Blog · corpus.blog/blogs/secretsofstory.com/posts
secretsofstory.com
secretsofstory.com
2023
18 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the dialogue have more personality than real talk?original ↗
17 Aug 2023
16 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Are there additional characters with distinct metaphor families, default personality traits, and default argument strategies distinct from the hero’s?original ↗
15 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the dialogue capture the jargon and tradecraft of the profession and/or setting?original ↗
14 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Do the characters avoid saying things they wouldn’t say and doing things they wouldn’t do?original ↗
10 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Are the characters resistant to openly admitting their feelings to others and even themselves?original ↗
9 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Do the characters consciously and unconsciously prioritize their own wants rather than the wants of others?original ↗
8 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does each character, including the hero, have a limited perspective?original ↗
7 Aug 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the writing demonstrate empathy for all of the characters?original ↗
4 Aug 2023
21 May 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the audience left with a growing hope and/or fear of what might happen next?original ↗
7 Apr 2023
6 Apr 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Are previously asked questions answered and new questions posed?original ↗
5 Apr 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the outcome of the scene ironically reverse and/or fulfill the original intention?original ↗
4 Apr 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: As a result of this scene, does at least one of the scene partners end up doing something she didn’t intend to do when the scene began?original ↗
3 Apr 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Are objects given or taken, representing larger values?original ↗
31 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the scene utilize “re-blocking”, including the literal push and pull between scene partners?original ↗
30 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Do characters use verbal tricks and traps to get what they want, not just direct confrontation?original ↗
29 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Are the characters cagy or in denial about their own feelings?original ↗
28 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is the suppressed conflict (which may or may not come to the surface) implied through subtext (and/or called out by the other character)?original ↗
27 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the scene have both a surface and a suppressed conflict?original ↗
24 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Are two agendas genuinely clashing (rather than merely two personalities)?original ↗
23 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the audience have (or develop) a rooting interest in this scene (which may sometimes shift)?original ↗
22 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does each scene both advance the plot and reveal character through emotional reactions?original ↗
21 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the scene establish its own mini-ticking clock (if only through subconscious anticipation)?original ↗
20 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is there at least one nonplot element complicating the scene?original ↗
17 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is one of the scene partners not planning to have this conversation (and quite possibly have something better to do)?original ↗
16 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is this an intimidating setting that keeps characters active?original ↗
15 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the scene eliminate small talk and repeated beats by cutting out the beginning (or possibly even the middle)?original ↗
14 Mar 2023
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Were tense and/or hopeful (and usually false) expectations for this interaction established beforehand?original ↗
13 Mar 2023
10 Mar 2023
6 Mar 2023
28 Feb 2023
27 Feb 2023
20 Feb 2023
2 Feb 2023
2022
24 Dec 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is there an epilogue/aftermath/denouement in which the challenge is finally resolved (or succumbed to), and we see how much the hero has changed?original ↗
9 Nov 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero’s inner struggle climax shortly after (or possibly at the same time as) her outer struggle?original ↗
8 Nov 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Do all strands of the story and most of the characters come together for the climactic confrontation?original ↗
7 Nov 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Despite these proactive steps, is the time line unexpectedly moved up, forcing the hero to improvise for the finale?original ↗
4 Nov 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: By the time the final quarter of the story begins (if not long before), has your hero switched to being proactive instead of reactive?original ↗
3 Jun 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: After the crisis, does the hero finally commit to pursuing a corrected goal, which still seems far away?original ↗
2 Jun 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero adopt a corrected philosophy at this point?original ↗
1 Jun 2022
31 May 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero learn from mistakes in a painful way?original ↗
27 May 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Do the stakes pace and motivation all escalate at this point?original ↗
26 May 2022
The Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero find out who his real friends and enemies are?original ↗
25 May 2022
24 May 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the easy way lead to a big crash around the midpoint, resulting in the loss of a safe space and/or sheltering relationship?original ↗
23 May 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero have some fun and get excited about the possibility of success?original ↗
20 May 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero try the easy way throughout the second quarter?original ↗
19 May 2022
The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does the hero’s pursuit of the opportunity quickly lead to an unforeseen conflict with another person?original ↗
18 May 2022