Gestalt Story Builder

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.) (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: A teenage girl's first serious crush, her sister-in-law's handsome cousin-- a happy-go-lucky cowboy some 15 years her senior-- is oblivious to her feelings. He doesn't notice that she is growing up, or even that she's becoming important to him. Only when he learns she's in love with him, and that her family disapproves, does he realize he's come to love his little friend, and that her family is right. He's the wrong man for her: Rebecca is a Quaker, and Sam is not a man of peace.

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)
​Can the Protagonist Be the Antagonist?
The Major Character Types—The Reflection Character
The Protagonist (Hero)
1a. Who is the protagonist (Hero)?
Sam Harkness
1b. What is the protagonist's (Hero's) identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
Sam is a veteran, but he doesn't think much about that, or doesn't admit to it. He's a son, a great-grandson, a big brother, an older cousin, and he's an expert horseman and cowboy. Outside of his job, he has few responsibilities, since no one in his family is dependent on him, so Sam is free to play as hard as he works.
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Hero's exterior landscape): 
1c. What is the protagonist's (Hero's) wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The protagonist's (Hero's) driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Hero's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the protagonist's (Hero'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 Hero really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the protagonist (Hero) 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 (Nemesis) who is trying to stop the protagonist (Hero)?
- 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 (Hero) 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 (Nemesis)
1a. Who is the antagonist (Nemesis)?
Sam Harkness
1b. What is the antagonist's (Nemesis's) identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
Sam sees himself as basically a nice guy, but of no substance, a genial flibbertigibbet who has no real contribution to make to the world.
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Nemesis's exterior landscape): 
Sam presents himself as easy-going and relaxed, and usually is, but there is an undercurrent of danger to him at times. He can go from apparently amiable to cold and deadly in a moment if provoked, but not one to start a fight. Sam is a social drinker, really a party drinker, occasionally a binge drinker, but only to the point of getting rollicking, not to illness or unconsciousness. He smokes (the norm in his youth and younger adulthood). He takes risks casually, even recklessly, for himself, though he's protective of others. Always polite with women, sometimes playfully flirtatious with little girls and old ladies, tender with his female relatives; no womanizer, he reserves sexual encounters for working girls; he doesn't expect love and doesn't court respectable women. Kind to animals and children. Despite very good posture when standing, when he sits he sprawls, almost as it half asleep. Not generally much of a talker, he does sometimes whistle or hum to himself or his horse when he's on the range alone. Teasing, sometimes sly sense of humor. In prime physical condition.
1c. What is the antagonist's (Nemesis's) wound (unhealed source of continuing pain)? The antagonist's (Nemesis's) driving fear is he will feel that pain again.
Sam was proud to serve in Korea, but the violence of the war weighs on him, leaving him with an image of himself as violent. He doesn't like to think about that self-image, and distracts himself with shallow, reckless "playful" behavior that, ironically, sometimes leads him into violent situations.
1c1. The Second Dimension of Character: Back Story & Inner Demons (the Nemesis's inner, interior landscape): 
1d. What is the antagonist's (Nemesis'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 Nemesis really​ is, at his core): 
2. What is the antagonist (Nemesis) 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 (Hero) who the antagonist (Nemesis) 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 (Nemesis) 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): 

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

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

Act Two

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

Act Three

Hero 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 Type—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: Test Allies, Enemies/IJ: Experimenting): 
→→→ No #1 (OJ: Test, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ Yes #2 ( (OJ: Test, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ No #2 (OJ: Test, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ Yes #3:  (OJ: Test, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​​
→→→ No #3  (OJ: Test, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​​
Which Way Is Up?
→→→ Yes #4  (OJ: Test, Allies, Enemies - cont'd/IJ: Experimenting - cont'd): ​
→→→ No #4  (OJ: Test, 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): ​​​​​​​​