Story Structure: Stating a Theme and a Premise for Your Novel, Screenplay, or Stage Play (Star Wars)

[@danielbuneta]

The story of not having a story. Great video.

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

So glad you liked it, @danielbuneta. Thanks for watching!

[@ae5hu73]

Boy, I really liked this video and found it helpful. I have been thinking about putting my dads WWII stories down on paper. But I wonder who would want to read another collection of WWII stories? And they not my stories, their my dads. And the over all question I have had was how do I tie all these separate events into a single story. I think you have helped show me the way. So I want to say thanks'

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Hello @ae5shu73. I'm glad you found this video helpful. Something to bear in mind: If Peter Benchley had said, "Who wants to read another fishing tale?" would we have had "Jaws"? If Steven Spielberg had said, "Who wants to know more about the Holocaust and why it was important?" would we have had "Schindler's List?" If Anne Lamott had said, "You know, I guess it's not really important to talk about how our thinking influences our reality..." would we have had "Bird by Bird"? I hope you see where I'm going with this. As far as tying separate events into a single story, what unifying events or themes are present in your current roster of vignettes to serve as connecting tissue? Remember that a collection of stories is collected for a reason. Once you find what that reason is, both for yourself, and for your reader, you can begin your endeavor with greater confidence. I hope this helps and wish you all the best with your work. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@dadtype2339]

Okay, feel like I just ran into a busy classroom. Okay, I'll try, to make this short....ish.. Write what you know! This is one of those sayings I've picked over trying to really figure it out. Like for example, this chestnut, "It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all," right, our man W.S. To me this boils down to by loving and losing, it brings you to a multi level of existence, it makes you truly experience sipping from the goblet of life. You are more human having experienced that rainbow of emotions, it will make you or you will become a better person because of it. Where as someone who hasn't, isn't really living. So Write what you know to me doesn't limit you, it is instead encouraging you to live and reach out and either go get those experiences or read, study, explore and research so you can write what you know. I have come to view Story telling like what's the punch line or what's the moral? Like when you tell a joke, you try not to mess it up, or you don't start with the punch line and then the build up, and with a moral you have to have a meaning behind it. Cinderella is a moral story in to not judge a book by it's cover and to hold strong on to hope. Pinocchio is about not giving up Those are stories with meaning in them, what is the story we as what are you trying to say, is it a meaning or a punch line. They Live by John Carpenter, is a punch line kind of story, not that it's funny but it also has no real meaning. So it fits in the punch line category in that there is an Alien Take over and you can only see it through special sunglasses made by human resistance fighters, a situation building and our main character is tossed in how will he do, ho will he over come. Misery is a punch line not a meaning, See it doesn't work as a story with what meaning lol Do not drive you car on winter snow storm roads??? Or this will happen? Lol. Don't become a famous author or your number one fan might be Annie Wilcox. See it just doesn't work as a meaning or moral story but it does work as a punch line. Jeanne's story could be either depending on which way we go. A meaning would be the story of how a lady meets an up and coming public servant who she either was hopeful for a relationship or friendship only to be burned and now she is experiencing the better to have loved and lost,... Or Maybe he forgot who she was because he was replaced by a Lizard Alien???? See that's no meaning just a good punch line. I'd go with Lizard man replica if I were writing it. Even in real life it works for me. Those are how I simplify to find what the story looks like. But as a writer I get this all the time from people, and family oh man how I have upset my brother who doesn't understand Story or it's concept. I got a great idea for a story? Okay I say...? I do try to keep an open ear and polite mind but I have almost never actually had that happen. Someone says I have a great idea for a story, they tell it, and it is....but it never is. So my brother once tells me I have a great idea for a story... Two guys are walking along in the woods and the come a cross a jeep with keys in the ignition and a duffle bag full of money in the passenger seat. (Crickets as he stops) Okay, and, I ask??? That's it, that's the idea. Okay, a start to an interesting situation maybe but not a story. And then I give this as an example of a story, Two dear friends have a girls night out at a bar, both have been looking forward to getting away for the weekend, to ditch the dirty house, and drab husband, and get away from the boyfriend you've broken up with for the 5th or 6th time in a month, they have been wanting freedom and fun. But on their first night out to a bar, one of these dear friends is taken out to the parking lot and is in the process of BLANK but the other friend shows up and rescues her by going Pop pop (YT isn't letting me post this as I have words it didn't like so fill in the blanks here lol) the guy and helps him find his off switch. Afraid both flee the scene and become on the run from the law thinking no one would believe them. Now they're two suburban women, one a Mom, the other with a prior record, believe the world is burnt behind them as the desperately and against all odds make a dire escape to Mexico. That there is a story. That there is "Thelma and Louise." Thelma and Louise is a punch line story but has a meaning you can learn from too. These stories I call Twins as they work for both equally. And it doesn't matter what genre it is or fiction or non fiction. Both need a story. So, here is one from my own real life. This is how amazing life is when things line up. And I've begun to make this into either a fiction or non-fiction story haven't decided yet. So when I was an active Firefighter there was this time two of my chiefs were yelling and really near each other's throats, well I came out into the bay, which is where the Fire trucks are parked inside a station, cup of coffee in hand lol easy going guy. This was in July in NC and it was a hot day. I see them it's business as usual and just before I was going back in, I look out the back open bay doors and out in the sun is this blond blue eyes chubby cheek little girl she was dropped off early for the JR. Firefighters Day, and she was just baking in the sun, and looked so frighten by their yelling she was actually crying. She was probably 12 she looked very young found out later she was 15...but the point is I went out to her and talked her in to coming inside out of the sun get some AC and a cold coke or Pepsi as I have the key to the kitchen. We went in and I look at the chiefs and call them bullies lol. She and I sit and talk and have a pretty good visit. And then a few months late we get this late night early morning call about 2 am a vehicle accident, we get there cars totalled thankfully no major injuries. But me and the guys are standing in front of the fire engine waiting for the State trooper to dismiss us, and I hear the driver of one of the cars just crying and I mean balling hard a soul tear jerking cry I look he was washed in the red, white and blue lights but I could see he was in a ditch and I saw him just left his arms up in the air like he gave up and down he went into the leaves and rock bottom, his soul collapsed under the wait of the accident and life, this young man sobbing in a cold wet ditch, I couldn't take it anymore, I pushed my way through the crowd called my Brothers a bunch of jackals. Even telling this now I'm tearing up. But I get to him, I drop to him in the ditch and took my helmet off, my shoulder light shined on his face he was 17 maybe 18, and I said to him listen, it okay, what important is you lived all your live cars will come and go, but you are alive. He says his Dad is going to kill him this is another accident I took his face into my hands as I had removed my gloves, and as his tears streamed over my knuckles I had him to look me in the face and I told him your Dad should love you and be glad you are alive, he should hug you and tell you it's going to be alright. He said not my Dad. I said then I will, and I took him into my arms and hugged this stranger kid, never met him before, all I see is what I was trained to see, another human in desperate need. I picked him up off his knees we stood up and I dusted the leaves off him. He was able to collect himself and felt love and positivity and how life can bring good things back over the bad. I prayed over him that night on the side of the dark wet highway. His Mom showed up and took over. I stood there and for a few seconds saw a mother hold her son and it was a very powerful moment in my life. I picked up my helmet and gloves my chief said I did a very good thing that takes probably more courage than going into a burning house. I didn't get any smack from the guys like I was expecting, in fact few of them said they wanted to help or do something but didn't know what, I said sometimes you just need to step out and let your heart guide you and people no matter life all need a hug. Especially in very dark times. Fast forward to when I was dating this chick a single mom with 3 kids and she didn't want to introduce me to her kids as they can get attached so she would prefer I don't meet them until it's been at least 6 months and I said I completely understand, I would hate to get attached and then if this doesn't work I'll forever wonder who they grew up to be or become. So she says for now, how about pictures? I said sure. She starts to say okay this is my Daughter and shows me her pic and I say oh I know her, yeah she's a JR. Firefighter at the Dept, and my Girlfriend says oh that's right duh you had to have met her already, well she doesn't know we are dating, and I said okay, but I didn't meet her as a Jr. per say, not exact, but She looked so scared and crying when the chiefs were fighting, so I got her inside and we had a coke...my girlfriend eyes light up oh that was you???? She asked in great energy, we've been trying to find who that was, and so she tells me thank you, you showed your heart then as you do now. My Girlfriend knew I was the real deal the heart I have shown is the same and has not changed. After she wipes the tears she laughs a little and then says here is a picture of my Son. Guess who that is??? The young man in the ditch. My girlfriend pulled me out of the booth and in the restaurant she hugged me and held my face and said thank you, he told me about an angel that came and helped him. You really touched him and that was something he really needed and what both her kids really needed. Today I am both those kids' Step-Dad and come Nov 7th of 2024 She and I will have been married 4 years and going strong. I'm a retired Fire Captain now, and a Dad, and I may be retired as I tell people, but I'm still on Duty. ❤ Thank you so much for reading. And I hope this finds you well!

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Appreciate this @dadtype2339.

[@BradFonseca]

Thank you for another great video. It sounds like Jeanine could have a great story with a little more refinement and a bit of planning.

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Hi @BradFonseca. Yes, I think you’ve got it. Refinement and planning make a huge difference. The paradox of creativity seems to be that the more we refine and plan, the more-not less-options we give ourselves as writers and storytellers. Technique, in other words, does not constrain the artist, it frees them!

[@mysticmeadowshomestead6209]

I didn't hear anything about how to write a Theme. Did Damone cover this?

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

The theme is the central idea of the story, the moral, if you will, though this word turns some people off. Theme is a less prescriptive term and allows for more latitude. Deciding on the theme first is the best way I know to set up guardrails that drive a story constantly and compellingly forward rather than wallowing and meandering. Don’t wallow or meander. If you’re very interested in such matters, I recommend my online course which goes into this territory in great detail.

[@dadtype2339]

My comment had to be rework as YT didn't like my words so lol sorry if it reads kind of odd.

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

No problem!

[@dadtype2339]

​@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Hope your okay Brother, been checking on the channel for an upload and it's been a month, we get concerned. If you're taking a break it's well deserved, but we need a warning ⚠️ lol, seriously though, hope you're doing well my friend!

[@dadtype2339]

​@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Okay, now I'm getting really concerned, I pray you are well, and can respond to this when possible for you to do so, praying for you man, your channel helps me get through some mighty dark times. Usually you're pretty active at respond, not hearing from you in a month is out of the ordinary. Praying for your health and safety Brother!

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Hi@@dadtype2339. Apologies for the delay, all is well enough here. I'm in the final stages of pushing a manuscript out and Norman Mailer was right. This act is the closest men come to giving birth. Also handling some family things and ... you know. Life. I very much appreciate your concern ... and will look to resume creating content for the channel soon. Until then, with my best ... Damon

[@dadtype2339]

@@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco Yay, as the Vikings say, Does my heart to know you are will to continue the battle, or something like that, glad to know you're well my friend, sorry for any intrusion, but hey at least ya know there's another human being who cares about ya. Being a Retired Firefighter welfare checks come naturally, take your time quality over quantity, just glad to know you're alright Brother!

[@bakhshishsingh2711]

Damon you spent 25 min free of cost on reading someone's script - How is that ?

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Occasionally, @bakshishsingh2711, something enters my sphere that cries out for a response so our community of writers might benefit. This was one such message. Though you're quite correct that I had (and have) other matters to attend to. What can I say? You either love writing or not. Here's hoping you do. Thanks for watching and checking in.