THE Writer's Guide

Part 6 Plot "22 Steps via Anatomy of Story"

(Pg 268)

The 22 Steps:

Self-revelation, need, and desire

Ghost and story world

Weakness and need

Inciting event

Desire

Ally or allies

Opponent and/or mystery

Fake-ally opponent

First revelation and decision: Changed desire and motive

Plan

Opponent's plan and main counterattack

Drive

Attack by ally

Apparent defeat

Second revelation and decision: Obsessive drive, changed desire and motive

Audience revelation

Third revelation and decision

Gate, gauntlet, visit to death

Battle

Self-revelation

Moral decision

New equilibrium

(Pg 120)

Throughout the middle of the story, the hero and the opponent come into increasing conflict, hence the converging structure. Through this conflict, a difference in values begins to emerge. So the theme starts to expand.

Let's look at how moral argument is expressed through structure over the course of the entire story, in detail, from beginning to end.

Moral Argument: Basic Strategy  My note:  As you read through these, think of a story you are very familiar with.

Values:    The hero starts with a set of beliefs and values.

Moral Weakness:    He is hurting others in some way at the beginning of the story. He is not evil but rather is acting from weakness or is unaware of the proper way to act toward others.

Moral Need:    Based on his moral weakness, the hero must learn how to act properly toward others in order to grow and live a better life.

First Immoral Action:     The hero almost immediately acts in some way that hurts others. This is evidence to the audience of the hero's basic moral flaw.

Desire:       The hero comes up with a goal toward which all else is sacrificed. This goal leads him into direct conflict with an opponent who has a differing set of values but the same goal.

Drive: The hero and the opponent take a series of actions to reach the goal.

Immoral Actions: During the early and middle parts of the story the hero is usually losing to the opponent. He becomes desperate a result, he starts taking immoral actions to win.

Attack by Ally: The hero's closest friend makes a strong case that the hero's methods are wrong.

Obsessive Drive: Galvanized by new revelations about how to win, the hero becomes obsessed with reaching the goal and will do almost anything to succeed.

Immoral Actions: The hero's immoral actions intensify.

Battle:    The final conflict that decides the goal. Regardless of who wins, the audience learns which values and ideas are superior.