Slightly Random Thoughts About Story Pacing… From 10,000 Feet

Part 1 of 2 There’s already an elephant in this article, let’s go there first. Why random?  And why from 10,000 feet? Because pacing is to storytelling what love is to relationships.  I kid you not.  It’s what makes it all work. Which means it’s bigger than this. Last weekend I was privileged to present […]

A Guest Post by Kay Kenyon: How to Keep Track of a Novel

If you read science fiction and fantasy, chances are you’ve heard of Kay Kenyon.  If you’re a writer on the lookout for great writing conferences, her name may ring familiar there, as well, since she runs one of the best around. If not, you’ll probably remember her name (and hopefully check out her work — all […]

More Inciting Incident… and Stuff

Three words: thanks for sharing. The response to the prior two Storyfix posts on the nature and placement – and the definition – of the fabled Inciting Incident in a story has been very illuminating. Definitely a victory of quality over quantity.  The crux of those posts was that the Inciting Incident, commonly referred to […]

Redefining the “Inciting Incident” — Part 2

Continued from the previous post. The movie Collateral, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, is a perfect example of an early Inciting Incident that could easily make you believe that it’s actually the story’s First Plot Point. In fact, if it happened in the right place, it could be.  But it doesn’t, it’s too early, […]

Redefining the “Inciting Incident”

Part one of two.  Maybe three.  Yeah, it’s that worthwhile if you’re serious about story structure.  A bit complicated, too.  Because it challenges what we thought to be true. Allow me to contribute to the potential confusion relative to what has been long referred to in the vocabulary of storytelling as the Inciting Incident. A […]

Make That Monday

I admit it, I spoke too soon.  Last post I said I’d put up a killer article for Friday.  My intentions were good, but my schedule wasn’t.  Friday is over, and the egg on my face is already peeling off. To be honest, I’m in Hawaii (Maui) with my beautiful wife simulating a second honeymoon.  That […]

We’re Baaa-aaack…

Storyfix is back from a little trip to the digital Twilight Zone.  Rod Serling says hello… and if you don’t get that lame little joke, you’re under 40.  Good for you. At least one person out there suffered severe anxiety, a sleepless night and a significant amount of gastronomic distress while Storyfix was hijacked by […]

5) “An Education” – The 4th and Final Part of this Story

The Conclusion of a 5-post Deconstruction of the Oscar-Nominated Film and Screenplay The final act of this highly character-driven story can be broken down into two parts.  The first is launched by the Second Plot Point itself – Jenny discovers letters in David’s glove box from his wife – which soon gives way to what […]

Three Tips and a Reasonable Postponement

I owe you the final installment in our deconstruction of An Education.  And it’s coming – Wednesday, in fact.  Worth the wait, too, as this story’s Part 4 shows us the difference between the ending in a character-driven story as compared to a thriller or mystery, or even a romance. But, cool as that is, […]

4) “An Education” – Part 3 of the Story

The Continuing Deconstruction of the Oscar-Nominated Film You might like this… I found the script for An Education online… you can read it free by downloading the PDF from a site called Media Fire.  Just click the download link, it’s safe and it works.  It’s an early draft (David is called Alan at this point), […]