Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The audience is thinking and feeling something at every point in your story. This is called
the
external monologue.
Writing the desired external dialogue of your audience will allow
you to pinpoint exactly what where you want your audience to be in your story. You can
then construct, evaluate, and edit your confl ict events to guide your audience through
your story.
External dialogues can also be a good tool to see if your story is working the way you
want it to. Once you have a working storyboard or animatic, have someone else write an
external dialogue for you. Check it against what you desire for your piece. Where are the
audience members getting lost or bored? Do they know the ending before you want them
to? Look for places where they are thinking or feeling something different from what you
want them to. When you fi nd these places implement different tactics or reactions, compound
the problem differently, or change the story structure to guide your audience to where you
want them to be.
Building a Story: Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. Who is your character?
2. What is your character's goal?
3. What is your inciting moment?
4. Does your confl ict rise?
5. What is your character's reaction (not action) to the confl ict?
6. What does your character need to learn?
7. Does your ending relate to your beginning?
8. Is your audience entertained?
Summary
There is no magic formula for making a good story. Good story is a combination of strong
character combined with the appropriate choice of structure, confl ict, emotion, and reaction
for that character. Knowing the options allow the storyteller to experiment, search, and fi nd
the best way to tell the story.
When building story, remember:
• The story will change. You are searching for the best way to tell the story. Consider
the following on your search:
• Character
• Genre
• Time and Place
• Point of View
