The Story Template: The Story Template: Conquer Writer's Block Using the Universal Structure of Story How to Write Short Stories And Use Them to Further Your Writing Career . It was great to read a truly helpful book about writing.
Table of contents
- The Story Template: Conquer Writer's Block Using the Universal Structure of Story
- The Story Template: Conquer Writer's Block Using the Universal Structure of Story by Amy Deardon
- Sign in to your account.
Once I had my background knowledge, I coached students to develop their stories, and thereby constructed an algorithm for the practical application of this theory. Is this a formula or blueprint you can mindlessly follow, like a paint-by-numbers canvas? In a word, no. I like to call what I found a template since it describes the shape or progression, on a deep level, of virtually all stories.
Recognizing this pattern in a story is something I liken to sketching a face. The template gives you a guide, but never dictates, what you can write.
The Story Template: Conquer Writer's Block Using the Universal Structure of Story
Getting the story shape right is the first, and in my opinion the hardest step to writing a gripping novel or screenplay. Without good structure, the story tends to meander without a point: You may want to first read this entire book to get an overview of story before starting with the exercises. Keep in mind that shaping a story is intensive work, and it will take you weeks or even months to get your story organized. Take your time to thoroughly work through each step.
At the end, your story will be much stronger, and the actual writing will go like a dream. This book is not sufficient for producing a finished story ready for publication or production. You will need to master further writing techniques such as characterization, description, dialogue, transitions, editing, etc. I will touch upon a few of these to give you some direction, but the only way to get really good is to practice.
Fortunately, many excellent books are available for help. See Appendix One to start. Outline of The Plan. I like to use the metaphor of constructing a house to envision building a story. To assemble a house, you move from larger to smaller elements to sequentially put something together.
Only after you have worked through many tasks is it finally time to do the fine details of painting the windowsills and installing the wallpaper. If you write your first draft as the ideas occur to you, then this will comprise your story planning. Believe me, this is a laborious and frustrating way to go. The Story Template gives a series of actions for you to do that will allow you to develop your story ideas with a minimum of angst and wasted energy.
Some exercises will be quick, others will require a great deal of thought, and perhaps even a marination of thought, before finishing. As you continue to develop your story you will probably revisit different components of these exercises, going back and changing previous work, as you move through this programmed story outliner.
Just go with the flow, and have fun. You will have a detailed roadmap that will allow you to bring your vision—your book or screenplay—to completion. A tool with which to do your major writing, either a computer, an old-fashioned typewriter, or paper and pencil.
If you do handwrite your notes, you may want to treat yourself to a special pen that you love, and is only to be used for your magnus opus. A system to organize your template exercises. I prefer hard copy: But do what works for you. A small notebook to carry with you at all times. Use this to jot down any thoughts that come to you. Also get a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker thin tip for bold marks. Finally, you may want to purchase an index card binder to permanently keep your cards in order.
Decide on a daily quota of words that is manageable. A good starting goal might be , but remember to keep pushing this number up as you become accustomed to the writing process. Create a log to record your daily output. Post this on your refrigerator or otherwise keep it prominent in your daily life. Set aside at least fifteen minutes at a time in which you can remain undisturbed. Aim for an hour or more if you can. Turn off anything that might distract you—music, radio, or television. At first glance, you may think the book is strictly for those who love to outline their novels.
And I definitely think it would be a huge benefit for that kind of writer. It lays out all the elements and helps you get everything in order, in the right proportion, and the various "pillars" interconnected. She recommends the use of note cards and story boards--things that make pantsers cringe. BUT, I think all writers--outliners, pantsers, and hybrids--would benefit from this book, just in different ways. As I read through, I was mentally checking my already written and published novel, Finding Angel, against her recommendations.
First, it was lovely to see that I apparently grasped a lot of this intuitively, as I was able to pretty much check off everything Deardon discussed. And as I did so, I couldn't help thinking what a great tool for someone who has finished a manuscript to go through and find if and where anything isn't right with their story!
I believe wholeheartedly that if your manuscript seems "off" in any way, The Story Template will help you pinpoint why. Deardon takes you through creating a one-sentence description of your story concept, to a larger description, to a full synopsis. If you've already written your manuscript, follow her techniques backwards to narrow down your story to a synopsis and then a one-line pitch. I wish I'd had this book when I was trying to do that for Finding Angel--I really think it would have made the process much less painful! All in all, I highly recommend this book. More experienced writers may find the later writing, editing, and submission basics chapters something they can skim past, but they are great chapters for newer writers who need to know "what's the next step.
Dec 09, Charlene Amsden rated it it was amazing Shelves: This isn't just another book on writing great prose, or creating memorable characters, or detailing place, or creating a scene. In The Story Template, Amy Deardon explains what she discovered when she sat down and applied scientific research techniques to isolate the common elements that make hit stories, hits. In reading The Story Template prospective writers will not only learn what elements comprise all hit stories, they will also receive practical instruction on how to implement those ideas. If you've got the great prose, memorable characters, vivid place down pat, but your stories still keep falling flat, then The Story Template just might be the last writing book you'll ever need.
Nov 17, Elizabeth rated it it was amazing Shelves: Amy Deardon has met that second criterion. This is one of the broad, general books on writing: Deardon lays out a process that takes the reader from the first idea for a novel or screenplay through submitting a finished manuscript. She states up front that her book won't be enough on its own to get you a finished work, and I'd agree; it covers each aspect of writing too briefly.
If you need to work on your world-building or character development or whatever, you'll need to read further. But as anyone who's familiar with the writing section of the bookstore knows, there are plenty of books out there to help you, and if you want suggestions about where to start, Deardon includes a bibliography of her favorites. Of the topics Deardon covers, story structure and character development interest me the most, so those were the sections I paid the most attention to. Perhaps other authors have described the model of four story pillars that are the foundation of her story template—plot, character, moral, and story world—but this was the first time I'd come upon all of them organized like this, and how they're the combination of the inner and outer stories with the concrete and the abstract.
- Die ohne Skrupel sind...: Kriminalroman (German Edition).
- Prisoners of Love : A guide for anyone wanting to cultivate, maintain.
- From Agoraphobia to Zen: Uncovering The Core of My Anxiety and Reclaiming My Life.
- The Edge of Tomorrow!
- See a Problem?.
- The Quotable Edison;
This alone didn't get the book the high rating I gave it, but it's a major part of it. Her "story strands" were also new to me, and I think they'd be a useful way of keeping track of subplots. Books on writing often include exercises, as does this one. Unlike many of them, though, the "exercises" in The Story Template are more like guided instructions for working up your own novel or screenplay, rather than small practice pieces.
This approach appeals to me, although I'm guessing it will seem too rigid for people who prefer to do their writing intuitively—but then, if you really don't like the idea of outlining your novel, you're probably not planning on reading this book anyway. Dec 30, Laura rated it really liked it. It takes you from Title: It takes you from the beginning, using the plotting method, of planning your novel. Who are your characters?
What do they do? What do you want the underlying message of the story to be? Where will it be set?
What do you envision when you think of that area? It is an invaluable tool for the beginning writer, or even a more accomplished one who is suffering from writers block—or finding themselves facing a tight deadline with no idea where to start. Jan 22, Jane Lebak rated it it was amazing Shelves: The earliest exercises help you nail down what you love about the books you read, and then you begin framing out your own work. These exercises are thorough and will address every aspect of your book, from character development to setting to theme. The final exercises help you develop your logline, synopsis and pitch.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who writes fiction. Dec 08, Catherine Richmond added it. A well-organized set of lessons and exercises to help structure your story. If I wasn't such a seat-of-the-pants writers, I'd use this. I've been writing for over two decades now, so it's rare I find a new concept in a writing manual. But this author had several. I especially liked the idea of a protagonist-mirror, a character who had been confronted with the same problem as the protagonist, but made a different decision. I used that in my work in progress.
The Story Template: Conquer Writer's Block Using the Universal Structure of Story by Amy Deardon
The only thing I'd change about this b A well-organized set of lessons and exercises to help structure your story. The only thing I'd change about this book is adding an index. Maybe I'll stick some Post-It note tabs in to help find key concepts. The Story Template is a welcome addition to any writer's toolbox. Mar 18, PoligirlReads rated it really liked it. While not as engaging as C. Yardley's "Will write for shoes," this was a really helpful book.
I particularly liked her usage of well-known books and movies to illustrate her points. There really is a universal story structure, and she is very compelling. Less compelling was her use of "you might not agree, but my research proves that But I understand that that's not While not as engaging as C. But I understand that that's not something everyone enjoys. I'm not for free-writing as it's never been useful to me, so I ignored most of the activities.
But the nuts-and-bolts advice was very useful. If you've ever thought about writing a novel, or even a short story, this book is for you. Never written anything before, have writer's block, or just don't know how to get started putting your ideas for a great story down on paper? Reading this instructional book with its easy to follow exercises is sure to jumpstart your imagination and creativity.
While I haven't written my first widely acclaimed novel just yet, haven't even started it, this book certainly has me believing in the possibility. Mar 21, Dezra rated it liked it Shelves: The first half of the book has good exercises to help develop a novel or script. It was informative and something to refer to if you get stuck with your writing. I would give the first half 4 stars. I didn't read it.
Sign in to your account.
I give the second half 2 stars. Jun 13, Jessica rated it it was amazing Shelves: If you are looking for a formula to write that novel, well, it doesn't exist. But this is the closest you'll come to a step-by-step guide to writing a novel or screen play. After each lesson, Amy provides an exercise. By middle of the book, your novel will begin to take shape and have depth. I highly recommend this book for any novice writer looking to learn the trade and for any advanced writer seeking a boost.
Nov 12, Fred Rose rated it liked it Shelves: I don't write fiction but a lot of non-fiction and presentations, so telling stories is still important.