TIPS: Story Structure

#writingtips 

If you're someone who struggles with plotting their story, then you might find the following useful.

The Hero's Journey is an idea put forward by Joseph Campbell, an anthropologist who traveled the world collecting stories. On comparing them, he found a common storyline to them. This was documented in The Hero With A Thousand Faces, and has been simplified by him into twelve steps. These have been embraced by the writer community at large, not least the screenwriting community in Hollywood, who sometimes take it as their mantra.

I won't attempt to precis it here, but you can look at these posts or read the book.

However - and this blew my mind - Dan Harmon (creator of Community) has managed to simplify it even further into the diagram above. Here's the jist:

Draw a circle and divide it in half vertically.

Divide the circle again horizontally.

Starting from the 12 o clock position and going clockwise, number the 4 points where the lines cross the circle: 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Number the quarter-sections themselves 2, 4, 6 and 8.
Here we go, down and dirty:

1. . A character is in a zone of comfort,
2. . But they want something.
3. . They enter an unfamiliar situation,
4. . Adapt to it,
5. . Get what they wanted,
6. . Pay a heavy price for it,
7. . Then return to their familiar situation,
8. . Having changed.

From Dan Harmon

And that's your story structure right there! When I've been looking for a plot, I often turn to the Hero's Journey for help, but this easy to draw and remember diagram has revolutionised my planning stage. Harmon continues: 

Start thinking of as many of your favorite movies as you can, and see if they apply to this pattern. Now think of your favorite party anecdotes, your most vivid dreams, fairy tales, and listen to a popular song (the music, not necessarily the lyrics). Get used to the idea that stories follow that pattern of descent and return, diving and emerging. Demystify it. See it everywhere.

Read the rest of his articles at Channel 101.