A Beginner’s Guide to Storytelling: How to Craft Compelling Narratives (Thibeault)
- Page ID
- 275095
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Introduction + Front Matter
- This section will introduce the basics of storytelling, outlining the guide's structure and purpose. It explains the Creative Commons licensing, allowing for free use and modification, and sets expectations for the content and examples to follow in subsequent chapters.
- 1: Basic Format
- A guide to structuring stories using the basic format of Beginning, Middle, and End, detailing essential story elements for each section to help writers craft compelling narratives.
- 2: Describing Setting and Characters
- This resource provides techniques for enhancing descriptive writing skills by using vivid imagery, specific descriptors, and carefully chosen parts of speech to create impactful settings and characters.
- 3: Developing Character Likeability
- This resource outlines the significance of developing likable characters by employing admiration, sympathy, and empathy, using a question-and-answer format to guide writers in creating relatable and engaging character connections for readers.
- 4: Writing In Different Points of View
- This resource differentiates the three main types of point of view—first person, second person, and third person—while exploring their strengths and weaknesses to help writers choose the most effective perspective for storytelling and character development.
- 5: Show vs. Tell
- This resource explains the differences between the narrative techniques of Show and Tell, highlighting their respective benefits and drawbacks, and offers guidance on effectively blending both approaches within a single narrative.
- 6: Developing Character Arcs
- This resource emphasizes the importance of developing character arcs for personality growth, detailing how Dawn, Dusk, and High Noon traits contribute to character design and providing a framework for mapping a character's transformation from beginning to end.
- 7: Writing Tension and Suspense
- This resource clarifies the differences between tension and suspense, examines their interaction within narratives, and provides strategies for gradually incorporating both elements to enhance storytelling.
- 8: Writing Dialogue
- This resource explores how dialogue can create distinct character voices and representations, explains why it doesn't need to adhere to strict grammar rules, and emphasizes the importance of developing dialogue that reflects unique personalities rather than relying on stereotypes.
- 9: Writing With Limitations
- This resource highlights how limitations can ignite creativity, encourages writers to use self-imposed constraints for improvement, and promotes experimentation with playwriting, acknowledging that failure can be a valuable part of the creative process.
- 10: Developing a Theme
- This resource emphasizes the significance of the "So What?" clause in writing to clarify purpose and theme, explores the role of theme in providing overarching direction for a story, and offers strategies for crafting clear and engaging theme statements.
- 11: Drafting and Revising
- This resource highlights the value of reading diverse stories to improve writing skills, outlines the process of writing multiple drafts and their role in refining a narrative, and emphasizes the importance of accepting constructive criticism to enhance storytelling.
- Conclusion + Back Matter
- This page includes a conclusion on prioritizing personal expression in writing, an AI disclosure regarding the use of generative tools, special acknowledgments to contributors, and information about the author.