Goldilocks enters the house where THREE bears live, and she tries THREE things inside (food, chairs, and beds). This might be the classic story that more clearly uses the "rule of three"
This is day 17 of #BetterStories
We'll see plenty of examples
How can you use the rule of 3? When you want to give rhythm to the story
Don't use fewer, because they wouldn't be enough to develop the situation. Don't use more, because three are sufficient and more don't really add anything new
What are all stories about? What is the universal plot?
Think about this basic story: a little girl who went up the mountain. Then she got down. Wasn't she different when she returned? Had the mountain not changed her? Had she not see something special up there?
The universal plot is about *the transformation* of the hero-ine.
This is day 10 of #BetterStories, a Mastodon crash-course on #Storytelling
Use this tip today:
In your "Rags to Riches" story, invert the male and female characters. Cinderella is now Cinderello, and he has two mean step-brothers, and it is the princess who opens up the palace for a ball, how would you tell that story?
This is the end of today's long thread at #BetterStories. Stay with us tomorrow to... put everything we learned today upside down!
With Stephen King, as he DISAGREES about story structure.
#RagsToRiches 11/11
Day 4 of #BetterStories is dedicated to (the story structure of) Cinderella
Vonnegut says this is the story of someone who starts life with ill fortune. Things then gradually improve with the help of the fairy, but when the clock strikes 12, Cinderella comes back to the old situation. Finally, when the prince comes, her fortune goes all the way up
The diagram plots time on the X axis and fortune on the Y (from Staci Troilo's "Story Empire" blog: https://storyempire.com/2021/02/12/basic-plots-vonneguts-cinderella/)
#Storytelling 1/11
Use this tip today:
Tell a story, one that you heard once and found "useful".
Something that you learned thanks to a story that you heard.
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This is the end of Day 1 of #BetterStories. See you tomorrow!
WHY DO WE TELL STORIES?
Day 1 of #BetterStories
Reason 1: Because they are key to our survival
At the end of the day, we're Stone Age humans who gather by the fire at night and talk to each other. The format has changed, but we experience the same emotions
Through stories, we transmit the knowledge of how the world works and how we should react to it
Idea inspired by "The Seven Basic Plots" by Christopher Booker - Full book on the
Every day we will learn a concept that will enable us to tell #BetterStories.
Every day there will be one practical suggestion, one tip to put in practice in your stories.
Everyday I'll invite you to complement the course with your input.
IT'S COLD AND DARK OUTSIDE, AND WE GATHER BY THE FIRE... Are you ready to join?
This is Day 0 of #BetterStories, a Mastodon-exclusive crash-course on telling stories.
Do you want to improve your #Storytelling skills? Follow this course and in 1 month you will learn tools to create better stories. You will tell more interesting stories to your kids, your partner, or whoever who wants to listen.
