Tag: story conflict

61: Hero’s Darkest Moment (Movement 4)

In this episode we discuss the story event Hero’s Darkest Moment. How does your Hero face their Shadow or Source of Antagonism internally? What is this Dark Night of the Soul really about?

54: Close Call (Movement 3)

How does your Hero react to crossing into the Danger Zone? Did they survive unharmed? What new realizations do they have? Join Devin and Adam as they explore the first story event in Movement 3, the Close Call.

53: Crossing Into the Danger Zone – Second Threshold (Movement 2)

How does this threshold manifest itself? What challenges do you face? What is holding you back from change? Join Devin and Adam as they explore the Second Threshold of your story – Crossing into the Danger Zone.

51: Rules and Tools (Movement 2)

What are the rules of your story’s mythology? What tools is your hero introduced to in order to deal with the unknown world of Act 2?

Though the Watering Hole event may raises the stakes by touching on the dangers of the Unknown World, the Rules & Tools event is our opportunity to equip our hero with some specific knowledge and tools they will need along the way.

49: First Day of School (Movement 2)

The First Day of School is the first story event in Act 2 and Movement 2. How does your hero respond to the contrast of Act 2’s Unknown World they have just entered? Are they shy, afraid, boastful, foolish? What does this tell us about them?

46: Refusal of Call (Movement 1)

Now that your hero has received the call, how do they answer it? Are they a willing Hero or do they have doubts and inner conflicts?

Refusing the Call to Quest provides the opportunity to strengthen our Hero’s character as they are within their ordinary world, and shed light on their internal obstacle(s), definitely highlighting their own uncertainty and lack of confidence in themselves to be able to embark on the journey presented to them in The call to Quest.
• Our Hero hesitates in their decision to heed the call to quest.
• Perhaps something happens that makes our Hero second guess embarking on the journey.
• Our Hero doubts themselves and their ability to physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually embark on the journey.
• Great setup opportunity to show our Hero’s arc in the end and how much they have learned and changed.

Debate (Internal and/or External): The debate is our Hero working through everything the herald character has presented them with. The debate is often more internal than external, and it’s our hero trying to weigh all of their options. Our Hero visits or is visited by something or someone that provides a new perspective that reinforces the importance of the journey.
•Our Hero realizes only they are supposed to go on the journey.
• Though doubt, fear and uncertainty still plagues our Hero.
• Can also include the Meeting with Mentor(s) scene(s).

41: Story Blūprint Overview

What are the events, movements, and acts of your Story Blūprint. What do you need to consider when creating your Blūprint? What are the important events of each movement? Join Adam and Devin for a basic summary of structure.

Story Breakdown: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Part 2)

Season’s greetings, storyosophers!

Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no! We’re all in this together. We’re gonna press on to Part 2 of our National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation story breakdown, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f*cking Kaye.

In part 2 of this special holiday Breakdown episode, Adam and Devin conclude their discussion of the comedy classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” by examining Acts 2 and 3.

38: Movement 4 (Act 2)

What are the events that take your hero from the midpoint crisis to their self realization and recovery? Join Adam and Devin as they finish breaking down Act 2, by examining Movement 4.

33: Scenes and Sequences

What are the elements that make up a good scene? How do you link scenes together to create a longer sequence? Devin and Adam discuss the building blocks of great scene building.

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