• G E S T A L T •  S T O R Y •  B U I L D E R •

Simply put, this transformation from living fully in her identity to living fully in her essence is the character’s arc.
- Michael Hauge, Writing Screenplays That Sell

When a story works, the core competencies have come together, like spices in a great meal, to become something
​in excess of what they would otherwise be alone.
- Larry Brooks, Story Engineering

C O R E  C O M P E T E N C Y #1:  C O N C E P T

I D E A → C O N C E P T → P R E M I S E

Idea (becomes a subset of the concept): 
Concept (The answer to the following question is​ the story, and the answer becomes a subset of the premise): What if...?
​Premise (the concept that has brought character into the mix): What if...?

Concept Defined (excerpt from Story Engineering)
The Concept of Premise
A Clearer Understanding of 'Concept'
The Difference between Idea, Premise, and Plot

S T O R Y  S Y N O P S I S

Story Synopsis: 

C O R E  C O M P E T E N C Y #2:  C H A R A C T E R

T H E  F O U R  Q U E S T I O N S

The Four Questions
The Three Dimensions of Character Development (Storyfix.com)
The Central Character is Not Always the Protagonist
A Final Reflection on Major Character Types
Can the Protagonist be the Antagonist?
The Protagonist
The protagonist is designed as a statement in direct correlation to the writer’s premise for the story with a character arc that proves the writer’s point, be his or her fate happy or tragic.
1a. Who is the Protagonist?
1b. What is the Protagonist's identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Protagonist's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the Protagonist's wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The Protagonist's driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Protagonist's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the Protagonist's essence/truth (whatever's left when identity is stripped, i.e., the "death" of one's identity)?
1d1. The Third Dimension of Character: Action, Behavior, & Worldview (who the Protagonist really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the Protagonist trying to accomplish?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
3. Who is the Antagonist who is trying to stop the Protagonist?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
4. What happens if the Protagonist fails?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
The Antagonist
The antagonist personifies the strongest possible argument against the protagonist and premise (often representing a popular belief that the writer wishes to argue against).
1a. Who is the Antagonist?
1b. What is the Antagonist's identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Antagonist's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the Antagonist's wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The Antagonist's driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Antagonist's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the Antagonist's essence/truth (whatever's left when identity is stripped, i.e., the "death" of one's identity)?
1d1. The Third Dimension of Character: Action, Behavior, & Worldview (who the Antagonist really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the Antagonist trying to accomplish?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
3. Who is the Protagonist who the Antagonist feels is in his way?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
4. What happens if the Antagonist fails?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
The Sidekick
The Sidekick (Reflection characters) mirrors the protagonist as a constant reminder of the value and stakes in the story.
1a. Who is the Sidekick?
1b. What is the Sidekick's identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Sidekick's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the Sidekick's wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The Sidekck's driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Sidekick's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the Sidekick's essence/truth (whatever's left when identity is stripped, i.e., the "death" of one's identity)?
1d1. The Third Dimension of Character: Action, Behavior, & Worldview (who the Sidekick really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the Sidekick trying to accomplish?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
3. What happens if the Sidekick fails?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
The Mentor
The Mentor is a personification of the protagonist’s outer journey (the external mission).
How Dual Mentor Characters Work
1a. Who is the Mentor?
1b. What is the Mentor's identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Mentor's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the Mentor's wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The Mentor's driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Mentor's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the Mentor's essence/truth (whatever's left when identity is stripped, i.e., the "death" of one's identity)?
1d1. The Third Dimension of Character: Action, Behavior, & Worldview (who the Mentor really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the Mentor trying to accomplish?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
3. What happens if the Mentor fails?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
The Love Interest
The love interest comments on and challenges the protagonist’s inner journey and character arc. After all, love has the truly transformative power to change a person.
1a. Who is the Love Interest?
1b. What is the Love Interest's identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Love Interest's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the Love Interest's wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The Love Interest's driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Love Interest's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the Love Interest's essence/truth (whatever's left when identity is stripped, i.e., the "death" of one's identity)?
1d1. The Third Dimension of Character: Action, Behavior, & Worldview (who the Love Interest really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the Love Interest trying to accomplish?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
3. What happens if the Love Interest fails?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
The Deflector
The Deflector tries to pull the hero away with a different moral compass.
1a. Who is the Deflector?
1b. What is the Deflector's identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Deflector's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the Deflector's wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The Deflector's driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Deflector's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the Deflector's essence/truth (whatever's left when identity is stripped, i.e., the "death" of one's identity)?
1d1. The Third Dimension of Character: Action, Behavior, & Worldview (who the Deflector really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the Deflector trying to accomplish?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
3. What happens if the Deflector fails?
- Professional (Visible Goal (Wish)/Ordinary World/Outer Journey): 
- Personal (Visible Goal (Want)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
- Private (Invisible Goal (Need)/Special World/Inner Journey): 
The Deflector

T H E  F O U R  A R C H E T Y P E S
The Four Stages of Character Context

Contour - The Four Archetypes

Act One

Protagonist as Orphan • Stage One Character Context • Status Quo: 
Crafting the Orphan Statement
​Stage One Character Context

Act Two

Protagonist as Wanderer • Stage Two Character Context • Reaction: 
Crafting the Wanderer Statement
​Stage Two Character Context
Protagonist as Warrior • Stage Three Character Context • Proaction: 
Crafting the Warrior Statement
​Stage Three Character Context

Act Three

Protagonist as Martyr • Stage Four Character Context • Action: 
Crafting the Martyr Statement
​Stage Four Character Context

C O R E  C O M P E T E N C Y  #3:  T H E M E

How to Test Your Story's Thematic Power
​Function of Theme

What's my story about? 

C O R E  C O M P E T E N C Y  #4:  S T R U C T U R E

T H E  F O R M U L A
The “Big Picture”

The Big Picture of Story Structure
The Art and Craft of Story Architecture

The Formula: 

T H E  C E N T R A L  Q U E S T I O N

The Central Question
The Central Question: 

S T O R Y

Important Resources

Christopher Vogler's The Hero's Journey
Michael Hauge's Six Plot Structure
​Michael Hauge: The 5 Key Turning Points
AboutEducation: The Hero's Journey
​CrackingYarns: A New Character-Driven Hero's Journey
Plot Points

Important Definitions

Act One

The First Box: Part One - The Setup • ​Orphan

→ Ordinary World

→→ Outer Journey #1: Setup

→→ Inner Journey #1: ​Lives completely within identity

I Don't Get No Respect
→→→ The First Mission • Setting the Killer Hook: 
→→→ Plot Point #1 (OJ: Ordinary World/IJ: Limited Awareness) (The Second Mission • Introducing Your Hero): 
→→→ Plot Point #2 (OJ: Ordinary World - cont'd/IJ: Limited Awareness - cont'd) (The Third Mission • Establishing Stakes): 
→→→ Plot Point #3 (OJ: Ordinary World - cont'd/IJ: Limited Awareness - cont'd): 
You Know What Your Trouble is?
→→→ Plot Point #4 (OJ: Ordinary World - cont'd/IJ: Limited Awareness - cont'd): 
→→→ Plot Point #5/Inciting Incident (10% Turning Point #1: Opportunity—OJ: Call to Adventure/IJ: Increased Awareness): 

→→ Outer Journey #2: New Situation

→→ Inner Journey #2: Living Within Essence

Calls & Busy Signals
→→→ Plot Point #6 (OJ: Refusal/IJ: Resistance to Change): 
Major Character Types—The Mentor
→→→ Plot Point #7 (OJ: Meeting with the Mentor/IJ: Overcoming Resistance to Change):  
→→→ Plot Point #8: 
Through the Looking Glass
→→→ Plot Point #9: 
→→→ Plot Point #10: 
→→→ Plot Point #11: 
The Fourth Mission: Foreshadowing Things to Come

​The First Plot Point
→→→ Plot Point #12 (25% Turning Point #2: Change of Plans—OJ: Crossing the Threshold/IJ: Committing to the Change) (The Fifth Mission: Preparing for Launch): 

Act Two

Second Box: Part Two - The Response • Wanderer

→ Special World - Descent

→→ Outer Journey #3: Progress

→→ Inner Journey #3: Moves towards Essence without Leaving Identity

Kick the Dog
​→→→ Yes #1 (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies/IJ: Experimenting): 
→→→ No #1 (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ Yes #2 ( (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ No #2 (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ Yes #3:  (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​​
→→→ No #3  (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​​
Which Way Is Up?
→→→ Yes #4  (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ No #4  (OJ: Tests, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​​​
→→→ Yes #5 (OJ: Approach to Inmost Cave/IJ: Preparing for Major Change): ​​
→→→ No #5 (OJ: Approach to Inmost Cave - cont'd/IJ: Preparing for Major Change - cont'd): ​​​
When Life Gives You Lemons...
→→→ Yes #6 (OJ: Approach to Inmost Cave - cont'd/IJ: Preparing for Major Change - cont'd): ​​
→→→ No #6 (OJ: Approach to Inmost Cave - cont'd/IJ: Preparing for Major Change - cont'd): ​​​
→→→ Yes #7 (OJ: Approach to Inmost Cave - cont'd/IJ: Preparing for Major Change - cont'd): ​​
The Mid-Point: A Tent-Pole Milestone
→→→ No #7 (50% Turning Point #3: Point of No Return—OJ: Ordeal, Death, and Rebirth/IJ: Big Change): ​​​

Third Box: Part Three - The Attack • ​Warrior

→ Special World - Initiation

→→ Outer Journey #4: Complications & Higher Stakes

→→ Inner Journey #4: Fully Committed to Essence, but Growing Fear

...Make Lemonade
​→→→ Yes #8 (OJ: Reward/IJ: Accepting Consequences): 
→→→ No #8 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​
​→→→ Yes #9 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): 
→→→ No #9 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd)​: ​​
→→→ Yes #10 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​
→→→ No #10 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​
...Inside the Whale
→→→ Yes #11 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​
→→→ No #11 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​​
→→→ Yes #12 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​​
→→→ No #12 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​​​​
Death and Rebirth
→→→ Yes #13 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​​​​
→→→ No #13 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): 
→→→ Yes #14 (OJ: Reward - cont'd/IJ: Accepting Consequences - cont'd): ​​​​​​​
The Second Plot Point
→→→ No #14 (75% Turning Point #4: Major Setback—OJ: The Road Back/IJ: Rededication to the Change): ​​​​​​​

Act Three

Fourth Box: Part Four - The Resolution • ​Martyr

→ Ordinary World

→→ Outer Journey #5: Final Push

→→ Inner Journey #5: Living one's truth, with everything to lose

What's the Worst that Can Happen?
→→→ Big Yes (OJ: Resurrection/IJ: Final Attempt): ​​​​​​
→→→ No (OJ: Resurrection - cont'd/IJ: Final Attempt - cont'd): ​​​​​​​
Good Guy vs Bad Guy Over Stakes
→→→ Big No (90-99% Turning Point #5: Climax—OJ: Resurrection - cont'd/IJ: Final Attempt - cont'd)​: ​​​​​​​

→→ Outer Journey #6: Aftermath

→→ Inner Journey #6: Journey complete, destiny achieved

→→→ Final Yes (emotional response—OJ: Return with the Elixir/IJ: Mastery): ​​​​​​​​