
This guy has a superb opportunity to fix his video with a re upload of this video with the title being the same but with (“no screaming version”) just so that way new viewers of the video will be wondering what dose “no screaming version” means.
I was in a writers block because I could think of a situation that i wanted to present within my story but no story behind it, but the second i stated watching this video ideas just flooded into my head and now i have a story so thank you so much!!!!
Thank you so very much! This helped me with writing my story I'm currently working on: I've only just finished the first chapter, and I haven't proof-read yet, so sorry if any mistakes are shown. Anyhow, here it is so far (criticism please): The army stood firm on the grass of the rainforest, their boots trampling in the wet substance; It was raining heavy, and they were searching for a creature said to be mythical; but it was witnessed by dozen of bystanders, including proof surrounding the case. The monster, a giant tarantula, was referred to, by mythology and tourists: The Tydanga. Whoever dared to go into that forest, was guaranteed to never escape, but some lived to tell the tale. The soldiers continued walking, until a roar was heard from deeper within. With strength in numbers, they quickly ambled to the source of the noise. At they drew quicker, they hid behind bushes, peeking out. Much to their surprise, it was a grizzly bear. It was blood dripping from its lips, including a dead elk behind it. As disgusted as they were, they stayed calm. They didn't know whether it was more of a relief to catch a bear instead, or to have struck a chance the spider was just a fib made by meddling kids. But, just as they scared the bear away, a vicious squeal was heard from behind one of the groups. Only one heard the sound, and slowly turned his head round. Behind him, he noticed eight eerie eyes which were all a dark black, almost blending in with the shade of the tall and narrow trees. He was speechless, as much evidence they held, it was unbelievable to see it in their own point of view. He stood still, breathing heavily. He tapped the shoulder of one of the soldiers next to him, who felt it and turned around, confused. "What?" she groaned, the eyes camouflaged. He shakily pointed to the group of eyes, shivering. Her jaw dropped, but she felt more confident. She clenched her fists, holding the gun firmly. She steadily aimed at the creature, about to pull the trigger, until it backed off into the mist; they could hear the steps of the spider quietly walking off. She moaned and slowly brung it down. The man watched, stunned. "What do you think it was?" he asked her. "Beats me," she replied. "However, it did have eight eyes, maybe it was-" she started, before the sound of the moving stopped, and it began again, but this time becoming louder and faster. The group nearby looked in the specific direction, their reflexes insanely quick as they all pointed their guns at the source. Without warning, a gigantic spider jumped out, it was almost as tall as the trees, possibly the size of a double-decker buss. It alarmed the other group of them. "Ready? Fire!" one of them quickly called, the others shooting at it. It squealed loudly and ear-piercingly, pouncing on one, a young lady, in her twenties. It retreated in the trees, the army ready to aim again. As quick as a flash, the spider jumped on a full group of them, stabbing them with its venomous fangs, paralysing the body. It quickly ran and unintentionally stabbed the first one with its leg when ambushing and killed the rest. Once done, the tarantula sank its razor-like fangs into one of the bodies, dissolving it like the others in which it had infected with it's venom whilst biting. Since the tarantula, like other small ones, couldn't eat solids, sucked up the flesh. After it finished dining, it stored the other bodies into a cave through the woods, covered in large sticky webs.
W. Somerset Maughan's "Appointment in Samarra" is a short story that's just one paragraph, yet is loaded with so much in terms of theme and narrative. Speaking of Harry Potter, the short story of the Three Brothers is another example of a compact, simple storytelling. Ditto Aesop's fables, stories meant for kids but detracts on how brilliant they are structured.
This video was a big help!We have a project in one of our subject and I choose writing a short story.Thanks for sharing this video even it was posted 7 years ago hehe.This will help also the other students and new beginners in writing.💖
I am currently writing a great story and this come across as a checker for me and surprisingly to me I’ve covered all the points. Thank you for confirmation.
10/10. this video was mega helpful. im passionate in writing but i wasn't so sure how to create a plot effectively, now im much more confident. thanks! you deserve many likes.
man why i cant sub more then once ?? your video is insanely great and helpful i don't knows what to do for a story ... more specifically my original anime which start with manga then actual anime... i made a dumb short video and i told my self i will do this anime .... but guess what ? i have no story how the video goes ? a huge mess with just unfinished animations and that is thanks you again
Thank-you! I felt like I had nothing going for my story until these inspired to make me think for in depth about the plot of my story and realize I can do so much more for my story!
y'all the background sound of children screaming is probably to give the effect that you're in the classroom learning how to write..but still scary asf
Despite all the *screaming* voices in the background, this actually kind of helped me. Im an 12 yr old kiddo that likes to make stories. I even have a diy notebook where I put all my stories. I'm so excited to write there again..wish me luck!
Thanks, mate. This is extremely helpful for aspiring writers. For me, personally, because I'm in a block and my writing in the middle of the story got too messy because I don't have any directions.
This helped so much... I am good at writing a lot of chapters for longer books but struggle keeping it refined for short stories and children's books This was perfect :D Thanks
I actually took notes while I listened to this for the 2nd time. I already know what kind of story I'd want to write I just didn't know how to start it out. But thanks to this I might start of something. On the side note, I'm thinking he is recording at a school while he was doing this which explains the kids on the BG.
I had to read some short stories for English class in college and narrowly avoided allowing college English to totally kill my native love of reading forever. Every single one of the short stories we read was from the exact same heavily left-wing point of view and they were all about politics. They weren't all the same political issue: one was environment, another was race, another was homosexuality, another was economics, but they were all from the same Leftist orthodox perspective. That ought to be represented, because it's influential, but there was a complete lack of ideological diversity. Nothing that would make anyone question anything. And why were all the stories political? Some should be, but not the majority and certainly not all! So I can't seem to find good short stories to learn from. I don't read them much myself. I reach for more full length novels.
I live in a tiny apartment with two baby sisters, a 6 year old brother, and a father with no sense of space or privacy. I can forgive the audio in this video because I can relate to the struggle of it (at least to some extent).
Every Time my teacher asked me to write a short story I just used my finalised chapter 1 of my book (In progress). The funny thing is that she never remembered the previous times I wrote the chapter so it was completely new to her.
I thought it's just me that heard the voices of the kids! I thought I was hallucinating or something! I can't focus but I managed to understand it! Thank you!
For me writing notes: Stasis: Everyday life of the character Trigger: Outside of control of the character and is what starts the story Quest: What the character wants to do Surprise: Obstacle or something good that happens to the character Critical Choice: Where Character makes a critical choice. Reversal: Outcome of the critical choice, Major changes of the character Resolution: New Stasis
I have written a short story I think it could be a best seller, but I'm worried about becoming too famous and reknouned for my literary master pieces I have came up with a short story the title is "my day out at the zoo"Here it is One day I went to the zoo but it was closed, so I just went home. The end, I hope everyone enjoyed this short story, it really gives an insight into the author, my methods of writing this short story were quite organic and really blends into the landscape of creative writing, I'm not sure what my influences were in creating this short story I was thinking inside the box instead of outside the box, I did a brainstorm chart and went on a team building exercise, and found I could be a team leader and work well within a team.
Wheat follows is one of my top 10 short stories of all time: Grace Paley “ Wants” [from her 1974 short story collection “ Enormous Changes At The Last Minute” Nominated for the National Book Award For Fiction] ~ “ Wants” I saw my ex-husband in the street. I was sitting on the steps of the new library. Hello, my life, I said. We had once been married for twenty-seven years, so I felt justified. He said, What? What life? No life of mine. I said, O.K. I don't argue when there's real disagreement. I got up and went into the library to see how much I owed them. The librarian said $32 even and you've owed it for eighteen years. I didn't deny anything. Because I don't understand how time passes. I have had those books. I have often thought of them. The library is only two blocks away. My ex-husband followed me to the Books Returned desk. He interrupted the librarian, who had more to tell. In many ways, he said, as I look back, I attribute the dissolution of our marriage to the fact that you never invited the Bertrams to dinner. That's possible, I said. But really, if you remember: first, my father was sick that Friday, then the children were born, then I had those Tuesday-night meetings, then the war began. Then we didn't seem to know them any more. But you're right. I should have had them to dinner. I gave the librarian a check for $32. Immediately she trusted me, put my past behind her, wiped the record clean, which is just what most other municipal and/or state bureaucracies will not do. I checked out the two Edith Wharton books I had just returned because I'd read them so long ago and they are more apropos now than ever. They were The House of Mirth and The Children, which is about how life in the United States in New York changed in twenty-seven years fifty years ago. A nice thing I do remember is breakfast, my ex-husband said. I was surprised. All we ever had was coffee. Then I remembered there was a hole in the back of the kitchen closet which opened into the apartment next door. There, they always ate sugar-cured smoked bacon. It gave us a very grand feeling about breakfast, but we never got stuffed and sluggish. That was when we were poor, I said. When were we ever rich? he asked. Oh, as time went on, as our responsibilities increased, we didn't go in need. You took adequate financial care, I reminded him. The children went to camp four weeks a year and in decent ponchos with sleeping bags and boots, just like everyone else. They looked very nice. Our place was warm in winter, and we had nice red pillows and things. I wanted a sailboat, he said. But you didn't want anything. Don't be bitter, I said. It's never too late. No, he said with a great deal of bitterness. I may get a sailboat. As a matter of fact I have money down on an eighteen-foot two-rigger. I'm doing well this year and can look forward to better. But as for you, it's too late. You'll always want nothing. He had had a habit throughout the twenty-seven years of making a narrow remark which, like a plumber's snake, could work its way through the ear down the throat, half-way to my heart. He would then disappear, leaving me choking with equipment. What I mean is, I sat down on the library steps and he went away. I looked through The House of Mirth, but lost interest. I felt extremely accused. Now, it's true, I'm short of requests and absolute requirements. But I do want something. I want, for instance, to be a different person. I want to be the woman who brings these two books back in two weeks. I want to be the effective citizen who changes the school system and addresses the Board of Estimate on the troubles of this dear urban center. I had promised my children to end the war before they grew up. I wanted to have been married forever to one person, my ex-husband or my present one. Either has enough character for a whole life, which as it turns out is really not such a long time. You couldn't exhaust either man's qualities or get under the rock of his reasons in one short life. Just this morning I looked out the window to watch the street for a while and saw that the little sycamores the city had dreamily planted a couple of years before the kids were born had come that day to the prime of their lives. Well! I decided to bring those two books back to the library. Which proves that when a person or an event comes along to jolt or appraise me I can take some appropriate action, although I am better known for my hospitable remarks -Grace Paley ( from her 1974 short story collection “ Enormous Changes At The Last Minute” Nominated for the National Book Award For Fiction ).
this was amazing. my teacher often compliments my writing and I was thinking about writing an online book. can you do a video on what environment would benefit your writing when it comes to creativity? with tips and such?
Jasmine - When it comes to personal creativity, you are the only one who knows what kind of writing environment works for you. Can you write with people talking in the background? Do you need total quiet? Are you inspired by looking at nature outside your window? Does sitting in the backyard do it for you, or perhaps in a public place? What colors inspire you or make you feel comfortable enough to write in? Yellow and green are both good colors for that, but color preference is as personal as one's fingerprints. Allow yourself to play in the field of possibility - it is as high and wide and deep and far reaching as the universe itself. Surround yourself with things that make you feel good, and safe and comfortable. And don't forget your writing supplies. Sometimes keeping a daily journal and warming up with a quick entry can get the creative juices flowing. Good luck.
I'm older, and when I write, I put on headphones and listen to classical like Brahms or jazz like Miles Davis' " Kind Of Blue." Not full volume, sort of half. They inspire me...and they're free on youtube ;-)
![HIWWHEE | OHM [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OJJLtTLqLag/mqdefault.jpg)
Everyone's complaining about the kids in the background. What got me was the tiny ukulele loop repeating over and over for minutes on end. Good explanation of the 8 points though.
It's to cover up all the noises of kids getting burnt into a crisp
Fuck now it's in my head
The music is balanced against the speech better than the speech is balanced against the screaming of children being murdered.
LMAO that's exactly how I felt! The ukulele loop just AMPLIFIES the sound of children being murdered!
@@seanwilliam3853 crrrrrrisssspp... Yum
So...
Who's being murdered in the background?
lol
Me
My happiness
XD
@@hammerbro2005 ouch
Great video! (but I wish you hadn´t recorded the audio in a haunted house)
Jesper Jee lol ikr ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I know it's like screams in the background! I'm guessing he was near like a playground or something :)
Jesper Jee it sounds like he's at like a daycare or something.
that's so true
Omygosh. Thank you. I thought I was the only one. Whew!
shhhhhhh, just ignore the screams of agony in the background....everything will be alright.
That's a good story prompt
Glass Of milk I
the likes are at 666, nobody like this pls
🤣
Bruhhhhhhhhh
Was watching the video and for a second I paused and was like is someone being murdered outside my house or something?
SylenDraws me too! Thought my dogs were fighting !
Thought it was kids laughing outside.
SylenDraws MP
Sounds like a great story starter!
Okay so I'm not the only one
You know, I didn't notice the screaming until I read the comments.
Shamyah Shears - You must be a parent.
Same
Shamyah Shears me too lol
me to!
Same!!!!
This is my attempt at summarizing the 8-Point Story Arc
1. Stasis-Everyday Life
2. Trigger-Event outside the control of the protagonist (Can be positive or negative)
3. Quest-Rising Action (Result of the trigger)
4. Surprises-Unexpected Events (+ve or -ve) (Commonly Challenges) (Don’t let protagonist complete his/her Quest)
5. Critical Choice-Decision is key to the Story, Reveals the protagonist’s true character
6. Climax-Decision leads to the climax, highest level of tension for reader
7. Reversal-Outcome of the Critical Choice and the Climax, results in changes for the characters, should be logical and based on the events leading up to it
8. Resolution-Protagonist reaches a new stasis, characters should have evolved learning important life lessons through their experiences.
You saved 4 mins of my life. Thank you.
Time saver! Thanks man!
thanks
Great summary
Great summary! Thanks for writing it
This video was made only as an excuse to hide away from his kid's birthday party.
good joke3
I can say, you're a great writer XD
Lol
6 people who liked this need to unlike
@@okboing thats uh..450 people.
Basically, it is the Pixar story structure: Once upon a time... and every day... but one day...because of that...and because of that... and because of that... until finally... the end.
True
I love this quote!
This is very enlightening. Thank you.
Which itself is a classic heros journey plot arch
honestly i understood this more than the video
Is it just me or is he recording inside a torture chamber? I can hear some poor souls screaming in the video
Mocha tf2 player Nah thats just children talking and playing
great. I will write a story following these steps. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Those are obviously kids wtf
These comments are killing me. lol
nah they got spanked
This was a great video! Great refresher course. But I am wondering about the screams of children in the background. lol
+camotophat Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Regarding the sounds, I recorded it while my students were outside for recess, not realizing my mic was picking up all the noise.
Educational Tutorials sureeeee......
Gr8 vedio i lvd it to the core 😍😘😘😘👏👏👏
sounds like the screams of kids having fun...how i know? cause i used to hear them alot.
Those voices really diverted my attention
I usually think really basic when writing "Who is my character? What do they want most in the world? How can I prevent them from getting it?"
wow. you are eeeeeviiiiiiiilllllll. :D I like it :D
¿How does your stream of thought look like when you are thinking about «¿Who is my character?»?
That is actually really smart
God?
Simplified version XD
Hearing kids screaming in the background makes this story a horror.
They were screaming joyfully though. What exactly is horrific about that? Oh God! Kids having fun? Not on my watch!
+Petr Stuchlý u dumbass
@@Braham_the_Terror wait why?
And just some peaceful ukulele music
Seriously? It could be his kids having fun playing! Or can kids not scream while playing?
The 8-Point Story Arc
1. Stasis: Protagonist's everyday life
2. Trigger: Something happens which is outside of the control of the protagonist
3. Quest: The rising action, is a direct result of the story's trigger
3a. Positive trigger --> Leads protagonist on a quest to an improved existence.
3b. Negative trigger --> Leads protagonist to return life to its normal existence.
4. Surprise: Unexpected events that occur during the protagonist's quest
4a. Positive
4b. Challenges or obstacles that prevent protagonist from completing his/her quest
4c. Introduction of a new character who helps or stands in their way
5. Critical Choice: The protagonist is put in a position where they have to make a critical choice. Their decision is key to the story and reveals the protagonist's true character.
5a. Easier, bad course of action
5b. Harder, righteous choice.
6. Climax: Decision with critical choice leads to climax. Has the most tension.
7. Reversal: Outcome of the critical choice. Major changes for the characters. Has to be logical and based on the events leading up to it.
8. Resolution: Protagonist reaches a new stasis and typically dynamic characters have evolved.
Helped Out Alot, Thanks!
You forgot to insert SUPER LOUD UKULELE and SCREAMING CHILDREN over each step
@@mulletsquirrel true broo
he's so calm that I legit thought it was my neighbours fighting....
Comments:
99% About the background noise
1% about video
Now it's 98 background noise
And.. 2 video
Wait what section are you in ?
I'm the 1%
Came here to make a GCMM lol
I noticed that the music was on the louder side compared to the narration (in order to drown out the children playing in the background), but I LOVED THIS! It proves you don't have to let anything distract you from what you are doing.
I listened to it the first time through, then I re-watched it to take down notes. When I did this, I saw how I could fill in the gaps.
After, I finished my notes, I was convinced that I needed the book, because a single phrase may be the KEY to getting past the other blocks I have with my current story.
*Happy music*
*Kids screaming in the background*
People's limbs are being ripped off in the background and satan is screaming
This guy: *happy music*
A great beginning starts at the inciting incident with just a few sentences of stasis. Don't question your reader's intelligence. They can understand that things were normal before with inciting moment. They don't need a whole page of background before the actual story worthy problem is addressed/introduced.
Raleigh Dewan depends on size of story
As a hardcore worldbuilder but absolutely amateur storyteller, I sincerely thank you for this short yet good and useful advice.
This has to be one of the funniest comments sections I have ever read. Well done everyone!
I feel like this is similar to the 3-Act Structure for screenplays.
The stasis is the first 10 pages - normal life.
The trigger is the inciting incident (about page 10-15).
The quest is the key incident or the plot point at the end of Act 1 (around page 30)
The surprises are most of the second act (around pages 30-90)
The critical choice is probably plot point at the end of Act 2 (around page 90)
The climax is the climax (around page 100)
The reversal and the resolution are the rest of Act 3 (around pages 100-120)
This is just a simple comparison since I'm more interested in writing features than short stories, but this was still very helpful and informative. Good job.
Jacob Varney
I think that the three act structure is too oversimplified (a beginning, a middle, and an end). What is the point of calling it a three act structure, if every act (like you've shown) has two to three seperate points that has to explain everything in further detail.
Sounded like the Hero’s Journey to me
Understanding these kinds of story arcs, along with the Monomyth is important to story telling, narrative structure and characterization.
Thanks for bringing amazing content to the masses. Keep up the great work. Fingers crossed that I'll be able to produce such high-quality videos.
Danyal Fryer I discovered the monomyth before ever seeing an 8 point structure and they are basically the same thing lol
That screechy background is horrrrrrrriiiibbbbllllleeeee! Very good video, but just disturbing. Were you sacrificing children for views?
George Hedgepeth Fuck dude chill.
It worked. 152K views on channel with 1.2K subs.
George Hedgepeth Funniest comment here. Lol.
😂😂FR
IKR 😂
I like how easy that was spelled out. I've never heard it called 'The Trigger' though. I've always read the inciting incident but thats essentially the same thing.
My teacher made us learn us with this video in class!
+Garmestrella Hope you found it helpful!
Woah cool !
Lucky you ^v^
wow this 8-point story arc has really greatly helped me plan out my stories
So glad you made this video
+Natalie Chege Thanks Natalie! I'm glad my video helped.
how do you only have 128 subs with such an amazing video
+Ishaan Chakraborty Thanks! That's very kind. Glad you enjoyed the video!
make that 693 ;)
898 sub
Ishaan Chakraborty 834
He has 1k now. Slowly but surely
Educational, immersive, massive, and a huge impact for those who are trying to write or begin their own stories. Amazing video. You just earned a subscriber.
I hope the reversal point could be more elaborated. Maybe you can do a new video using real film examples to illustrate each point.
EJShelby Using Cinderella as an example again:
She's now married to the prince, as opposed to living in her step mother's attic like before, all because of her decision to go to the ball caused by her fairy godmother's appearance.
Basically, it shows where the character is compared to where they were when the story began.
EDIT: Well, it's more of the immediate outcome of the actions they chose, so it's specifically the marriage.
Look into the monomyth it is a more detailed structure of story telling. This is basically a simplified version.
muntu1221 thanks
Wow this video has helped me dearly in creating stories.
+Isabelle Gosling Thanks, Isabelle!
Could you use this multiple times for a story? For example, if you want to make a very long comic with a long story/adventure, could you have many arcs like these throughout?
Yeah I think that you can add or substract some things in the plot. It really just depends on what type of story you're doing. Its like a show with many seasons and each season has its own arc. I dont know I helped I hope so ^^
This would sort of be a question of Plot within Plot. On a macro scale looking at the entire run of your comic, each of those arcs would probably be "Surprises," challenges that divert from or lead to the final climax of the story. As you scale down, each of those mini "Surprise" arcs have their own fully fleshed-out story structure. If you're looking to make a longer-running comic, mini-arcs are pretty much essential for people to actually know what's going on within the story and stay engaged.
I would honestly recommend looking at other pieces of media that did this really well. Comics, of course, are a great place to start. TV shows also do this all the time. I would seriously recommend watching the first 5 seasons of Supernatural, even if you've already seen it. I have a lot of problems with that show, but those first five seasons are incredible examples of episodic storytelling. The first five seasons have a clear, concise story to tell. Each season within that is a relatively self-contained arc. Each episode in those seasons, except the finales, are their own self-contained Monster of the Week stories. Parks and Rec also does this pretty well, although there isn't so much in the way of a single season telling a story. Each episode tells a story, though, and the whole thing tells the story of Lot 48 in Pawnee.
JigglyDoo is correct. If you write from a formula, it can sometimes end up a little stale, so this structure is mostly a set of guidelines. If you think it would be better for your MC to make their Critical Choice before the challenges get in their way, and the story is just a matter of perseverance, that could be a fun shakeup. If you want to leave a story at the height of Climax, time skip forward a few months into a new stasis, and leave everyone wondering what the hell happened in the interim, that could also work. Everyone has a different idea for how story structure works. Really the only necessary elements are the trigger, the quest, and the climax. Everything else makes for a stronger story, but beyond those three elements, you can play around as much as you want.
Try the three act story structure. Essentially the same thing, but long enough for novels/ movies
In the Hollywood journey you have the character changing a lot. Maybe being indecisive and have misplaced priorities at first but then at the end being confident and fighting for what is right. So you probably can’t have him be indecisive again. You couldn’t have Scrooge 2 where he becomes miserly again or people would think he actually didn’t change in the first place.
But besides dramatic changes in the protagonists, yeah. But you have a different protagonists each time or have the protagonists help another person to change or you could have the protagonists change but not too much each time.
This guy has a superb opportunity to fix his video with a re upload of this video with the title being the same but with (“no screaming version”) just so that way new viewers of the video will be wondering what dose “no screaming version” means.
i have a writing and reading exam next week and this will come in brilliant help as a plan, thank you but if i fail i will blame u :-)!!
I was in a writers block because I could think of a situation that i wanted to present within my story but no story behind it, but the second i stated watching this video ideas just flooded into my head and now i have a story so thank you so much!!!!
When you try to record a video while your family are yelling at each other....
Lol
Thank you so very much! This helped me with writing my story I'm currently working on:
I've only just finished the first chapter, and I haven't proof-read yet, so sorry if any mistakes are shown. Anyhow, here it is so far (criticism please):
The army stood firm on the grass of the rainforest, their boots trampling in the wet substance; It was raining heavy, and they were searching for a creature said to be mythical; but it was witnessed by dozen of bystanders, including proof surrounding the case. The monster, a giant tarantula, was referred to, by mythology and tourists: The Tydanga. Whoever dared to go into that forest, was guaranteed to never escape, but some lived to tell the tale.
The soldiers continued walking, until a roar was heard from deeper within. With strength in numbers, they quickly ambled to the source of the noise. At they drew quicker, they hid behind bushes, peeking out. Much to their surprise, it was a grizzly bear. It was blood dripping from its lips, including a dead elk behind it. As disgusted as they were, they stayed calm. They didn't know whether it was more of a relief to catch a bear instead, or to have struck a chance the spider was just a fib made by meddling kids.
But, just as they scared the bear away, a vicious squeal was heard from behind one of the groups. Only one heard the sound, and slowly turned his head round. Behind him, he noticed eight eerie eyes which were all a dark black, almost blending in with the shade of the tall and narrow trees. He was speechless, as much evidence they held, it was unbelievable to see it in their own point of view. He stood still, breathing heavily. He tapped the shoulder of one of the soldiers next to him, who felt it and turned around, confused. "What?" she groaned, the eyes camouflaged. He shakily pointed to the group of eyes, shivering. Her jaw dropped, but she felt more confident.
She clenched her fists, holding the gun firmly. She steadily aimed at the creature, about to pull the trigger, until it backed off into the mist; they could hear the steps of the spider quietly walking off. She moaned and slowly brung it down. The man watched, stunned. "What do you think it was?" he asked her.
"Beats me," she replied. "However, it did have eight eyes, maybe it was-" she started, before the sound of the moving stopped, and it began again, but this time becoming louder and faster.
The group nearby looked in the specific direction, their reflexes insanely quick as they all pointed their guns at the source. Without warning, a gigantic spider jumped out, it was almost as tall as the trees, possibly the size of a double-decker buss. It alarmed the other group of them. "Ready? Fire!" one of them quickly called, the others shooting at it. It squealed loudly and ear-piercingly, pouncing on one, a young lady, in her twenties.
It retreated in the trees, the army ready to aim again. As quick as a flash, the spider jumped on a full group of them, stabbing them with its venomous fangs, paralysing the body. It quickly ran and unintentionally stabbed the first one with its leg when ambushing and killed the rest. Once done, the tarantula sank its razor-like fangs into one of the bodies, dissolving it like the others in which it had infected with it's venom whilst biting. Since the tarantula, like other small ones, couldn't eat solids, sucked up the flesh. After it finished dining, it stored the other bodies into a cave through the woods, covered in large sticky webs.
I'm glad everyone else is hearing that too.. I thought I was losing my shit.
W. Somerset Maughan's "Appointment in Samarra" is a short story that's just one paragraph, yet is loaded with so much in terms of theme and narrative. Speaking of Harry Potter, the short story of the Three Brothers is another example of a compact, simple storytelling. Ditto Aesop's fables, stories meant for kids but detracts on how brilliant they are structured.
Thank you very much, I learned a lot about an 8-Point Story Arc.
+Master Beagle Glad it helped you!
Thanks for the video. Real help to get me back to writing :)
The audio in this video sounds like he's in a torture chamber and he's so sick of everything.
FaithBetta ya
This video was a big help!We have a project in one of our subject and I choose writing a short story.Thanks for sharing this video even it was posted 7 years ago hehe.This will help also the other students and new beginners in writing.💖
When I heard the background voices, I was literally thinking my house just got haunted all of a sudden...
I love your channel! I'm a HUGE writer. Your videos are seriously helpful.
+Blah Blah Thanks for the kind comment!
Thank you for the video, but would you mind re-recording it not outside of Six Flags?
Thanks. I've recently been getting my stories flow jumbled up, but now I see how I can improve.
+Cybot2966 You're welcome. I'm glad my video helped you.
This really helped!! Now I understand! Thanks! Keep it up!
I am currently writing a great story and this come across as a checker for me and surprisingly to me I’ve covered all the points. Thank you for confirmation.
Can I hear kids screaming in his basement??
10/10. this video was mega helpful. im passionate in writing but i wasn't so sure how to create a plot effectively, now im much more confident. thanks!
you deserve many likes.
man why i cant sub more then once ??
your video is insanely great and helpful
i don't knows what to do for a story ... more specifically my original anime which start with manga then actual anime...
i made a dumb short video and i told my self i will do this anime .... but guess what ? i have no story
how the video goes ? a huge mess with just unfinished animations and that is
thanks you again
These seems like something that was taught at school, but I forgot it all!! And here I am. Very useful school 👌
When you're in a torture chamber and you're tired of everything and instead you make a video about a short story
Thank-you! I felt like I had nothing going for my story until these inspired to make me think for in depth about the plot of my story and realize I can do so much more for my story!
People are more interested in background music than the actual video what they have came for 😂😂
I’m making a 📖 called A Murder Of Crows but when ever I start to make a book I always struggle finding a good beginning and this really helped a lot 🙂
y'all the background sound of children screaming is probably to give the effect that you're in the classroom learning how to write..but still scary asf
Despite all the *screaming* voices in the background, this actually kind of helped me. Im an 12 yr old kiddo that likes to make stories. I even have a diy notebook where I put all my stories. I'm so excited to write there again..wish me luck!
Wait wouldn't the announcement of the ball be the trigger in Cinderella?
True
Not really, because the ball doesn't involve Cinderella until she interacts with the fairy godmother.
am I the only one who is guna talk about how helpful this video was?
I didn't even notice the screams til I red the comments 😅😂🙈
Thanks, mate. This is extremely helpful for aspiring writers. For me, personally, because I'm in a block and my writing in the middle of the story got too messy because I don't have any directions.
Are you in a haunted daycare or something, also great video!
This helped so much... I am good at writing a lot of chapters for longer books but struggle keeping it refined for short stories and children's books
This was perfect :D Thanks
Bro ... it sounds like some kids were getting whooped in the back
This approach is so mechanical. Like writing by numbers. You either have talent or you don't. Goodnight!
OMG this will help soooooooooooooooo much tysmmm
Edit: i am the first one to like my comment 🤣
very good info, but its hard to ignore the recess going on in the background. please re-record your audio if possible!
Is someone dying?
Hannah De La Peña no it's just one of his student's outside eating lunch while some kids shouts for some reason...
Yes, and the Children over the person that is dying as this dude makes a Video about stories.
ikr
I actually took notes while I listened to this for the 2nd time. I already know what kind of story I'd want to write I just didn't know how to start it out. But thanks to this I might start of something.
On the side note, I'm thinking he is recording at a school while he was doing this which explains the kids on the BG.
*_Awesome video! I like it_*
+Shampoo Wow Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks, I struggled with my story plan for the longest time and this latterly just saved me!
Were there children being molested in the backgroind during recording?
Holy crap, when he read the list I had a flashback of every movie to come out for last 50 years. We need the 60's back.
I can't focus what you are saying!
1. Stasis
2. Trigger
3. The quest
4. Surprise
5. Critical choice
6. Climax
7. Reversal
8. Resolution
I had to read some short stories for English class in college and narrowly avoided allowing college English to totally kill my native love of reading forever. Every single one of the short stories we read was from the exact same heavily left-wing point of view and they were all about politics. They weren't all the same political issue: one was environment, another was race, another was homosexuality, another was economics, but they were all from the same Leftist orthodox perspective. That ought to be represented, because it's influential, but there was a complete lack of ideological diversity. Nothing that would make anyone question anything. And why were all the stories political? Some should be, but not the majority and certainly not all! So I can't seem to find good short stories to learn from. I don't read them much myself. I reach for more full length novels.
I live in a tiny apartment with two baby sisters, a 6 year old brother, and a father with no sense of space or privacy. I can forgive the audio in this video because I can relate to the struggle of it (at least to some extent).
SCREAMING CHILDREN?!
Interesting. This explains almost every tv show i have ever seen. Thank you.
uhh why do i hear little kids getting murderd in the background EXPLAIN
Thanks for the tips! It would definitely be useful when I write a story for my mapping series’ for the future.
I love the video. but please, make that baby close its baby mouth.
Every Time my teacher asked me to write a short story I just used my finalised chapter 1 of my book (In progress). The funny thing is that she never remembered the previous times I wrote the chapter so it was completely new to her.
That sounds like a great compliment to the quality of your book ☺
Why was he torturing children while making this?
I thought it's just me that heard the voices of the kids! I thought I was hallucinating or something! I can't focus but I managed to understand it! Thank you!
DREADFUL annoying music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
monsterjazzlicks what about the screams of the damned lmao
For me writing notes:
Stasis: Everyday life of the character
Trigger: Outside of control of the character and is what starts the story
Quest: What the character wants to do
Surprise: Obstacle or something good that happens to the character
Critical Choice: Where Character makes a critical choice.
Reversal: Outcome of the critical choice, Major changes of the character
Resolution: New Stasis
Thank you. The background noise was making it difficult to hear what the speaker was saying.
I have written a short story I think it could be a best seller, but I'm worried about becoming too famous and reknouned for my literary master pieces I have came up with a short story the title is "my day out at the zoo"Here it is One day I went to the zoo but it was closed, so I just went home. The end, I hope everyone enjoyed this short story, it really gives an insight into the author, my methods of writing this short story were quite organic and really blends into the landscape of creative writing, I'm not sure what my influences were in creating this short story I was thinking inside the box instead of outside the box, I did a brainstorm chart and went on a team building exercise, and found I could be a team leader and work well within a team.
everybody gangsta until you pause the video and still hear the screams
Wheat follows is one of my top 10 short stories of all time:
Grace Paley
“ Wants”
[from her 1974 short story collection “ Enormous Changes At The Last Minute”
Nominated for the National Book Award For Fiction]
~
“ Wants”
I saw my ex-husband in the street. I was sitting on the steps of the new library.
Hello, my life, I said. We had once been married for twenty-seven years, so I felt justified.
He said, What? What life? No life of mine.
I said, O.K. I don't argue when there's real disagreement. I got up and went into the library to see how much I owed them.
The librarian said $32 even and you've owed it for eighteen years. I didn't deny anything. Because I don't understand how time passes. I have had those books. I have often thought of them. The library is only two blocks away.
My ex-husband followed me to the Books Returned desk. He interrupted the librarian, who had more to tell. In many ways, he said, as I look back, I attribute the dissolution of our marriage to the fact that you never invited the Bertrams to dinner.
That's possible, I said. But really, if you remember: first, my father was sick that Friday, then the children were born, then I had those Tuesday-night meetings, then the war began. Then we didn't seem to know them any more. But you're right. I should have had them to dinner.
I gave the librarian a check for $32. Immediately she trusted me, put my past behind her, wiped the record clean, which is just what most other municipal and/or state bureaucracies will not do.
I checked out the two Edith Wharton books I had just returned because I'd read them so long ago and they are more apropos now than ever. They were The House of Mirth and The Children, which is about how life in the United States in New York changed in twenty-seven years fifty years ago.
A nice thing I do remember is breakfast, my ex-husband said. I was surprised. All we ever had was coffee. Then I remembered there was a hole in the back of the kitchen closet which opened into the apartment next door. There, they always ate sugar-cured smoked bacon. It gave us a very grand feeling about breakfast, but we never got stuffed and sluggish.
That was when we were poor, I said.
When were we ever rich? he asked.
Oh, as time went on, as our responsibilities increased, we didn't go in need. You took adequate financial care, I reminded him. The children went to camp four weeks a year and in decent ponchos with sleeping bags and boots, just like everyone else. They looked very nice. Our place was warm in winter, and we had nice red pillows and things.
I wanted a sailboat, he said. But you didn't want anything.
Don't be bitter, I said. It's never too late.
No, he said with a great deal of bitterness. I may get a sailboat. As a matter of fact I have money down on an eighteen-foot two-rigger. I'm doing well this year and can look forward to better. But as for you, it's too late. You'll always want nothing.
He had had a habit throughout the twenty-seven years of making a narrow remark which, like a plumber's snake, could work its way through the ear down the throat, half-way to my heart. He would then disappear, leaving me choking with equipment. What I mean is, I sat down on the library steps and he went away.
I looked through The House of Mirth, but lost interest. I felt extremely accused. Now, it's true, I'm short of requests and absolute requirements. But I do want something.
I want, for instance, to be a different person. I want to be the woman who brings these two books back in two weeks. I want to be the effective citizen who changes the school system and addresses the Board of Estimate on the troubles of this dear urban center.
I had promised my children to end the war before they grew up.
I wanted to have been married forever to one person, my ex-husband or my present one. Either has enough character for a whole life, which as it turns out is really not such a long time. You couldn't exhaust either man's qualities or get under the rock of his reasons in one short life.
Just this morning I looked out the window to watch the street for a while and saw that the little sycamores the city had dreamily planted a couple of years before the kids were born had come that day to the prime of their lives.
Well! I decided to bring those two books back to the library. Which proves that when a person or an event comes along to jolt or appraise me I can take some appropriate action, although I am better known for my hospitable remarks
-Grace Paley
( from her 1974 short story collection “ Enormous Changes At The Last Minute”
Nominated for the National Book Award For Fiction ).
Wow that was great. I took notes and filled up a whole page
The video is good and informative. But please make sure that the recording is good with any background noises and improper mic settings.
This video is calming yet intense at the same time.
Thank you for the advice. This gives me a great foothold in this mountain of creative writing.
1. Break the banjo. 2. Redo the voice over when the kids are asleep.
That brings the quality level up to a much higher level.
The background noice though!! C’mon now the video could’ve waited till after the birthday party. Thanks for the information. Very helpful.
this was amazing. my teacher often compliments my writing and I was thinking about writing an online book. can you do a video on what environment would benefit your writing when it comes to creativity? with tips and such?
sorry if it's too much to ask for
Jasmine - When it comes to personal creativity, you are the only one who knows what kind of writing environment works for you. Can you write with people talking in the background? Do you need total quiet? Are you inspired by looking at nature outside your window? Does sitting in the backyard do it for you, or perhaps in a public place? What colors inspire you or make you feel comfortable enough to write in? Yellow and green are both good colors for that, but color preference is as personal as one's fingerprints.
Allow yourself to play in the field of possibility - it is as high and wide and deep and far reaching as the universe itself. Surround yourself with things that make you feel good, and safe and comfortable. And don't forget your writing supplies. Sometimes keeping a daily journal and warming up with a quick entry can get the creative juices flowing. Good luck.
I'm older, and when I write, I put on headphones and listen to classical like Brahms or jazz like Miles Davis' " Kind Of Blue." Not full volume, sort of half. They inspire me...and they're free on youtube ;-)