The Anatomy of Story

1. Story is a living system with interconnected subsystems

A great story describes human beings going through an organic process. But it is also a living body unto itself.

Holistic approach to storytelling. A story is not just a sequence of events, but a complex system of interrelated parts. Like a living organism, it has various subsystems that work together to create a unified whole. These subsystems include:

• Characters: The heart and circulatory system
• Plot: The skeleton
• Theme: The brain
• Story world: The skin
• Revelations: The nervous system

Each subsystem influences and is influenced by the others, creating a dynamic and organic narrative. This interconnectedness ensures that changes in one area ripple through the entire story, maintaining coherence and depth.

2. Premise is the seed of your story and determines its potential

What you choose to write about is far more important than any decision you make about how to write it.

The power of a good idea. The premise is the fundamental concept of your story, condensed into a single sentence. It serves as the seed from which all other elements grow. A strong premise:

• Provides inspiration and excitement for the writer
• Offers a unique perspective or twist on familiar themes
• Contains inherent conflict and dramatic potential
• Suggests possibilities for character development and plot

To develop a powerful premise:

1. Write something that may change your life
2. Look for what's possible within the idea
3. Identify story challenges and problems
4. Find the designing principle that organizes the story
5. Determine your best character in the idea

3. Seven key steps form the foundation of every great story

All stories are a form of communication that expresses the dramatic code.

The universal structure of storytelling. The seven key steps represent the fundamental stages of character growth and plot development that resonate with human experience. These steps are:

1. Weakness and need
2. Desire
3. Opponent
4. Plan
5. Battle
6. Self-revelation
7. New equilibrium

This structure is not arbitrary but reflects the organic process of human change and problem-solving. By following these steps, writers can create stories that feel natural and satisfying to audiences, regardless of genre or medium.

4. Characters are defined through comparison in a web of relationships

To create great characters, think of all your characters as part of a web in which each helps define the others.

The power of contrast and connection. Characters don't exist in isolation but gain depth and meaning through their relationships with others. This web of relationships includes:

• Hero vs. Main Opponent
• Hero vs. Allies
• Hero vs. Fake-ally Opponents
• Subplot Characters

By comparing and contrasting characters, writers can:

• Highlight unique traits and flaws
• Create complex, multi-dimensional personalities
• Develop organic conflicts and alliances
• Express theme through character interactions

The character web should be based on the story's central moral problem, with each character representing a different approach or perspective on the issue.

5. Moral argument is expressed through structure, not preaching

Good writers express their moral vision slowly and subtly, primarily through the story structure and the way the hero deals with a particular situation.

Show, don't tell. A story's moral argument is most effective when it emerges organically from the characters' actions and decisions, rather than being explicitly stated. To achieve this:

1. Establish the hero's initial moral weakness
2. Create a central moral problem that challenges the hero
3. Show the hero making increasingly difficult moral choices
4. Allow the hero to learn and change through experience
5. Culminate in a final moral decision that demonstrates growth

By embedding the moral argument in the story's structure, writers can engage readers emotionally and intellectually without resorting to heavy-handed moralizing.

6. Story world is a physical manifestation of characters and theme

The world of your story is where you begin to add the rich texture that is one of the marks of great storytelling.

Creating a meaningful environment. The story world is not just a backdrop but an integral part of the narrative that reflects and influences the characters and themes. A well-crafted story world:

• Expresses the hero's internal state and struggles
• Provides obstacles and opportunities for character growth
• Reinforces the story's central themes and conflicts
• Creates a unique atmosphere and tone

Elements of the story world include:

• Natural settings (e.g., ocean, forest, desert)
• Man-made spaces (e.g., houses, cities)
• Technology and tools
• Time (seasons, historical era)

By carefully designing these elements, writers can create a rich, immersive experience that deepens the audience's engagement with the story.

7. Symbols create a hidden language that emotionally sways the audience

Symbols are crucial to your success as a storyteller because they give you a hidden language that emotionally sways the audience.

The power of subtext. Symbols are concentrated packets of meaning that work on the audience's subconscious, creating resonance and depth in the story. Effective use of symbols can:

• Convey complex ideas and emotions concisely
• Create thematic connections throughout the story
• Enhance the emotional impact of key moments
• Add layers of meaning for attentive audiences

Types of symbols include:

• Story symbols (representing the entire narrative)
• Character symbols
• Thematic symbols
• World symbols
• Action symbols
• Object symbols

To create a powerful symbol web, start with the story's designing principle and develop interconnected symbols that reinforce and illuminate each other.

8. Plot is the intricate weaving of revelations and character development

Plot is the under-the-surface weaving of various lines of action or sets of events so that the story builds steadily from the beginning through the middle to the end.

The art of storytelling. A well-crafted plot is more than just a sequence of events; it's a carefully orchestrated series of revelations that drive character development and maintain audience engagement. Key elements of effective plotting include:

• Organic connection between events
• Steadily increasing conflict and stakes
• Strategic withholding and revealing of information
• Interplay between character growth and external challenges

Plot types:

1. Journey Plot
2. Three Unities Plot
3. Reveals Plot
4. Antiplot
5. Genre Plot
6. Multistrand Plot

The best plots combine elements from different types to create a unique and compelling narrative structure.

9. The 22-step story structure ensures organic plot development

The twenty-two building blocks of every great story are the crucial structure events, or stages, in the unfolding of an organic plot.

A comprehensive blueprint for storytelling. The 22-step structure expands on the seven key steps, providing a detailed guide for plot development. This structure:

• Ensures steady build-up of conflict and revelations
• Maintains narrative drive throughout the story
• Integrates character development with plot progression
• Allows for flexibility while maintaining organic coherence

Key steps in the 22-step structure include:

1. Self-revelation, need, and desire
2. Ghost and story world
3. Inciting event
4. Plan
5. Drive
6. Attack by ally
7. Apparent defeat
8. Second revelation and decision
9. Audience revelation
10. Battle
11. Self-revelation
12. Moral decision

By following this structure, writers can create complex, satisfying narratives that feel natural and inevitable.

10. Revelations are the key to creating a compelling plot

In many ways, the quality of your plot comes down to the quality of your revelations.

The power of surprise and discovery. Revelations are crucial plot points that provide new information, forcing characters to reassess their understanding and change their course of action. Effective use of revelations:

• Drives the story forward
• Increases tension and audience engagement
• Deepens character development
• Uncovers hidden aspects of the story world and theme

To create powerful revelations:

1. Ensure each revelation is important and impacts the story
2. Build revelations in intensity and frequency
3. Connect revelations to character decisions and changes
4. Use revelations to expose the true nature of conflicts and relationships

The most powerful revelation is the reversal, which completely transforms the audience's understanding of the entire story.

11. A storyteller can add complexity and subtlety to your narrative

Using a recognizable storyteller allows you greater complexity and subtlety.

The art of narrative framing. Incorporating a storyteller into your narrative can provide unique advantages and opportunities for deepening your story. Benefits of using a storyteller include:

• Adding layers of interpretation and perspective
• Exploring themes of memory, truth, and subjectivity
• Creating intimacy between the audience and the narrative
• Allowing for non-linear storytelling and complex time structures

Techniques for effective use of a storyteller:

1. Make the storyteller the true main character
2. Introduce the storyteller in a dramatic situation
3. Find a compelling trigger for telling the story
4. Allow the storyteller to learn and change through the act of narration

When used skillfully, a storyteller can transform a simple plot into a rich, multi-layered exploration of human experience and the nature of storytelling itself.

Last updated: January 23, 2025