If alien in origin, how does the equipment or devices in your story work?
Is this story happening in our universe or somewhere else?
The Character Grid
Now it is time to build a grid for the characters. If our end goal is to build empathy a complete and fulfilling story arc for your main characters will need to be created. No character should be left behind! This grid keeps track of all the characters in your story.
ACT 1: Exposition | Beginning
What are the individual goals of these characters for Act 1?
Where are these characters when Act 1 starts?
What are the personal goals of the characters?
What motivates these characters to act?
What do these characters want for others?
Are these characters in love or have a crush on anyone? If so who and why.
What personal issues do these characters have?
What special traits or powers do these characters have?
Are these characters critical to the story?
ACT 2: Rising Action | Plot Point 1
What are the individual goals of these characters for Act 2?
Where are these characters when Act 2 starts?
What are the personal goals of the characters?
What motivates these characters to act?
What do these characters want for others?
Are these characters in love or have a crush on anyone? If so who and why.
What personal issues do these characters have?
What special traits or powers do these characters have?
Are these characters critical to the story?
ACT 3: Climax | Middle
What are the individual goals of these characters for Act 3?
Where are these characters when Act 3 starts?
What are the personal goals of the characters?
What motivates these characters to act?
What do these characters want for others?
Are these characters in love or have a crush on anyone? If so who and why.
What personal issues do these characters have?
What special traits or powers do these characters have?
Are these characters critical to the story?
ACT 4: Falling Action | Plot Point 2
What are the individual goals of these characters for Act 4?
Where are these characters when Act 4 starts?
What are the personal goals of the characters?
What motivates these characters to act?
What do these characters want for others?
Are these characters in love or have a crush on anyone? If so who and why.
What personal issues do these characters have?
What special traits or powers do these characters have?
Are these characters critical to the story?
ACT 5: Denouement | Ending
What are the individual goals of these characters for Act 5?
Where are these characters when Act 5 starts?
What are the personal goals of the characters?
What motivates these characters to act?
What do these characters want for others?
Are these characters in love or have a crush on anyone? If so who and why.
What personal issues do these characters have?
What special traits or powers do these characters have?
Are these characters critical to the story?
Are all of the story arcs closed for each character?
At the beginning of this chapter I said great stories begin with a solid foundation. The Story Outline, World, Rules, and Character Grids represent great tools any storyteller should have. Simpler stories will never need this much detail, but true epics will. Even if you never use the information in your stories, having filled out these grids as best you can will give you a great knowledge base to work from. Filling out the grids will save you time and trouble later on because you will know what to write. Cutting down on plot holes, increasing consistency, and at best fighting writers block is what these grids are all about.
Various Story Outlines for Books
Various Story Outlines for Movies and Television
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