The TOP 10 Story Structures Used By Successful Writers

Summary

In this video, Chris Brennan explores ten prolific story structure models that successful writers use to craft engaging narratives. He introduces methods like the Snowflake Method, guiding viewers through the process of developing their stories from a single idea into a full-fledged narrative. The steps include summarizing the story, expanding it into detailed paragraphs, creating character charts, breaking down scenes, and ultimately writing the first draft. Chris encourages viewers to share their favorite models and offers assistance in crafting captivating loglines for their stories, making the video a valuable resource for aspiring writers.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Snowflake Method is an effective way to develop a story from a small idea into a full draft.
• 📄 Start by summarizing your story in a single sentence that captures the main elements: characters, settings, conflicts, and resolution.
• 📝 Expand the one-sentence summary into a one-page summary, detailing the story's key components.
• 📖 Create a four-page document that further develops each character, their motivations, and the central plot points.
• 👥 Develop character sheets for the main cast, including detailed descriptions, personalities, backstories, and motivations.
• 🔍 Break down the story into individual scenes, providing a clear structure for narrative progression.
• ✍️ Expand each scene description into three to four paragraphs for in-depth development.
• 📅 The final step is writing the first draft, integrating all previously developed components.
• 💡 Experimenting with different story-building methods can enhance creativity and storytelling skills.
• 💬 Engage with the audience by inviting them to share their favorite story structure models in the comments.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The video focuses on various story structure models that writers can use to develop their narratives effectively.

What is the Snowflake Method?

The Snowflake Method is a step-by-step approach to developing a story from a simple idea into a detailed narrative, starting with a one-sentence summary and expanding it into a full draft.

How does the Snowflake Method begin?

It begins with summarizing the story in a single sentence, which encapsulates the core idea.

What are the subsequent steps after creating a one-sentence summary?

After the one-sentence summary, the next steps include expanding it into a paragraph that includes characters, settings, conflicts, and resolutions, then developing it into a four-page document detailing character motivations and plot points.

What is the purpose of creating character sheets?

Character sheets provide detailed descriptions of each character, including their personalities, backstories, and motivations, helping to deepen the narrative.

What does the scene breakdown involve?

The scene breakdown involves dividing the story into individual scenes, which are then expanded into three to four paragraph descriptions for greater detail.

What is the final step in the Snowflake Method?

The final step is writing the first draft of the story based on the detailed outlines and descriptions created in the earlier steps.

Who is the intended audience for this video?

The intended audience includes aspiring writers and storytellers looking for structured methods to enhance their storytelling skills.

What encouragement does the speaker provide to viewers?

The speaker encourages viewers to experiment with different story structure models and share their favorite methods in the comments section.

How does the video conclude?

The video concludes by inviting viewers to create a captivating logline for their story in a collaborative manner, signaling a transition to practical application of the discussed concepts.