Here's a quick sketch of my W-storyboard I've been using, based on ideas I've gotten recently from screenwriter Michael Hague, writing teacher Mary Carroll Moore's W-storyboarding on YouTube, and MyFlik's (a superb screenwriting channel which could also help fiction writers) The Hero's Journey 15 plot points YouTube video. Hyperlink function isn't working well :(
Story structure is probably one of the most important elements in fiction writing a writer needs to study and understand in order to give his/her readers an enjoyable reading experience, and even more than that--RESONANCE. Did you know that George Lucas and JK Rowling, to name only two out of thousands of (screen)writers used the elements of the mythic hero's journey tale to tell their story? I've seen mythic hero journey sites that show step-by-step how each of the Star Wars' characters resemble Harry Potters characters.
If this revelation makes you worried about your novel being too formulaic, don't fret. I've avoided learning story structure until recent months, and I've realized that we all have our own story to tell, our own characters and voice, and so on. You can make things feel fresh and yet leave your readers with a feeling that they've entered another world through your senses, and by using the mythic structure of your choice, help them feel as if they've touched the tip of eternity
Michael Hague: http://www.storymastery.com/articles/30-screenplay-structure
Mary Carroll Moore: Your Book Starts Here--Storyboarding for Writers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMhLvMJ_r0Y
MyFlik channel (a treasure box collection of insightful short videos on (screen)writing: How to Write a Script--Hero Journey Plot Points: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY_WYkbq7YM
Hiya - I love this post! I love sketching out storties and I'm obsessed with the hero's journey and how it shows up everywhere, and in using techniques like this to apply science to the art of novel writing. I don't suppose you'd be willing to take a look at our Novek Writing Software (www.novel-software.com) and give us some feedback or even do a review on it? Sorry I couldn't find a more direct way to contact you...
Posted by: The Novel Factory | 06/11/2013 at 04:41 AM
The way your story was lined up in the W-storyboard was really helpful. I did that with my work and now it makes a lot more sense as to where to make the scenes more tense and where to give readers a chance to breathe.
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Posted by: IT Consultants | 01/28/2013 at 01:11 PM