Story Structure Explained In 3 Words - Alan Watt [Founder of L.A. Writers' Lab]

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In this Film Courage video interview, Alan Watt talks about story structure, protagonists and turning points.
Alan Watt is an LA Times bestselling author and winner of France's Prix Printemps for best foreign novel. He is the writer/director of the feature film, Eddie, Kill the President. which won 4 Best Feature awards at US Film Festivals, and the Filmmaker Visionary award at The Boston Film Festival. He founded L.A. Writers' Lab in 2002 where he teaches his process of marrying the wildness of your imagination to the rigor of story structure in his online 90-Day workshops for novel, memoir and screenplay, to writers around the world. His book, The 90-Day Novel is a national bestseller and was Amazon's #1 book on writing for five months. He has taught his method everywhere from maximum security prisons to Stanford University. His students run the gamut from first-time writers to A-list screenwriters and Pulitzer prize-winning journalists. His motto is, start where you are, trust the process, and let the thrill of creation be your reward.
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[@filmcourage]

What do you think of this 3 word story structure?

[@G-Blockster]

Alan nailed every inner journey/ character arc that defines the theme in just three words. It's obvious that he's mastered the craft.

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

Thanks for adding this. There's a lot to unpack here. I've actually listened to this part 3 times already.

[@throughthoroughthought8064]

It seems too simplistic to me. I don't know of any surrender in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV, or Game of Death

[@christianmcnally4323]

This is one of those "lifetime of knowledge in 14 minutes" kind of videos

[@moritzrathmann2529]

I make a tattoo of this youtube url

[@tedereTSSK]

This tutorial must be kept on repeat.

[@filmcourage]

Great to see you finding high value here!

[@lbrowning2543]

I’m going through his 90 Day Novel course book and can’t say enough good about it. He teaches the “art” part of writing, then integrates technical structure with inspiration and emotion. He gets you to let the story materialize. by stream of consciousness writing prompts, asking questions and letting your imagination run free. It’s the best,

[@filmcourage]

Thank you for sharing!

[@LoganHastyart]

Just purchased 🙏🏼

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

I read 90 Day Novel because of this channel, actually.
I was so moved by hearing him speak a couple years back, and so inspired to write, that I sought his book out. Some of Alan's promos call him "The Writer Whisperer" and for me, it's very true. On days when I don't feel like writing, I got to 90 Day Novel, and I read until I inevitably want to write again.
Probably my favorite writer you've interviewed, and that's saying something!!

[@revivantes]

I am currently in Alan's 90-day novel workshop where you go from idea to a first draft in 90 days. While it's only been a couple of weeks, it is a fantastic approach. That said, I've been thinking about story structure for awhile so part of the reason it resonates is that I've been wrestling to understand structure in a way that will work for my writing process.
In terms of his three words, Desire - Surrender - Transformation, I would add one more (I am using a four act structure instead of a three act structure) and that is Desire - Entanglement - Surrender - Transformation. I think the addition of entanglement is important because you don't just jump from desire to surrender. It's the escalation and amplification of the conflict that forces the surrender to come, hence the word entanglement.

[@arvindsatish4249]

Very true

[@Joerideabike]

Your entanglement is amplifying and focusing the desire. I think Alan would allow the additional stage as part of development of desire.

[@revivantes]

@@Joerideabike I like your clarification of amplifying and focusing the desire. The act is a convergence of events and experiences that progressively increases the pressure on the protagonist until they surrender. Whether you stage it in Act II or break it into an Act II and III is just a structure design choice. The fundamental staging is the same.

[@audiogarden21]

Alan's the man!

[@lizgonzalez491]

This was awesome! Thank you.

[@cchoi108]

This was terrific. Thank you so much.

[@filmcourage]

Al is great!

[@MMorMM]

I'm pretty old, just getting started on a story I want to tell, with an opening scene in my mind, an allegory to be carried through the tale.
Mr. Watt is giving me what I need to build on this allegory to a much larger story. I think.
M

[@ccwoodlands1565]

One way to take Alan’s framework and say it in another way is to use what Craig Mazin says. “The purpose of a story is to take a character from ignorance of the truth of the theme to the embodiment of the theme through action.” The truth of the theme is “I don’t need to belong to someone or some group to give my life meaning.” My value as a person isn’t measured by the groups I belong to.

[@ratemyactors]

Fascinating insight into the art of storytelling! Alan Watt's 3-word breakdown of story structure is incredibly insightful and has given me a fresh perspective on building a compelling narrative. Will definitely be checking out the book recommendation!

[@scottisitt]

This seems like great life advice…not just story structure advice. 🙂

[@yomama211]

thank you

[@message_service]

Beautiful 🌞👍 thank you

[@versailleaaron3475]

The more I write the better I understand

[@ekurisona663]

5:05

[@JoelAdamson]

All that happens in Ladybird? The director did an amazing job... of disguising that there was a plot.

[@user-zd1jh5zz9n]

This man is awesome. I'm doing a one page Horror script project. Jimmy Franks hears is Doberman barking furious and his glass sliders downstairs smash in a milion pieces..

[@jonahlynx94]

For the life of me I cannot come up with a story with meaning. It's always just set pieces, even using all these tools for structure and character. Love Alan though.

[@Blackmuseops]

I'm the exact opposite. I suck at writing scenes 😅

[@zummani8719]

You can add meaning to a story by asking yourself, “How does this scenario impact my character?”
For example, if you have a character who has gotten into a car accident, and needs to wear a cast for 6 months, that’s bad.
BUT if you have a character who’s training to be an Olympic runner, get into that same accident on her way to a competition that could change her life. THATS more of a story.
Of course, it would suck for anyone to wear a cast for 6 months, but in the second story, the specifics adds meaning.
Hope this helps! ~✨

[@wexwuthor1776]

Do these ideas work for Dirty Harry or the Gunfighter With No Name? He doesn't seem to change much, and those are great stories.

[@scobrado]

What if everything your hero lost was working perfectly and _now_ has nothing? What happens next? I think _I_ know...

[@deirdrecollins4287]

Shursee???😂😂😂 Sur shuh is how she pronounces it!