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): I want to write a story about a man who is good and kind and caring who can still possess a well of hate.
Concept (The answer to the following question is​ the story.) (becomes a subset of the premise):
  • What if Cory, a scientist, harbors prejudice against Muslims (Arabs?) because of the murder of his brother by Islamic terrorists?
  • What if he's assigned a doctoral student who is an Arab?
  • What if Cory finds himself on a boat in the middle of the ocean with a young Arab doctoral student who reminds him of the Arab terrorists who murdered his kid brother?
  • ​What if Cory himself can't answer the question, "What is it about Omar that pushes your button so bad? It's like you're Jekyll/Hyde with this kid.?
  • What if Cory knows he has the wherewithal to derail all this student's hard work?
  • What if Cory gets stranded on a deserted island with the student?
  • What if the student feels Cory has the right to hate him because the student feels his countrymen are wrong?
​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)
Can the Protagonist Be the Antagonist?
​The Major Character Types—The Reflection Character
The Protagonist (Hero)
1a. Who is the protagonist (Hero)?
1b. What is the protagonist's (Hero's) identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
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)?
1b. What is the antagonist's (Nemesis's) identity (whatever it is he sees himself as being)?
1b1. The First Dimension of Character: Surface Traits, Quirks, & Habits (the Nemesis's exterior landscape): 
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.
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): ​​​​​​​​