deSTORYmentor
Every culture has stories to tell. These stories form the basis for how we think about the world and live our lives.
Stories show us what we have in common with others, and we learn to engage with others in spite of our differences as we come to understand who they are and where we stand in this world.
We tend to remember and process information better when we hear or read a story because narratives reach deep into our psyche and provide a deeper understanding of concepts, thoughts, and ideas.
Everyone has a story to tell. You have yours, and if you pay close attention to your story, you will realize that your stories are collections of your experiences.
When you listen to a story of someone else’s life, it’s as if you’re living their story for those brief moments, and that experience allows you to learn from other people’s experiences.
For centuries, stories have been used to pass on knowledge, and when important teachings are embedded in a story, we embrace that information uniquely because we tend to remember the underlying emotions in a story rather than the actual elements of that story.
Elements Of A Story
Character
Setting
Conflict
Plot
Theme
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?
WHO IS THE STORY ABOUT?
WHAT IS THE CHARACTER'S PROBLEM?
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE STORY TAKING PLACE?
WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT EVENTS THAT OCCUR IN THE STORY?
Character
Internal Conflict
External Conflict
Plot
EXPOSITION - Introduce Main Character/s and Setting
INCITING INCIDENT - Introduce the Main Conflict/Problem
RISING ACTION / ESCALATING CONFLICT - Character makes a series of attempts to Solve the problem but keeps failing or has limited success. Leads to an ultimate Low Point where everything has gotten worse.
ACT 1 - Beginning
ACT 2 - Middle
ACT 3 - End
CLIMAX - After realizing an important TRUTH during the Low Point, the Character makes a final attempt to solve the problem. In ends in either Success or Failure.
RESOLUTION - Character comes to terms with the Success or Failure of their final actions and start a new chapter of their lives.
deSTORYmentor
Character
PROBLEM Conflict
Character
Internal Conflict
DESIRE
FEAR
External Conflict
GOAL
OBSTACLES
Character
Internal Conflict
DESIRE
FEAR
External Conflict
GOAL
OBSTACLES
FLAWED PHILOSOPHY/ WRONG BELIEF - the "LIE" which is the root of the character's "FAILURES"
TRANSFORMATION - realize that the old beliefs were wrong and start believing in what is "TRUE".
Character
Internal Conflict
DESIRE
FEAR
External Conflict
GOAL
OBSTACLES
Setting
FLAWED PHILOSOPHY/ WRONG BELIEF - the "LIE" which is the root of the character's "FAILURES"
TRANSFORMATION - realize that the old beliefs were wrong and start believing in what is "TRUE".
Setting
from Stories Matter by TCKPUBLISHING.COM
Character
ACTION
OBSTACLE
DESIRE
CASE STUDY: THE GOOD FATHER
Character: An extremely ambitious and hardworking Father.
Internal Conflict
FEAR
External Conflict
GOAL
OBSTACLES
FLAWED PHILOSOPHY/ WRONG BELIEF - the "LIE" which is the root of the character's "FAILURES"
TRANSFORMATION - realize that the old beliefs were wrong and start believing in what is "TRUE".
DESIRE
The LIE: Pure Ambition = Material Success = Happiness and Security
to be seen as weak and as a failure
career success (promotion) for him.
academic success (high grades) for his son.
employees are not as hardworking as he is.
son would rather draw than study
The TRUTH: Spending Quality Time = Happiness and Security
to validate himself as a competent father and provider, and to build a Happy and Secure Future for his Family.
WHAT DOES THE CHARACTER WANT?
WHAT IS COMING BETWEEN THE CHARACTER AND THEIR DESIRE AND GOAL?
WHAT DOES THE CHARACTER DO TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL?
WHAT GREAT FAILURE OCCURS THAT MAKES THE CHARACTER RECONSIDER THEIR ACTIONS, MOST ESPECIALLY THEIR BELIEFS?
WHAT IS THE REAL TRUTH THAT THE CHARACTER REALIZES? WHAT CHANGES DO THEY MAKE IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THEIR DESIRE AND GOAL?
HOW HAVE THE CHARACTERS LIVES CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE REALIZATION OF THE TRUTH?
Character Arc
EXPOSITION - Introduce Main Character's GOAL and DESIRE.
INCITING INCIDENT - Introduce the Main Character's OBSTACLES and FEARS
RISING ACTION / ESCALATING CONFLICT - Character's FEAR and MISBELIEF keep leading them to do the WRONG thing which constantly leads to Failure.
CLIMAX - Character REALIZES the TRUTH and conquers their FEAR which leads them to "DO THE RIGHT THING."
RESOLUTION - Character comes to terms with the Success or Failure of their final actions and start a new chapter of their lives.
WHAT DOES THE CHARACTER DO TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES AND ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL?
WHAT GREAT FAILURE OCCURS THAT MAKES THE CHARACTER RECONSIDER THEIR ACTIONS, MOST ESPECIALLY THEIR BELIEFS?
WHAT IS THE REAL TRUTH THAT THE CHARACTER REALIZES? WHAT CHANGES DO THEY MAKE IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THEIR DESIRE AND GOAL?
HOW HAVE THE CHARACTERS LIVES CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE REALIZATION OF THE TRUTH?
WHAT IS COMING BETWEEN THE CHARACTER AND THEIR DESIRE AND GOAL?
WHAT DOES THE CHARACTER WANT?
ACT 1 - Beginning
ACT 2 - Middle
ACT 3 - End
to validate himself as a competent father and provider, and to build a Happy and Secure Future for his Family.
career success (promotion) for him.
academic success (high grades) for his son.
employees are not as hardworking as he is.
son would rather draw than study
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click to edit
The LIE: Pure Ambition = Material Success = Happiness and Security
The TRUTH: Spending Quality Time = Happiness and Security
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click to edit
WHO IS THE STORY ABOUT AND WHAT IS THEIR SITUATION?
WHAT URGENT PROBLEM ARISES THAT THE CHARACTER NEEDS TO RESOLVE?
WHAT ACTIONS DO THE CHARACTERS TAKE IN ORDER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM?
WHAT FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THESE ACTIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN?
EXTERNAL FOCUS
INTERNAL FOCUS
WHAT CHANGE IN APPROACH DOES THE CHARACTER UNDERTAKE IN APPROACHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
DO THEY SUCCEED OR FAIL?
HOW HAVE THE CHARACTERS LIVES CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE REALIZATION OF THE TRUTH?
25% OF STORY
50% OF STORY
25% OF STORY
25% OF STORY
50% OF STORY
25% OF STORY
deSTORYmentor
deSTORYmentor
FICTION IS THE LIE THROUGH WHICH WE TELL THE TRUTH - Albert Camus