What are the “a” and “B” stories in a screenplay?
In screenplay lingo, writers and directors refer to the “A” story and the “B” story. (There can be a “C,” “D,” and “E” story, but let’s leave those alone for the moment.) Heather Graham in “The Hangover.”
How to structure a premise for stronger stories?
How to structure a premise for stronger stories STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE CORE STRUCTURE OF YOUR STORY. For our purposes, a story is defined as a metaphor for a journey that... STEP 2: DO YOU HAVE A STORY? What’s the difference between a situation and a story? The main difference is that the... STEP 3: ...
What should be included in a synopsis?
A synopsis should include the characters' feelings and emotions. Use these elements to advance your plot and story. Write Clearly. Focus on clarity in your writing and avoid wordiness.
What is a story’s premise?
Story premises serve as both a hook for the reader and a guiding light for the writer, providing a storytelling roadmap from the first page to the last. What Is a Premise? What Should a Premise Include? Want to Learn More About Writing? What Is a Premise? A story’s premise is the foundational idea that expresses the plot in simple terms.
What is a premise in a story?
A story’s premise is more than a quick synopsis, or a simple thesis statement defining the theme or argument of a story. It is your canary in the storytelling coal mine and your lifeline as a writer. A story premise, along with its tool, the premise line, is a container that holds the essence of your story’s right, true and natural structure.
How many structural components are there in a story?
This first step helps you identify the seven structural components present in any story – regardless of genre.
Why is the premise line important?
This is a critical skill for any writer, because the premise line is a key ally in writing effective query letters to agents or publishers and pitching film production companies or studios. And the premise line is more than a pitch tool.
What is the anatomy of a premises line?
Using New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Meyer’s book, Twilight, we can see how the Anatomy of a Premise Line template can be used on a contemporary genre novel. This book is an interesting hybrid of a story and multiple situations combining into a surprisingly satisfying read. Even in a YA blockbuster like Twilight, the Anatomy of a Premise Line can provide a clear premise that can be used as a development road map. Most important, it confirms that even with episodic plotting, adhering to a map of core story structure components can work.
What is premise development?
Once mastered, premise development can guide your entire writing process while giving you an effective and professional pitch tool to use with publishers, agents and editors. Trust in the premise line. It will tell you if you have a story or a situation. The rest is up to you.
What is the premise of "It all fits all flows"?
It all fits, it all flows and it is a metaphor for a human experience resulting in evolutionary change; it is a story. Armed with this premise line, you can confidently move forward to writing, knowing your story’s armature is strong.
How to get the next clause in a premise line?
Take the next two components of the core structure and combine them to give you the next clause in the premise line.
What is the B story in a movie?
Sometimes the “B” Story rides to the rescue of the “A” story. The “A” story is the dramatic core of the movie. It’s the foreground—the primary throughline that the protagonist follows. The “B” story is a supporting saga, running on a parallel (and often seemingly-unrelated) track.
What is the B story?
In screenwriting theory, the “B” story should always support the “A” story. The two must resonate, even if they don’t seem to at first. In the crisis, “B” rides to the rescue of “A.”. The two storylines come together and reveal themselves to have been metaphorically linked all along. Elements of the “B” story help the hero survive ...
What is the A story issue?
The “A” story issue in both cases is “Will our hero find his/her true calling and, if so, will he/she have the strength of character to embrace it and live it out?”
What is the story of George Clooney's wife in The Descendants?
In The Descendants [see last week’s post], the “A” story is George Clooney’s struggle to survive the discovery of his wife’s infidelity, coupled with his grief/anguish/guilt/rage at her going into a coma after a boating accident —and thus threatening to destroy both him and the whole family.
What does George act like in the B story?
But in the “B” story, George acts like a man in the best sense of the word. He stands up, alone and in the face of tremendous adversity, for what he believes in. This wins him not only his daughters’ respect, but his own. The “B” story flows into the “A” story in the crisis/All Is Lost moment and saves the day.
Who is the executor of the B story?
In the “B” story, remember, Clooney the lawyer is serving as executor for his cousins, aunts, uncles and in-laws, all of whom are frothing at the mouth to despoil the pristine piece of Hawaiian real estate that they are heirs to. They want to take the money and run and they are pressuring Clooney big-time.
What is the A story in The Hangover?
In The Hangover, the “A” story is the guys’ efforts to find their friend Doug. The “B” story is Stu’s (Ed Helms) struggle to break out of thrall to his shrew girlfriend back in L.A.
What is a premise in a script?
You can call it a lot of things. A premise is the core belief system of the script and lifeblood of the story. The best and most logical way to think about this was something another, former USC student, screenwriter, and film school educator once said to me... If you see the screenplay as a creative term paper, premise is the hypothesis of that the paper. Garrick Dowhen was right, and it's the perfect analogy. Now, it's important to note that there can only be one premise per script from which all the ideas it contains serve, otherwise the script loses focus and its sense of purpose. Premise is hypothesis. It is the story's purpose for existing at all.
Why does the story continue to resonate over five hundred years after they were written?
Now, none of those statements are ever stated in the dialogue of those famous plays, but the story continues to resonate over five hundred years after they were written because of the subtextual truth of each premise. So in the end, the technical phrasing of a premise doesn't need to be complex.
What is the soul of a movie?
The soul of your movie is on the line with every draft. You will be trying to crystalize this statement with each edit. A premise is the writer's entire reason for telling the story and the main reason he or she does not get sick of writing it. It is not a word, theme, feeling, story, question, plot, or tone.
Why use universal truth in plotting?
Instead of basing a premise in universal truth, use universal truth in plotting to prove a more personal truth. That's how writers lay claim to a story. Having a totally personal, unique view of the world is the bedrock of defining your POV as a writer. It's what makes you different from all other writers.
How to fight against a premise?
Under each premise you have come up with, you start a very long list of ideas, physical actions, situations and characters that you could use to fight for and against the premise. Draw from personal experience, stories from the news or friends, and then use your imagination. Let it run rampant with imagery, actions, reactions, and potential conflicts proving or debunking that premise. The length of the list tells you how much you personally have to say about the subject.
When was the art of dramatic writing published?
For the original master of defining a strong, dramatic premise, we look to Lajos Egri's The Art of Dramatic Writing, published in 1946 . While Aristotle's Poetics originally analyzed and taught the mechanics of plotting at the core of storytelling, Egri took a new angle.
Is there only one premise per script?
Garrick Dowhen was right, and it's the perfect analogy. Now, it's important to note that there can only be one premise per script from which all the ideas it contains serve, otherwise the script loses focus and its sense of purpose. Premise is hypothesis. It is the story's purpose for existing at all.
What should a synopsis include?
A synopsis should include the characters' feelings and emotions. Use these elements to advance your plot and story. Write Clearly. Focus on clarity in your writing and avoid wordiness. Remember, less is more.
How to write a synopsis for a book?
While there is no universal standard for the length of a book or novel synopsis, agents usually favor one to two pages, single-spaced. Sometimes an agent might ask for a chapter outline instead, which is a synopsis of each chapter. Here are some tips on what to avoid when writing a synopsis: 1 Mentioning too many characters or events. 2 Including too much detail about plot twists and turns. You don't want to tell the entire story. What you want to do is write a book summary with enough detail about the plot to intrigue the reader or agent. 3 Unnecessary detail, description, or explanation. Make each word in your synopsis count. 4 Editorializing your novel or book. Don't use "...in a flashback," or "...in a poignant scene." If you have a confusing series of events and character interactions, not only will your reader be confused, but a potential agent will be too. 5 Writing back cover copy instead of a synopsis. Don't go astray and write a hook to intrigue a reader to buy a book or an agent to request a manuscript. Focus on summarizing your novel or book.
How to start a synopsis?
She recommends beginning with a strong paragraph identifying your protagonist, problem or conflict, and setting. The next paragraph should convey any major plot turns or conflicts necessary and any characters that should be mentioned in order for your book summary to make sense to whomever is reading it.
What to do when writing a book summary?
You don't want to tell the entire story. What you want to do is write a book summary with enough detail about the plot to intrigue the reader or agent.
How many pages should a book synopsis be?
While there is no universal standard for the length of a book or novel synopsis, agents usually favor one to two pages, single-spaced. Sometimes an agent might ask for a chapter outline instead, which is a synopsis of each chapter.
What to do if you have a confusing series of events and character interactions?
If you have a confusing series of events and character interactions, not only will your reader be confused, but a potential agent will be too. Writing back cover copy instead of a synopsis. Don't go astray and write a hook to intrigue a reader to buy a book or an agent to request a manuscript.
How to write a premise?
A strong premise should include ideally include three elements in a single sentence: 1 Main character: Your story premise should include a brief description of your protagonist, such as “a teenage wizard” or “a grizzled detective.” 2 Your protagonist’s goal: A solid premise will also include a simple explanation of what your main character desires or needs. 3 The situation or obstacle: What crisis or extraordinary situation does your protagonist find themselves in?
What should a strong premise include?
A strong premise should include ideally include three elements in a single sentence: Main character: Your story premise should include a brief description of your protagonist, such as “a teenage wizard” or “a grizzled detective.”. Your protagonist’s goal: A solid premise will also include a simple explanation of what your main character desires ...
What Is a Premise?
A story’s premise is the foundational idea that expresses the plot in simple terms. A good premise will communicate your story’s essence in a one-sentence or two-sentence statement.
What is the theme of a story?
Begin with a theme. When writing fiction, novelists, short story writers, and screenwriters alike often begin with a theme that interests them. After all, your theme will inform both your point of view and the premise of your story. What real-life problems are you interested in exploring? The corruptive influence of extreme wealth? The omnipresence of technology in our daily lives? The age-old battle between faith and doubt? Nailing down a theme early in the creative writing process can serve as a road map that can help guide you towards your story structure and premise.
What happens if your premise is too wordy?
If your premise is too wordy or confusing, your work will likely be ignored. Similarly, screenwriters often sell story ideas solely on the strength of their logline. Regardless of whether your premise is low concept or high concept, you should be able to explain it to potential buyers in a few seconds.
How to generate story ideas?
Start by asking yourself simple questions. One of the most basic steps you can take to generate story ideas is to ask yourself simple questions. Begin with whatever your kernel of an idea is: Perhaps it’s a character, a plot idea, an inciting incident, or a setting. Then, ask yourself questions that begin with “What if?”.
What should be the main character in a story?
Main character: Your story premise should include a brief description of your protagonist, such as “a teenage wizard” or “a grizzled detective.”
What should be included in a synopsis?
While writing your synopsis, make sure that it includes: A complete narrative arc. Your own voice and unique elements of your story. The ending or resolution ( unlike in a blurb)
How to ensure a synopsis is paced?
A great way to ensure that your synopsis is paced precisely and flows well is to give it to test readers, either someone you know or a professional editor. You’ve spent way too much time with these words to be objective about them, so pay attention to what other people suggest: possible word substitutions, transitions, and which details to emphasize versus delete.
What is a synopsis in a book?
A synopsis is a summary of a book that familiarizes the reader with the plot and how it unfolds. Although these kinds of summaries also appear on the pages of school book reports and Wikipedia, this guide will focus on constructing one that you can send out to agents (and eventually publishers).
What is a synopsis in a query letter?
Your synopsis is one of the biggest deciding factors in whether an agent wants to see more from you or not. No matter how chipper your query letter, the bottom line is that this summary tells agents (and later publishers) what they really need to know: what your book is about, what makes it unique, and most importantly, if they can sell it.
How to write a synopsis for a novel?
How to write a novel synopsis in 4 steps. 1. Get the basics down first. When it comes to writing a synopsis, substance is the name of the game. No matter how nicely you dress it up , an agent will disregard any piece that doesn’t demonstrate a fully fleshed out plot and strong narrative arc. So it stands to reason that as you begin writing, you ...
What is the paramount rule of synopsis?
The paramount rule of synopses is a real doozy: tell, don’t show. It’s the opposite of that classic adage that writers have heard their whole lives, and it’s exactly what you need to write a successful synopsis.
How to capture voice in a synopsis?
The best way to capture voice in a synopsis is through extremely deliberate word choice and sentence structure. So if you were Jane Austen, you’d use clever words to magnify your wit: “When Darcy proposes to her apropos of nothing, Elizabeth has the quite understandable reaction of rejecting him.”.
How to write a literary critique for a short story?
false. Check three things that are NOT part of writing a literary critique for a short story. summarize the plot briefly. briefly give author's background. develop strengths of minor characters. give strengths and weaknesses.
What is the surprise ending?
The surprise ending is a figure of speech.
Is a critic supposed to give her personal opinion about a book?
A critic is not supposed to give her personal opinion about a book.
The Concept of Premise
Creating A Premise
- While Egri teaches that it's perfectly acceptable to write stories based on a tried and true, preexisting premise, I would feel utterly unoriginal using someone else's exact wording for the meaning behind my story. As a career writer, I know everything has been said before in some form or another, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to find a way to say it that is not original in some w…
How to Nail Down The Premise
- The first big qualifiers are that a premise must 1) show conviction on behalf of the writer and 2) have a meaning that would be crystal clear to any stranger who reads it. The wording should leave absolutely no room for confusion or misinterpretation. If writers want their story to be written with passion and purpose, it all starts with a strong op...
When Looking Back at A Premise
- My roadmap for idea generation starts and ends with premise. Once a writer has a premise, filtered it through genre, sculpted the major character types, and locked down a story idea, he or she should return to the premise. It's only at that point in the process that writers will know enough to lock down a premise that fits Egri's model, if they wish to use it. The character, …