TPCS: A Journaling Excercise

cmp.2009.08.09
ed.2009.08.10.01

Organization
1. Introduction
2. The Exercise
3. Examples

Introduction
The backbone of every story are its themes, plots, characters, and scenes, (think "Topics" to remember all four--without the vowels).

Here is a short journaling exercise to help reinforce the distinct building blocks of storytelling. Alternatively, instead of generating your own ideas, try to identify these components in a story that you have read and how they contributed to the overall quality of the story being told.

Disclaimer: These building blocks relate to the art of storytelling. The art of storytelling is much different from the "writing craft". In other words, just because you can write a good story, doesn't mean that you can write well. Also, just because you can write well, doesn't mean you can write a good story.

Exercise
Step 1: Themes
Think of a theme, or two! Racism, love at first site, the legal and moral definitions of marriage, climate change, crazy Republican/Democrat Nazi polemic morons, (sorry, its in the news), student voice in Iran, whatever.

Just pick a theme you CARE about, this is one of the molecules of your "ENERGY" formula. The more things that you are passionate about that go into the story, the more interest you have for the story, and more energy. Just be careful not to try to get too much into a short space.

Step 2: Plots
Think of a chain of events, (A plot or story), that you are passionate about. Maybe pick a couple to increase the pace. Is there a chain of events occurring in the world, or in your past, or in the past, present or future of one of your friends that you can't forget or get out of your mind?

What about the chain of events needed to make a fried egg? Tie your shoes? Painting an acrylic portrait of someone you love? Installing a Nitrous Oxide system to your car? Baking Bread? Just pick something that you know and care about. Never pretend you know about something when you write; actually know it, and know it well.

This will be your "outline". Change names, dates, places, whatever. If you happen to be using the shoe tying outline, you can substitute, "Go around the ears and bite the leash" with "He held her dangling earring in his lips, moved a little closer, and softly nibbled on her ear. He turned her away from the door, and traced her necklace line with his fingers ..." Okay, so I should never write a romance--moving along... Use your outline as an "Abstraction", (it doesn't tell you exactly what to write, but it gives you a base reference, a framework to work from!).

Step 3: Characters
Casting Call! If this were a painting, a movie, a poem, a stage play, whatever, and you were the director, (you are the author after all), what kinds of actors would you have act this "play" (story) out? What kind of characters would make this the most interesting? Better yet, what people in your life, or in pop-culture, do you know that would be really interesting to have act those parts out? Do you have a friend that should be shot if they ever became a politician? :) Change names, etc, to protect the innocent. :)

Step 4: Scenes
Location, location: Where would these characters likely meet? What is their common ground? Find a place that you, (the author), AND your characters would be passionate about. Why do they go there? How is the place NECESSARY to further the plot and define character?

Examples
Theme:Human Trafficking
Plot: Failing to Ransom, Redeem, or Rescue a girl
Characters: American, Moroccan girl, "Human Broker"
Scene: Bedouin Market, Be'er Sheva Israel

Theme: Socialize Health care, Right or Privilege?
Plot: Person doesn't want it, but needs. Person who needs it, is bound by it.
Characters: 1. Business Owner goes broke, child has leukemia - Rural family has limited access to hospitals/care - family member has rare disease.
Scene: Both families go to amusement park, for some fun and relaxation to de-stress.