The document outlines the key elements of a story structure according to various storytelling experts. It discusses the typical stages of a story including the exposition, complication, crisis, climax, and resolution. It also covers popular story themes and plots. The document provides tips for crafting stories, including making them simple, memorable, engaging, authentic, and motivating. It emphasizes starting with "Once upon a time" and ending with "Until, finally".
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The Plan
5. Once upon a time there was a kid. Every day, he
played with his cowboy doll. One day he got a
spaceman doll. Because of that, his interest in the
cowboy took a serious nosedive. Because of that, the
cowboy and the spaceman each swore vengeance
upon the other’s house. Until finally there’s a
bloodbath from which no one emerges unscathed.
Credit: Ayun Halliday: http://bit.ly/parlourgame
6. Once upon a time there was a kid. Every day, he
played with his cowboy doll. One day he got a
spaceman doll. Because of that, his interest in the
cowboy took a serious nosedive. Because of that, the
cowboy and the spaceman each swore vengeance
upon the other’s house. Until finally there’s a
bloodbath from which no one emerges unscathed.
Credit: Ayun Halliday: http://bit.ly/parlourgame
7. Once upon a time there was a poor family in
Oklahoma. Every day, they tried to make it work
on their hardscrabble farm. One day their last
speck of top soil blew away. Because of that, they
decided to seek a better life in California. Because
of that, every able bodied young male left the
family. Until finally their oldest daughter ends up
breastfeeding a starving stranger.
Credit: Ayun Halliday: http://bit.ly/parlourgame
8. Once upon a time there was a poor family in
Oklahoma. Every day, they tried to make it work
on their hardscrabble farm. One day their last
speck of top soil blew away. Because of that, they
decided to seek a better life in California. Because
of that, every able bodied young male left the
family. Until finally their oldest daughter ends up
breastfeeding a starving stranger.
Credit: Ayun Halliday: http://bit.ly/parlourgame
9. Once upon a time there was a really good but socially
awkward and mildly frumpy FBI agent. One day, the
Miss United States beauty pageant received a bomb
threat. Because of that, Gracie got a makeover and
went undercover. Because of that, she made friends and
realized she liked nice clothes and makeup. Until finally
she saved her fellow contestants from an exploding
tiara, won a people’s choice award, and became
romantically involved with her co-worker.
10. Once upon a time there was a really good but socially
awkward and mildly frumpy FBI agent. One day, the
Miss United States beauty pageant received a bomb
threat. Because of that, Gracie got a makeover and
went undercover. Because of that, she made friends and
realized she liked nice clothes and makeup. Until finally
she saved her fellow contestants from an exploding
tiara, won a people’s choice award, and became
romantically involved with her co-worker.
27. “Just about any story — comic, tragic,
romantic — is about a protagonist’s
efforts to secure, usually at some cost,
what he or she desires.”
Jonathan Gottschall
46. “… it’s about who you are and what
you do for the benefit of others, and
how you add value to people's lives,
ease their troubles, help shoulder
their burdens, and meet their needs.”
Ann Handley
51. “Start telling the stories that only you
can tell … There will always be people
who are much better at doing this or
doing that. But you are the only you.”
Neil Gaiman