Recent Posts
The most recent 25 posts are listed below. To view the complete archive of 115 posts, click here.
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The Story Diamond
A few cynics or humorists will glance at the many story motifs layered on top of one another, throw up their hands asking, "Why are you making it so complex?" I suppose that's like wanting to build a house, so you go to a lumber yard to buy the wood and they present you with fifty-seven varieties. You don't need but one kind to build the outer structure of your house—perhaps maple. But when you get to the window frames, maybe oak would look better. And perhaps the banisters would be nice in mahogany. The Story Diamond is like a lumber yard. Walk in, take a look around, and pick the motif or wood that works best for your particular story or for a specific beat. The Story Diamond should give you confidence that regardless of which one you pick, and at whatever beat you're at, you're still within the realm of telling a good story, because good stories follow the natural structure that forms the backbone of the Story Diamond.
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The Eight Mini Movie Beat Plate
I explain how my story template divides narratives into eight mini-movies, each representing 12.5% of the total story. Each mini-movie should start with a clear character goal and end with a disaster that propels the story forward, creating a consistent roller-coaster effect for readers. While the template can accommodate multiple character arcs, it's often more practical to focus on one character's complete journey. This structure helps maintain narrative momentum by ensuring regular dramatic beats and escalating stakes.
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FtBotB - A Wartime Drama - Lā Kūʻokoʻa - Aloha Republic
I've developed a political thriller exploring the consequences of Hawaii's vote for independence from the United States. Through multiple viewpoints - including student activist Makaio Kamalani, doctor Leimomi Hōkūlani, and California Governor Santiago - I examine how Hawaii's secession triggers a cascade of similar movements across America. The story weaves together themes of sovereignty, civil rights, and the potential for peaceful protest to descend into civil war as the federal government responds with military force to maintain control.
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FtBotB - A Space Opera - Into the Belly of the Beast
I've crafted a sci-fi survival story about Rheesor and his crew aboard The Hannu, who find themselves trapped inside a massive space worm after being swallowed whole. When they discover a village of multi-generational survivors living inside the creature, tension builds between getting repairs done and convincing the skeptical villagers to escape. Through Rheesor's connection with young villager Asiri, and a race against rising digestive acids, I explore themes of leadership, belief, and adaptation while building toward a dramatic escape attempt.
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FtBotB - A Contemporary Romance - A Listening Ear
I've crafted a story exploring the complex relationship between Bodhrán O'Shea, a wealthy helpline volunteer, and "Luisella," a regular caller who becomes special to him over their year of conversations. When they finally meet in person, the revelation of her false identity forces both characters to confront difficult truths about trust, deception, and human connection. Through their struggle to reconcile their bond with this new reality, I examine how relationships formed in vulnerability can survive when masks fall away.
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Booker's Meta-Plot Structure
I present a five-stage plot structure that traces a story's emotional arc from anticipation through resolution. Beginning with normal life disrupted by tension, the narrative moves through an illusory "dream" phase of early success, hits a crucial "frustration" turning point where true challenges emerge, descends into a transformative "nightmare" period of escalating difficulties, and finally reaches a satisfying resolution. This framework helps writers create engaging emotional journeys while maintaining narrative momentum.
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FtBotB - A Crime Thriller - When the Bones Speak (Book Two of The Klaite Moran Chronicles)
I've crafted a sequel that follows Klaite Moran three years after Reynel Joris' execution, as she investigates a mass grave discovered on the Baure family farm. While exploring the connection between Reynel and the Baures' own decades of criminal activity, Klaite grapples with why Reynel kept this secret from her. The story examines her journey toward ethical redemption as she works to expose the truth about over 100 victims, despite threats to her safety. Through this investigation, Klaite finds a way to confront her past choices while pursuing justice through legitimate means.
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FtBotB - A Crime Thriller - The Kakapo House (Book Three of The Klaite Moran Chronicles)
I've crafted the final installment in Klaite's trilogy, where her attempt at recovery leads to a terrifying confrontation with Reynel's vengeful son Jehan. After being violently abducted and held captive for 26 days, Klaite must use her interviewing skills and psychological insights from her time with Reynel to survive his son's torture. Through this ordeal, she comes to terms with how Reynel's influence continues to shape her life, ultimately emerging stronger in her commitment to justice.
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Today's Thoughts
In this daily reflection post, I share both the challenges and bright moments of my day. Despite dealing with chronic pain, late starts, and worried moments, I found joy in unexpected places - like some meaningful progress with my work. I'm learning to acknowledge both the ups and downs, celebrating small victories like posting content even when I don't feel like doing it. This kind of honest daily check-in helps me stay grounded and might become a regular feature of my blog.
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FtBotB - A Crime Thriller - Dark Relations (Book One of The Klaite Moran Chronicles)
I've crafted a psychological thriller exploring the complex relationship between ambitious reporter Klaite Moran and death row inmate Reynel Joris, a former political hopeful turned child killer. Through their prison interviews and Klaite's parallel struggles with a dangerous stalker, I examine how moral boundaries blur when confronting violence and justice. The story tracks Klaite's gradual ethical compromise as she recognizes disturbing similarities between herself and Reynel, ultimately leading to her own act of deadly self-defense. This narrative explores themes of ambition, morality, and the psychological impact of confronting human darkness.
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New Obligations Means New Stories - An Exercise:
I explore how assigning characters new roles and responsibilities can deepen narratives and drive character development. Through eight key approaches - from transforming lone wolves into leaders to creating strategic role reversals - I demonstrate how changing a character's obligations creates opportunities for growth and conflict. I've included specific questions to help writers think through how new roles might affect their characters' motivations, relationships and story arcs, encouraging exploration of unexpected career paths that challenge characters' existing traits and beliefs.
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The Beat of the Day - Applied Phlebotium
I explore the concept of Phlebotinum - those versatile plot devices like nanotechnology or magic crystals that help move stories forward without getting bogged down in hard science explanations. While these elements don't need rigorous scientific justification, I emphasize the importance of establishing consistent rules and limitations within your story world to maintain reader engagement. Whether it's Aetheric Crystals or Green Rocks, these tools can serve as effective plot fuel when used thoughtfully and consistently.
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FtBotB - A Space Adventure - The Postman
I've crafted a science fiction narrative about Ezwatti Levar, a postal worker whose loyalty to Earth compromises the neutrality of the Interstellar Postal Service during an interstellar war. Through Ezwatti's story, I explore themes of duty versus ethics, examining how one person's choices can have far-reaching consequences. His decision to spy for Earth while maintaining his postal duties raises questions about neutrality in wartime and the true cost of patriotism, ultimately threatening the vital communication network that connects humanity's colonies across the galaxy.
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FtBotB - A Space Opera - Earth Ship
I've developed a sci-fi narrative about Earth's transformation into an interstellar vessel under the leadership of Dr. Avigayil Gray and her rival Dr. Vikram Milovanović. Through their conflict over humanity's technological ambitions and subsequent forced collaboration when disaster strikes, I explore themes of scientific hubris versus caution. As Earth faces destruction from its own unstable core, these opposing viewpoints must find balance to ensure humanity's survival among the stars.
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The Beat of the Day - You're a Capricious Raconteur
I explore how unreliable narrators can add complexity and intrigue to storytelling by deliberately misleading or withholding information from readers. Whether through personal bias, mental instability, deception, or limited understanding, these narrators force readers to question the narrative's credibility and draw their own conclusions. I examine how this technique fundamentally alters a story's tone compared to using objective or omniscient perspectives, creating deeper engagement through uncertainty.
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The Beat of the Day - A Cavalier Risk
I examine the trope I call "A Cavalier Risk" - that crucial moment when a character's early success breeds dangerous overconfidence. Just before the story's midpoint, protagonists often feel invincible after initial victories, leading them to take reckless actions that set up their downfall. Using metaphors like "poking the bear" and "messing with the bull," I describe how this plot point reveals characters' true nature while setting them up for the harsh lessons waiting at the midpoint. This dance between pride and consequence is essential for character development.
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The Adrenaline Machine - A Chapter Elixir
This is The Adrenaline Machine, which focuses on creating relentless tension through cycles of progress and setbacks. Starting with an intense opening plunge and moving through nine distinct stages of advancement and regression, this framework keeps readers engaged by alternating between moments of hope and despair. The outline culminates in a pivotal pause that leaves everything hanging in suspense, maximizing dramatic tension.
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A Wagon Train - An Outline
I've created a detailed outline for a Western pioneer story following a wagon train's journey from the Northeast to California's gold country. Through 33 beats, I track their progression from initial preparations through disasters, diseases, indigenous encounters, interpersonal conflicts, and eventual settlement. The outline balances external challenges like treacherous river crossings and confrontations with internal struggles like budding romances and betrayals, culminating in the pioneers establishing new lives and passing their legacy to future generations. This template provides a framework for exploring both the physical and emotional journeys of westward expansion.
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Today's Thoughts
In this daily reflection post, I share both the challenges and bright moments of my day. Despite dealing with chronic pain, late starts, and worried moments, I found joy in unexpected places - like some meaningful progress with my work. I'm learning to acknowledge both the ups and downs, celebrating small victories like posting content even when I don't feel like doing it. This kind of honest daily check-in helps me stay grounded and might become a regular feature of my blog.
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Some Advice
I reflect on the unique value of being a beginner in your craft. While many rush to move beyond this stage as soon as challenges arise, I emphasize how the early learning phase offers special opportunities for growth and development that become rarer as you advance. I encourage writers to embrace and appreciate their beginner status, as each new level of mastery makes transformative growth spurts increasingly difficult to achieve.
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FtBotB - An Extinction Level Event - Plummeting
I've developed a post-apocalyptic survival story focused on Eyvǫra Naldi and 385 other passengers stranded in the air above a devastated Atlanta after an asteroid impact. The synopsis follows their harrowing decision to attempt a landing and subsequent struggle to survive in the ruined city. Through Eyvǫra's emergence as a leader, I explore themes of human resilience and group dynamics in the face of catastrophe. The story asks whether unity can prevail when civilization crumbles.
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Internal Conflict - An Exercise:
This is a tool to help writers identify their characters' core internal conflicts by examining the interplay between emotional wounds, outer goals, and inner needs. By understanding how past trauma shapes current motivations, writers can develop more compelling character arcs. This framework helps uncover the deeper psychological struggles that drive character growth and plot development.
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Character Arc Progression - An Exercise:
This framework is for understanding how character wounds shape story arcs. By examining the relationship between traumatic past events and current behaviors, we can trace how wounds generate fears, false beliefs, and dysfunctional coping mechanisms. I provide targeted questions to help writers identify their characters' basic human needs, motivations, and conflicts that stem from these formative wounds. This flowchart approach helps create more psychologically complex character arcs.
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A Scene Card - An Exercise
I break down the key differences between illustrative and non-illustrative scenes in writing. Strong scenes actively challenge characters and show them making decisions in varied environments, revealing growth through their changing responses to similar situations. To help writers create more dynamic scenes, I've developed a checklist of essential elements - from setting and timing to emotional arcs and conflict sources. This framework helps identify whether you're truly showing character development or merely telling readers what to think.
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A Murder Mystery - An Outline
I've created a comprehensive outline for a mystery/crime story structure, detailing every major beat from the initial "Act of Depravity" through to the final resolution. Each section serves a specific purpose in building tension, developing investigation threads, and maintaining reader engagement. The outline includes multiple red herrings, false objectives, and plot complications to keep both protagonists and readers guessing. I pay particular attention to character development through the investigation process, while emphasizing the importance of consistent clue placement and logical resolution. This framework helps writers craft mysteries that balance procedural elements with emotional depth.
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