#15: How to Figure Out the Shape of Your Story
Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
Introduction
Exploring the crucial role of the main plot thread in shaping the narrative drive and engaging readers by posing and resolving the central question of the story's genre.
In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through how to figure out the big-picture shape of your story. Here's a preview of what's included:
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[02:45] Each genre asks a specific story question. For example, in an action story, the central story question is some version of, "Will the protagonist defeat the antagonist and survive the encounter?" (This article has the start and end points by genre)
[03:45] The central story question helps you create a framework for your story. That's because these two "ask and answer questions" become the global inciting incident and the global climax of your story.
[04:00] The global inciting incident is a scene that raises the central story question in the readers's mind. It's the question that the whole story will work to answer.
[05:55] The global climax is a scene that answers the central story question. It's what helps you deliver a satisfying emotional experience to the reader.
[07:15] If you're writing an action story... the global inciting incident is usually some kind of threat or attack from the antagonist. These stories end with the protagonist defeating the antagonist (or not).
[08:20] If you're writing a romance... the global inciting incident is usually the first time the lovers meet or appear on the page together. These stories end with these two individuals either committing to a romantic relationship (or not).
[09:25] If you're writing a mystery... the global inciting incident is usually the discovery of some kind of murder or crime. These stories end with revealing the identity of the murder/criminal and bringing them to justice (or not).
[10:35] If you're writing a worldview (or coming of age) story... the global inciting incident is usually a challenge to the protagonist's black and white worldview. These stories end with the protagonist maturing or staying stuck.
[12:15] If you're writing a story with both an external and an internal genre, you can identify these key moments to create a story that feels like a cohesive whole AND a story that has more impact.
[13:25] Key points and a quick recap of the episode.
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Links mentioned in this episode:
- How to Figure Out the Shape of Your Story (article)
- How to Choose the Best Genre for Your Story (article)
👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.
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