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Index
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
Author
Part 1: Story Structure (the Plot)
1. Plot: The Structure
What Is a Dramatic Story?
Plot… What Is It?
Story Elements
3 Act Structure
Act Structures
Plot: The Hero’s Journey
Plot Structures: The Short
Structure Comparisons
What They All Have in Common?
References
2. Setup: Act 1
Types of Setup
Where to Start
Traditional Setup Sequences
Opening Image(s)
Exposition
Show Don’t Tell
Inciting Incident
Types of Inciting Incidents
What’s at Stake?
Story World
Story Question
References
3. Middle
Middles
Types of Conflict
Elements of Conflict
Increasing Conflict
Turning Points/Reversals
Five Story Turning Points
Cause and Effect
Crisis
References
4. Endings
Endings
Climax
Resolution
Deus ex Machina
Meaning
References
5. Story Types
Genres
Story Concepts
Only a Few Basic Plots
Five Story Goals
References
Part 2: Story Elements
6. Story Elements
Premise: What Is It About?
Theme: What Does It Mean?
Emotion
Generating Emotion
Setting
References
7. Story Mechanics
What Is a Scene?
Purpose of a Scene
Scene Components
How Do Scenes Work?
Types of Scene Endings
Scene Checklist
Narrative Questions
Types of Narrative Questions
Surprise
Techniques for Surprise
Suspense
Techniques for Suspense
Comedy
Subplot
Foreshadowing: Creating Anticipation
References
8. Interactive Narrative
Why Story in Games/VR?
Story versus Narrative
Environmental Storytelling
VR Story (Telling?)
References
Part 3: Character Development
9. Character
Character
What Are the Dramatic Qualities of a Character?
Character-Driven Story
Character-Driven Categories
Archetypes
Stereotypes
Backstory versus Character Profile
Backstory Questions (External)
Character Profile Questions (Internal)
Identification/Empathy
Love Your Characters
References
10. Character Elements
Story World as Character
Goal: What a Character Wants
Goal Traits
Need: What a Character Really, Really Wants
Conflict Reveals Character
Choices that a Character Must Make
Change
Types of Change
Character Arc
Types of Character Arcs
Character Flaws
Types of Flaws
References
11. Character Values/Motivation
The Role of Conflict
Fear: The Inner Journey
Unity of Opposites
Creating Interesting Characters
Character Traits
References
Part 4: Idea Development
12. Generating Ideas
Ideas
Generating Story Ideas
Research
What If?
Cliché
Cliché Problems
Point of View
References
13. Story Development
Development and Checklists
Development Techniques
Opposition: Antagonism
Memorable Villain Traits
Problems at the Beginning
Know Your Ending
Ingredients to a Good Ending
Dialogue: Its Functions
What kills Dialogue
Subtext
Subtext Techniques
Metaphors and Symbols
Making the Story… Short
References
14. Viewer (the Audience)
The Viewer’s Expectations
Who Knows What? When? (Directing a Viewer’s Attention)
A Story Trick
Gaps
Internal Gaps
External Gaps
Believability
Coincidences
References
Index
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