6 Story Shapes: Intuitive Techniques for Plotting Stories

A good diagram conveys pages and pages of text. Let’s use that power to plan your story.

I'm Theodore Lowry – a writer, podcaster, and artist. Welcome to the couch where words and images share hot drinks.

Embarking on a storytelling journey can be both exciting and daunting. With characters, settings, and intricate plot lines asking you how they all fit together, it's essential to have a solid overview. If you're dealing with complex narratives, high-level planning can be a game-changer. That's where the art of the overview comes in.

While traditional planning tools like index cards and digital aids are valuable, this course offers another approach which is a rare gem. By visualizing your story's visual structure, you'll gain a bird's-eye view.

The technique empowers you to identify and address significant structural issues before investing time in scenes and dialogues that might not fit the bigger picture. Inspired by the acclaimed Kurt Vonnegut, this method involves crafting visual representations of your entire narrative. Like a sculptor shaping a basic form before adding intricate details, we'll work from large to small.

What You'll Learn:

1 Six Main Story Shapes: Dive into the essence of character transformations as we explore different story arcs, each capturing the grand evolution of your tale.

2 Play: Combine multiple narrative shapes into a dynamic story.

3 Stories within stories: Fit small story arcs — scenes and beats — within these large shapes.

4 Make your own shapes: Go beyond these six to create other story structures.

Is This Course for You?

It may be a fit it:

• You’ve got a story idea that needs honing

• You're struggling with a story that needs a fresh perspective.

• You're seeking a new story idea to ignite your creative fire.

Whether you're a budding writer, an experienced scribe, or simply curious about storytelling, this course offers something valuable. It's especially designed for those who have explored various story structures and are keen to experiment with a new creative tool.

Join me on this captivating journey where we'll reshape narratives, ignite creativity, and navigate the differently shaped waves of the story ocean. Sail on to bring your storytelling to a new dimension.