Storyform for Story Embroidery Class
December 12, 2006

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

• MC RESOLVE: Steadfast
• MC GROWTH: Stop
• MC APPROACH: Do-er
• MC PROBLEM-SOLVING STYLE: Intuitive
• IC RESOLVE: Change

PLOT DYNAMICS:

• DRIVER: Decision
• LIMIT: Timelock
• OUTCOME: Failure
• JUDGMENT: Bad

OVERALL STORY (Poker Game from Hell)

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: How Things are Changing
• ISSUE: Fantasy vs. Fact
• PROBLEM: Test
• SOLUTION: Trust
• SYMPTOM: Unending
• RESPONSE: Ending
• CATALYST: Security
• INHIBITOR: Wisdom
• BENCHMARK: The Future
• SIGNPOST 1: The Past
• SIGNPOST 2: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 3: The Future
• SIGNPOST 4: The Present

IMPACT CHARACTER (Charleston)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Playing a Role
• ISSUE: Thought vs. Knowledge
• PROBLEM: Test
• SOLUTION: Trust
• SYMPTOM: Determination
• RESPONSE: Expectation
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Ability
• CRITICAL FLAW: Value
• BENCHMARK: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 1: Developing a Plan
• SIGNPOST 2: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 3: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 4: Conceiving an Idea

MAIN CHARACTER (Caroline)

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Doing
• ISSUE: Enlightenment vs. Wisdom
• PROBLEM: Process
• SOLUTION: Result
• SYMPTOM: Unending
• RESPONSE: Ending
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Skill
• CRITICAL FLAW: Fact
• BENCHMARK: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 1: Gathering Information
• SIGNPOST 2: Understanding
• SIGNPOST 3: Doing
• SIGNPOST 4: Obtaining

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Rekindle Lost Romance)

• THROUGHLINE: Fixed Attitude
• CONCERN: Impulsive Responses
• ISSUE: Worth vs. Value
• PROBLEM: Test
• SOLUTION: Trust
• SYMPTOM: Hunch
• RESPONSE: Theory
• CATALYST: Confidence
• INHIBITOR: Knowledge
• BENCHMARK: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 1: Contemplation
• SIGNPOST 2: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 3: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 4: Memories

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

• GOAL: How Things are Changing
• CONSEQUENCE: Impulsive Responses
• COST: Playing a Role
• DIVIDEND: Doing
• REQUIREMENT: The Future
• PREREQUISITE: Innermost Desires
• PRECONDITION: Changing One's Nature
• FOREWARNINGS: Obtaining

VOCABULARY:

Ability: being suited to handle a task; the innate capacity to do or be

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Bad: the Main Character ultimately fails in resolving her personal problems

Change: the Main Character changes her essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Confidence: belief in the accuracy of expectations

Contemplation: present considerations

Decision: in the plot, decisions force actions

Determination: a conclusion based on circumstantial evidence

Developing a Plan: visualizing how an existing idea might be implemented

Do-er: the Main Character looks for a physical solution to her problem

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

Ending: coming to a conclusion

Enlightenment: an understanding that transcends knowledge

Expectation: a conclusion as to the eventual effect of a particular cause

Fact: belief in something real

Failure: the original goal is not achieved

Fantasy: belief in something unreal

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Gathering Information: gathering information or experience

How Things are Changing: the way things are going

Hunch: an understanding based on insufficient circumstantial evidence

Impulsive Responses: innate responses

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Intuitive: the Main Character uses intuitive problem solving techniques

Knowledge: that which one holds to be true

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Memories: recollections

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

Process: an ongoing activity; the mechanism through which a cause leads to an effect

Result: the product of a process; the ramifications of a specific effect

Security: an evaluation of one's defenses and protections

Situation: a situation or environment

Skill: aptitude or innate ability

Steadfast: the Main Character ultimately retains her essential nature

Stop: regarding the Main Character, the audience is waiting for something to end

Test: a trial to determine something's validity

The Future: what will happen or what will be

The Past: what has already happened

The Present: the current situation and circumstances

Theory: an unbroken chain of relationships leading from a premise to a conclusion

Thought: the process of consideration

Timelock: the story climax is brought about by a time limit

Trust: acceptance without proof

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something

Unending: continuing without cessation

Value: the objective usefulness of something in general

Wisdom: understanding how to apply Knowledge

Worth: a rating of usefulness or desirability to oneself personally