Storyform for "Tender Mercies"

CHARACTER DYNAMICS:

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

PLOT DYNAMICS:

• DRIVER: Decision
• LIMIT: Optionlock
• OUTCOME: Success
• JUDGMENT: Good

OVERALL STORY (Drunk songwriter finds salvation)

• THROUGHLINE: Situation
• CONCERN: The Past
• ISSUE: Fate vs. Destiny
• PROBLEM: Chaos
• SOLUTION: Order
• SYMPTOM: Thought
• RESPONSE: Knowledge
• CATALYST: Prediction
• INHIBITOR: Suspicion
• BENCHMARK: The Future
• SIGNPOST 1: The Present
• SIGNPOST 2: How Things are Changing
• SIGNPOST 3: The Past
• SIGNPOST 4: The Future

IMPACT CHARACTER (Rosa Lee / Sonny)

• THROUGHLINE: Manipulation
• CONCERN: Developing a Plan
• ISSUE: Circumstances vs. Situation
• PROBLEM: Change
• SOLUTION: Inertia
• SYMPTOM: Thought
• RESPONSE: Knowledge
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Situation
• CRITICAL FLAW: Interpretation
• BENCHMARK: Changing One's Nature
• SIGNPOST 1: Developing a Plan
• SIGNPOST 2: Conceiving an Idea
• SIGNPOST 3: Playing a Role
• SIGNPOST 4: Changing One's Nature

MAIN CHARACTER (Mac Sledge)

• THROUGHLINE: Activity
• CONCERN: Understanding
• ISSUE: Interpretation vs. Senses
• PROBLEM: Chaos
• SOLUTION: Order
• SYMPTOM: Inequity
• RESPONSE: Equity
• UNIQUE ABILITY: Senses
• CRITICAL FLAW: Circumstances
• BENCHMARK: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 1: Obtaining
• SIGNPOST 2: Gathering Information
• SIGNPOST 3: Understanding
• SIGNPOST 4: Doing

MAIN VS. IMPACT STORY (Family)

• THROUGHLINE: Fixed Attitude
• CONCERN: Memories
• ISSUE: Truth vs. Falsehood
• PROBLEM: Perception
• SOLUTION: Actuality
• SYMPTOM: Thought
• RESPONSE: Knowledge
• CATALYST: Evidence
• INHIBITOR: Interdiction
• BENCHMARK: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 1: Memories
• SIGNPOST 2: Impulsive Responses
• SIGNPOST 3: Innermost Desires
• SIGNPOST 4: Contemplation

ADDITIONAL STORY POINTS

• GOAL: The Past
• CONSEQUENCE: Memories
• COST: Developing a Plan
• DIVIDEND: Understanding
• REQUIREMENT: The Future
• PREREQUISITE: Innermost Desires
• PRECONDITION: Changing One's Nature
• FOREWARNINGS: Obtaining

VOCABULARY:

Activity: an activity or endeavor

Actuality: objective reality; the way things are

Change: an alteration of a state or process

Change: Mac Sledge changes his essential nature while attempting to solve the problem

Changing One's Nature: transforming one's nature

Chaos: random change or a lack of order

Circumstances: an emotional assessment of one's environment

Conceiving an Idea: coming up with an idea

Contemplation: present considerations

Decision: in the plot, decisions force actions

Destiny: the future path an individual must take

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

Do-er: Mac Sledge looks for a physical solution to his problem

Doing: engaging in a physical activity

Equity: a balance, fairness, or stability

Evidence: information supporting a belief

Falsehood: that which has been shown to be erroneous

Fate: a future situation that will befall an individual

Fixed Attitude: a fixed attitude or outlook

Gathering Information: gathering information or experience

Good: Mac Sledge ultimately succeeds in resolving his personal problems

How Things are Changing: the way things are going

Impulsive Responses: innate responses

Inequity: an unbalance, unfairness, or lack or equality

Inertia: a continuation of a state or process

Innermost Desires: basic drives and desires

Interdiction: an effort to change a predetermined course

Interpretation: determination of possible meaning

Knowledge: that which one holds to be true

Logical: Mac Sledge uses inherently logical (linear) problem solving techniques

Manipulation: a manner of thinking or demeanor

Memories: recollections

Obtaining: achieving or possessing something

Optionlock: the story climax occurs because all options have been exhausted

Order: a patterned arrangement

Perception: the way things seem to be

Playing a Role: temporarily adopting a lifestyle

Prediction: a predetermination of a future state of affairs

Senses: sensory observations

Situation: a situation or environment

Situation: a logistic assessment of one's environment

Steadfast: Mac Sledge ultimately retains his essential nature

Stop: regarding Mac Sledge, the audience is waiting for something to end

Success: the original goal is achieved

Suspicion: questioning or forming a belief based on new evidence

The Future: what will happen or what will be

The Past: what has already happened

The Present: the current situation and circumstances

Thought: the process of consideration

Truth: that which is actually correct

Understanding: appreciating the meaning of something