How to Write a Story that Rocks

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How to Write a Story That Rocks First Principle: Have something to say before you write Juice up the Problem 1. List & Twist (opposite, different, unrelated) • Kumbaya 2. Genre Jolt • Won't have full picture, will develop as you write, but must have 3. Change Arena something living 4. What's Cool? (What's funny?) 4 Key Things to Develop 5. How has it been done by others? Learn & twist 1. Character 6. Motive Twist 2. Setting a. Why? Why really? 3. Problem b. What's the antagonist really after? 4. Plot 7. Situation—what's going on? What's really going on? No really. Second Principle: Form Follows Function 8. Raise stakes • Can't develop Big 4 in any old way a. How can things get worse? • Provo to Coalville in 60 min: not all modes of transportation work b. What is the worst that could happen? Third Principle: Follow Your Passion 9. Complicate • What rocks you might not rock me o Dilemma--conflicts with hero's other values or desires o Conflicts with what other "good" guys want • 10 stories—what draws you? o Conflicts with setting Problem: The Engine o How is villain 2 steps ahead? HAPPINESS DANGER/THREAT LACK/OPP MYSTERY o Does hero have handicap or flaws? Physical Creative Principles Social • 3 step process: Feed (Zing), Activate Prior Knowledge, Q&A Possession • Farmer's faith--trust process, use manure Freedom • Follow your zing Hope Juice up the Characters--2 main things Meaningfulness Interest Factors Self-worth a) Extraordinary job, traits, j) Rogue • What are the dangers here? What could go terribly wrong? history, skills--Awe k) In terrible danger • Who hurts the most? Who stands to lose the most? b) Powerful l) We want to root for them • Who poses a threat? c) Beautiful m) Fighting injustice • What does villain want? What's his or her plan? What gives the d) Wish-fulfillment n) Goals, hungers villain the odds? e) Humorous (lines, 8 types) o) Surprising, against type • Criminal aspects? f) Outrageous, eccentric, odd • What could be lost? Opportunities/lacks? Mysteries? g) Mystery, Secrets • Inner problem or external? h) Intriguing back story • Immediate, significant, specific, probable? i) Dangerous John Brown, author of SERVANT OF A DARK GOD, JohnDBrown.com

Rooting Factors Root For Root Against • Situation • Situation o Fighting injustice, for o Source of threat to opportunity, to escape happiness lack o Obstacle to person o Underdog we're rooting for • Character is Sympathetic • Character is Contemptible o Enjoyable o Engenders resentment o Engenders gratitude o Ruthless o Admirable o Cruel o Beautiful o Self-serving o Courageous, clever, o Untrustworthy dependable, goodo Whiner humored, fair, etc. o Self-righteous o Takes action Juice up the Setting o Cool o Dangerous o Wonderful o Twisted Plot: How the character solves or doesn't solve the problem o Needs to take a form that produces desired effect in reader ƒ Curiosity & Suspense > Noo! > Triumph, Relief ƒ One pattern: Prob, Not Right, Real Prob, Worst Fears, Resolution o What makes problems harder to solve? ƒ Wrong diagnosis, Hard to diagnose ƒ Conflicts—with self (dilemma), others on team, antagonists, setting ƒ Obstacles ƒ Things go wrong, Unforeseen complications ƒ Villain isn't a blockhead—reacts and adjusts, is a few steps ahead o Turns, reversals, etc.—new info or event changes situation Process to Bring it to Life: Step, Sketch, Draft

Story Cycle

Scene Sketch o What's the story cycle step? How will this move story forward? o Who is there? Goals, motives, who has issues with whom? o Where are they? Unique visuals, sounds, smells, time, sun, season, weather? o What surprises & conflicts does the protagonist encounter? o What's the outline of what happens? o What are some payoffs? Draft Guidelines (there are more) o In late, out early o Stimulus-Response o Vivid nouns, active verbs o Begin with hook, end with turn o Orient reader in first paragraph-who, where, what, when

John Brown, author of SERVANT OF A DARK GOD, JohnDBrown.com