Story Trumps Structure

1. Stories thrive on tension, not plot or character

At its core, when you strip everything away, what is a story? Do all stories, regardless of genre, share some characteristics?

Tension is key. Stories are fundamentally about characters in conflict, caught between their present condition and their unmet desires. This tension drives the narrative forward, not plot points or character development alone. Effective storytelling involves introducing and escalating tension throughout the narrative.

• Three types of struggles interweave in stories:
  • Internal struggles (questions that need answers)
  • External struggles (problems that need solutions)
  • Interpersonal struggles (relationships that need development)

The more profound the internal struggle, the more significant the character's transformation. External struggles reveal character traits, while internal and interpersonal struggles serve to transform the protagonist.

2. Organic writing trumps rigid outlining

Story trumps structure, and structure trumps grammar—not the other way around.

Trust the process. Organic writing allows for a more natural and intuitive approach to storytelling. Instead of rigidly adhering to a predetermined outline, writers should focus on asking the right questions and letting the narrative forces shape their story.

Three essential questions to guide organic writing:

1. "What would this character naturally do in this situation?"
2. "How can I make things worse?"
3. "How can I end this in a way that's unexpected and inevitable?"

By responding to these questions and staying attuned to the story's evolving needs, writers can create more engaging and believable narratives that resonate with readers.

3. Causality and believability are crucial for story flow

Everything that happens in a story is caused by the thing that precedes it.

Maintain logical progression. Causality and believability are fundamental to keeping readers engaged in the story. Events should follow logically from what precedes them, and characters should act in contextually believable ways.

Key principles for maintaining causality and believability:

• Ensure actions are properly motivated
• Avoid coincidences and deus ex machina resolutions
• Foreshadow important events and skills
• Present a chain of evidence for implausible scenarios
• Allow characters to question unbelievable situations

By adhering to these principles, writers can create a seamless narrative flow that keeps readers immersed in the story world.

4. Promises and payoffs drive reader engagement

Stories are built on promises.

Fulfill reader expectations. Every word, scene, and character description in a story is a promise to the reader about its significance. Writers must carefully manage these promises and deliver satisfying payoffs to maintain reader engagement.

Types of promises in storytelling:

• Explicit promises (direct statements or clear implications)
• Implicit promises (subtle hints or narrative weight)
• Genre-based promises (expectations set by the story's category)

To keep readers invested, writers should:

• Make big promises early in the story
• Escalate tension as the story progresses
• Deliver on promises at the right moment
• Avoid breaking promises or leaving them unfulfilled

5. Twists should be unexpected yet inevitable

In retrospect, they will see that everything was pointing in that direction all along.

Balance surprise and logic. Effective plot twists should catch readers off guard while still making perfect sense within the context of the story. This delicate balance keeps readers engaged and satisfied with the narrative's progression.

Elements of a successful twist:

1. Unexpected: Readers shouldn't see it coming
2. Inevitable: It should make perfect sense in hindsight
3. Escalation: It should raise the stakes of the story
4. Revelation: It should add new meaning to previous events

To craft compelling twists, writers should:

• Create multiple worlds of inevitability
• Redirect suspicion away from the true outcome
• Eliminate obvious solutions
• Avoid gimmicks and clichés

6. Effective characterization relies on variable status

Variable status is the key to dimensionality.

Develop complex characters. Status – the level of dominance or submission in social interactions – is a crucial element of characterization. By showing how a character's status varies in different situations and relationships, writers can create more nuanced and memorable characters.

Aspects of status in characterization:

• Relational status (based on relationships)
• Positional status (based on roles or titles)
• Situational status (based on specific circumstances)

To create well-rounded characters:

• Show status variations across different contexts
• Use word choice and body language to convey status
• Provide opportunities for characters to be heroic
• Balance high and low status moments for protagonists

7. Fiction should reflect life's agathokakological nature

We humans have agathokakological hearts.

Embrace complexity. Effective fiction should reflect the dual nature of human existence, encompassing both good and evil, beauty and ugliness, joy and sorrow. By presenting this complex reality, writers can create more impactful and truthful stories.

Principles for reflecting life's agathokakological nature:

• Avoid romanticizing or simplifying human nature
• Present both the glory and the pain of existence
• Explore moral dilemmas and ethical complexities
• Show characters struggling with their own contradictions

By embracing this multifaceted approach to storytelling, writers can create fiction that resonates deeply with readers and offers genuine insights into the human condition.

Last updated: April 24, 2025