Posts

Showing posts from March 12, 2009

Universal Outline

Last time I showed you a very simple outline for Searching for Mom : Act 1: Beginning – Sara Wants a Mother Act 2A: Middle A – Sara Looks for a Mother and Finds a Suitable Woman Act 2B: Middle B –Woman Does not Want to Become involved with Sara’s Father. Act 3: End – Sara Brings Mother and Father Together This is a very high level outline, but you may be like many people who say, “I could never use an outline. It is too restrictive.” You’re really going to think that when I show you this next outline, partially based on Blake Snyder’s work: Act 1: Beginning Setup ( includes an opening image and theme statement ) Inciting Incident Debate Act 2A: Middle A B Story Fun and Games Act 2B: Middle B Bad Guys Close In All Is Lost Moment Dark Night of the Soul Act 3: End Finale Final Image Now I’m sure you’re saying, “You expect me to use that outline? Where’s the creativity in that?” No, I don’t expect you to use it, if you don’t want to, but here’s the thing. All good stories follow this outli...