Transcripts
1. Welcome! It's So Nice to Meet You!: Intro: Hello there. And welcome to my first skill share class. My name's handy Clark. I am a author, an illustrator, a mixed media, folk artists and a public speaker. And I'm really excited to be here on skill share to be able to share my creative skills with you guys. Um, this class is the first in a series of writing classes that I'm putting together to help both beginning and intermediate. Writers kind of have the tools that they need to build a fantastic story from the bottom up . And so this class is focusing on the very base foundation of those writing tools, and I'm super excited to share them with you, so let's go get started.
2. What Kind of Storyteller Are You?: Part 1: So before we dive into basic story structure, I wanted to talk a little bit about, um, this idea of discovering what kind of a story tell you are now there two types of storytellers. The first is what they call a gardener, and second is what they call an architect. And what a gardener is is they are, um, kind of what I like to call this free spirited writer. They they, uh, like, really just have an idea in their mind and then just kind of dive into writing and see where that I did takes them. They really loved the idea of discovering their story. Um, an architect is not a free spirited writer. They like to go into writing with a blueprint. And I'm a map. They like to know the end before they get there so that they can map their way to the end. Ah, in meticulous detail. So when I first started out writing, I was attempting to write my first novel as a gardener. That was not my writing style. And the way that I discovered that was by, um, switching over to being an architect writer and finding that the time that it took me to write a story cut down by 1/3. The frustration that I felt as I wrote almost completely diminished and became it became a much more joyful experience for me. Um, so that was kind of my way of discovering what kind of a storyteller I am now. Both types of storytellers are totally valid. I don't want toe give any sort of an impression that I, um I think one's better than the other because I don't I do believe that one is better for me than the other. Um, and that's the thing. That's the reason why I wanted to talk about this is because I think that if you could discover early on what kind of a storyteller you are Um, not on Lee. Are you gonna have a much more joyful experience? But you will have a much more productive experience in your writing. So give that some thought, because I think that um, what you find might surprise you. It might not be totally surprised me, uh, and, um and it will definitely help you along in this journey of writing whatever it is you're setting out to write. So I will see you in the next segment where we will start talking about basic story structure
3. The Feralt's Triangle: Part 2: Hi there. Welcome back to the next segment. Eso basic story structure is something that, uh, I personally discovered, um, while I was taking a screenwriting class, so I taken plenty of creative writing classes. But for some reason, it wasn't until I taking this screenwriting class that this idea was ever introduced to me . And, um, the way it was introduced was through a diagram that I found in one of my screenwriting books called The Fruits Triangle. And what the frauds triangle is is it's pretty much just a visual diagram of what your stories should not only look like but what it should be doing and has key elements that are really vital to creating, um, the maximum experience for your reader. And, um, those key elements are so important in giving your reader the journey that is going toe have them coming back for more. Um, it's it's these elements are in all great stories. So the fraud strangled. Let's take a look at that diagram. Okay, this is the frauds triangle. Let's take a closer look at the key elements. Every story must have a beginning, middle and an end to be considered complete. Each of these three sections contains key points that must take place in a story. In the beginning of the story, we have what's called the inciting incident. The inciting incident is the moment that your protagonist decides to be the hero or heroine of their story. It's the moment that they make the choice that takes them on their quest, whatever it may be. In the middle of the story, we have what's called the rising action. The rising action is where all the tension and conflict builds For your protagonist, this is accomplished by employing something called Try Fail Cycles. Try fell cycles are little cycles within the rising action, where the protagonists tries to accomplish what they set out to do and then fails. Then they do it again and fail again. Then they do it 1/3 time and fail again. Anywhere between three and five of these trifle cycles and the rising action for the maximum effect less than three won't be enough. Tension built up for the reader to receive hehe when the protagonist finally succeeds more than five and the reader will get really frustrated. The climax is the element of the story that marks the beginning of the third act or the end . The simplest description of the climax is this. The protagonist tries one last time to achieve what they set out to do, and they finally succeed. Unless, of course, it's a tragedy were in. The protagonist will fell with tragic finality. The last element of the fraud strangle is the day Name Wa or the resolution. This is where all the loose ends are tied up and the reader gets to see the protagonist living happily ever after or in a tragedy. The reader gets to see the protagonist getting his comeuppance or being mourned except trip . So there you haven't That's the frauds triangle. Each of these elements are really key in creating a complete basic story structure.
4. This is How the Greats Do It: Part 3: all right. So in this next portion of the course, I want to demonstrate how the for all strangle sits into a really famous story. How a great writer has used it to create a really great story that resonates with lot leaders. And that story is the Hobbit. And instead of going from the novel I'm using in the three movies done by Peter Jackson, and I'm doing this in the hopes that more of you are familiar with the movie version that in the book I'm just so that we're all starting common ground here, Um so let's start with the beginning. In the beginning, we meet Bilbo and be Bilbo hasn't exchange with Gandalf. And then, um of course, he begins to have unexpected dinner guests show up. So that's the beginning of our story for the inciting incident. Ah, the moment that Bilbo takes control and decides to be the hero of this story is the moment that he decides to accept Thorn Okun Shields contract to be the burglar of their party and he takes off. He leaves the shire. Next, we have the trifle cycles, and each of these come from one of the three movies because, you know, as we know this, the Hobbit is just a single book, and Peter Jackson broke it up into three different movies. The first trifle cycle would be, of course, when um, they get taken captive in the Goblin's cave and they, um, of course, come out the other end of the Goblin's cave and are are confronted by the works. So you see Bilbo here trying to help Serrano concealed in his company, reached the Lonely Mountain. But they failed because they've gone into the Goblin cave, and for a moment it all looks hopeless, because how are they going to escape? And so the thing that I think is really important to remember about try Feel cycles is that even though the protagonist tries and fails in that cycle, there's always something good that happens in that a silver lining of sorts that pushes the plot forward that gets that productive protagonist closer, Teoh reaching their goal and the silver lining for this trifle. The cycle, of course we know is this is when Bilbo gets the ring of power from Gollum and, um as we know that that event plays a huge part in the rest of the story and the successes in the rest of the story. Now, the second try feel cycle is when they are they enter mirkwood and they can see the lonely mountain. Bilbo was able to rise above the wood and see the lonely mountain. But right after they're captured by spiders and then, of course, taken captive by the elves of the wood. Now, of course, the silver lining of this trifle cycle is that this is where the doors meet up with Legolas and Tariel and the Elf king, who later come in to play a huge part in defeating the Orc Army. And at the climax and three c Bilbo used during a power to ultimately rescue the dwarves from this, um, predicament. Now the third trifle cycle is when the company of Thorn Oaken Shield enters Lake Town and barred helps them, and he has promised them weapons and armor and clothing. And he has very sad, huh offerings to give the dwarfs that just totally unacceptable. And so the dwarves decided to break into the armory of the city and the cot. And that's one more weight. One more thing standing in the way of them reaching the Lonely Mountain. Now, one of the silver linings of this particular trifle cycle is that that this is where we meet Bard, who is the Bowman. And he is the one who is ultimately responsible for killing Small of the dragon. For the climax, we have the dwarves and Bilbo entering the Lonely mountain, and they released the dragon and the dragon is slain. Um, and Thorn is faced with dragon sickness, which is affecting everyone, including Bilbo, who was almost tossed over the side of the dwarf tower. But he plays a huge part in a thorn. Okay, Chill. Coming back to himself and finally defeating the white Orc. And, um so he Bilbo plays a huge part in that victory. And in the end, the battle's won over Bilbo. The ending is fairly happy as he survives and he gets to go home. And that's where we see the dynamo or the resolution is. Bilbo says goodbye to the dwarves. He gets his chest of gold, he has his ring of power and he and Gandalf returned to the shire where he after, of course, we reclaiming all of his possessions, which have been sold in his absence. He returns to live happily ever after for a time in the Shire. And then that's where we see the end of the toe. So, as you can see, this is, um, this is just a very loose example of how the try feel cycle is identifiable in in great literature in one of the most popular books of gosh all time. Probably, um, but you can see that there's a clear beginning. There's a clear middle. There's a clear end. There is a inciting incident, a very clear inciting incident. There's a rising action, and there's of course, way more that happens in that rising the action than what I've covered. But but you get the the feel of the trifle cycles happening where the tension is escalating and that's what those try feel cycles are all about. Is is escalation. You're trying your escalating the stakes again and again and again, and it creates that that tension, which is relieved in the climax and the Dana why is that kind of that wrap up? So we have a clear climax. It's a powerful climax where there's a great payoff, and then the resolution, which is very complete and satisfying for the reader. And then we have our end. And that is an example of this basic story structure happening in by one of the greats, one of the great writers of all time, J. R. R. Tolkien, who understood this hero's journey and this basic structure very well.
5. Building from the Bottom Up: Part 4: Okay, Now I'm going to show you how I use the world's triangle in my own writing to start a story . This is how I come up with the bare bones basic outline of my story, the outline that I take to go on and build my really meticulously detailed outline on. Um and this process of using this fraud strangled to get a basic I'll outline, would work for both a gardener or an architect in their writing styles. Because with a gardener, it doesn't give you too many details that you can't, um, still kind of discover your story. And for an architect, it gives you enough to continue on to the next step of, however details. You want to go in your outline. I personally go very details. So let's some Let's take a look at that. Okay, Now I want to show you how to use this world's triangle to begin a story. Um, so let's say that I have this idea for a realistic retelling of, um, like Little Red Riding Hood. Um, for my beginning, I would start by giving a brief introduction into my main character and the society she lives in and kind of, um what's what? The major issue, um, of their ah situation is, for example, in this situation, she lives in a society that's very contentious because the Vikings have come in and conquered the cults. And she is the daughter of the Viking chieftain. But she feels very conflicted about the treatment of the counts. Um, they are, ah, true. Treated very cruelly like slaves. Almost. And there There's also happens to be a dragon problem at the same time. So for the inciting the incident, what I would do I would do something to the effect that, um let's say ah Rossen's father goes out to try and defeat this dragon, but he is badly wounded and, um, maybe unconscious so he can't communicate anything more to her. And so she takes matters into her own hands to try and defeat this dragon that is just ravaging their villages and their people. So that's the inciting incident. She decides to take matters into her own hands. Um, so for the first trifle sick trifle cycle, she goes out to try and do this. Um, but on her way out, she's kind of, um, derailed when she sees the woodcutter. The Celtic would cut her son, um, being kind of beaten up by some of her Viking piers. So she stops, she intervenes. She, you know, sends these guys, these Viking guys on their way, and she helps and tries to get this would cut her son, um, cleaned up and back to his his father and whatnot. This, um, kind of causes her to miss her chance to go out and defeat the dragon. Now, the the silver lining of this try fail cycle is that she meets the woodcutter son was call him. Look, I, um and he is plays a key part in the rest of her story. Andi, particularly the success of her story. So, um, the next try feel cycle, Let's say she heads out again under the cover of night to defeat the dragon because the dragon only comes out at night. So she only has this brief amount of time to try and slay the dragon, and she heads out into the woods. And this time she is thwarted by Loki himself. So she's created her own problem because, like, I feels this major need to repay the debt that she's but that she gave him by by saving Kim pretty much saving his life from these Viking bullies. And so he's trying to repay his debt, and he thinks he's he's going to save her from the dragon, Um, when she in fact, is going to try and kill the dragon and, um consequently, he stops her and she misses her chance to defeat the dragon. And not only that, he drags her home thinking she's crazy for trying to slay the dragon of it. She's kind of out of remind because of what's going on with their father. And so he drags her home and returns for their safely to her, her paternal grandmother and, well, unconscious father, still who was recovering still from his injury. So, um, the silver lining of this trifle cycle is that Roz, um, has a conversation with her grandmother, who reveals that this great secret about her, um, about Rosen's deceased mother and her mother. Let's say her mother is also Celtic and her father married her in order to try and establish a more peaceful, um, invasion of the land. Let's say that, um, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Um, so she received this crazy news that she didn't ever realize that she was Celtic and maybe is starting to understand herself a little bit more like why she felt so wrong about, um, how the cults were being treated. But she also receives her mother's golden hood, which has, um, magical properties, and this not only allows her to be invisible, but it also leads her way. It leads shows for where to go. So Rozen, Thanks. Okay, this is it. This has to be the way that I defeat the dragon. So she heads out into the woods of third time, this time wearing the golden hood, and she's ready to be the dragon. Let's say she's almost got him in her sight. She's going to take him down, and then the golden hood kind of takes over and compels her away from her. Mark sends her in the completely opposite direction. She can't get away from it. She is compelled to go, and the golden hood leads her to the secret location of her mother's people. And so Rozen goes, and she meets for maternal grandmother and her aunts and her. Not only does she meet them, but she learns that her grandmother is the legendary Morgan Le Fay and she has magical properties. And she teaches Roz, um magic. And she helps her to kind of embrace her mother's people in her mother's heritage. And that, in turn, gives her the power that she needs to defeat the dragon once and from. So, um, of course, there's gonna be more that happens between this third trifle cycle and the actual climax. But for the sake of time and just following this basic structure, let's say that the climax is that, of course, you know, when all said and done, she confronts and defeats the dragon. And she also is able to confront her father about what has happened, um, to her mother's people and why he's allowed it to happen and kind of gains not only some insight enclosure into that, but also, um, learns that her father really was trying his hardest to do right by his mother, her mother's people. But, um, as we seen in our own history and past that these things unfortunately take more time than we would like, and he expresses the hope that as the next chief, then she will be able to take establishing that equality to the next level and really be successful in that. So there's our climax. Finally, the day name Wah, um would be perhaps that we see Roz um, really doing what her father had hoped. That she's really out among her people trying to establish more of inequality between both of her people's because she is of both of them and, um, really embracing that heritage. And, um, of course, also she and look, I, who is also the love interest, expressed their feelings to each other and they become the next king, king and queen of the people, and they are able to more fully blend or the two peoples together in a more peaceful cohabitation. So that would be our Dana Moi. And then, of course, we see them on the road to living happily ever after. So that is how I would use this basic structure, these key elements to kind of guide my way through creating a really solid foundation to begin, um, building on for a more thorough outline or two. If you're a gardener storyteller did to take that very basic map and begin writing your story and discovering where it's gonna take you from there. So hopefully kind of empowers you to see how valuable this basic structure is to helping you get started in writing and to also ensure that you have all of the elements that create a great story present before you start, you know, really building out in the details of the story.
6. Don't Worry. You've Got This! The Final Project: Part 5: Okay, You've seen the basic structure of a story in a diagram. You've seen how it works with the great writers of our time. You've seen how I use it. Teoh, start my story. Now it's your turn. You are assignment for this class is to take the for ALTs triangle diagram that I've provided for you and use it to diagram the very basis structure of your original story idea . Um, this is a great exercise to help you make sure that you have all the elements that you need to create a killer story for very beginning of your whole writing process. Um, it's a really great exercise also to share that with other writers because it's a great way to brainstorm and to get feedback from the very beginning before you move on any further in the process to make sure that you have a really sound foundation to your story, I highly encourage you Teoh, share your basic story structure outline of your original story idea here in our classroom and get feedback from the other students. It's a safe place, and it's a great place. Teoh, learn how to make your story the best that it can be. And I personally would really love to see how this helps you come up with fantastic story ideas. So thank you so much for taking the time Teoh view my course. I hope that you feel much more confident moving forward to the next step in your writing process. I also hope that you'll keep an eye out for my next course in this writing class. Siri's called Build Your Story like a bus crushing story mapping. Um, story mapping is the next step in my own personal writing process and introduces some really awesome tools to help you beef up your story's potential. So keeping out for that and, um, I look forward to see you guys next time, take care.
Hannie Clark, Author and Artist
