Happy Thursday, everyone.

I am doing my Daily Digest early as I may be knee deep into my writing tomorrow morning. Had a long session yesterday, and am a little “fuzzy,” so not as much writing getting done today, despite lots of caffeine.

I ran across a great article while researching Dan Harmon’s Story Circle. Every storyline uses this model. Those that deviate are called adaptations, but they still have the bones of the Story Circle.

What is a Story Circle you ask?

At some time in our lives, we have all watched a movie, right? One of my favorites is Die Hard starring Bruce Willis. No, I am not into violence, but love action, and the way the story flowed grabbed my attention. And I love Allen Rickman, even as a Bad Guy. I didn’t know it at the time, but that movie uses the Story Circle.

NOTE: if you didn’t see or like Die Hard, then consider how the Story Circle applies to your favorite movie. Here’s my list: Pride and Prejudice, The Young Victoria, Star Wars, Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, Hunger Games, Pirates of the Caribbean, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, City Slickers, Knives Out, The Clock in the Wall.

Two Articles on the Story Circle:

The Story Circle and how you, as a novelist, can use it in your writing.

https://screencraft.org/2015/09/09/5-lessons-die-hard-can-teach-screenwriters/

5 Lessons Die Hard can teach Screenwriters (AND AUTHORS)

https://screencraft.org/2015/09/09/5-lessons-die-hard-can-teach-screenwriters/

EXERCISE.

Take 3-5 (or more) of your favorite movies or books, and write out their Story Circle.

This exercise will hone your skills to apply to your own work. Not just a novel, but any writing such as blog posts – you want to “grab your reader, reel them in.”

If you are not sure what movies to use, then here’s a few Recommended Watches – available on Amazon Prime video, or low rental:

• Knives Out
• The Man Who Invented Christmas
• Stranger than Fiction

Recommended book(s) of the week:

Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder

https://amzn.to/3EFgcyT

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need by Jessica Brody

https://amzn.to/3ICSBRA

 

Enjoy the day!

Suz

PS: The book and movie links are Amazon affiliate links, so if you do click and buy, then I make enough for another cup of coffee, or at least 1/5 a cup!  Enjoy the day, ~s

PPS: I want to thanks Chris Fox for sharing his insights on the Story Circle — pushing me to do further investigations, and achieving another Eureka moment!