This post is intended to introduce “The 7 O’s of Story Structure”.
I will unpack each step of the story structure in separate posts.
Everett’s 7 O’s of Story Structure
So, what is Story Structure?
For some people it may be hard to believe that most of the great stories we love actually have structure. There is a plan behind what is unfolding on screen, or between the pages of a book.
While there is no “formula” for telling great stories there are some similarities between all great stories.
Why it’s easy to think stories do not have structure:
1) Great magicians hide the strings and mirrors.
A true master of the writing craft masks structure in the same way a magician masks the strings and mirrors used to pull off their illusion. We don’t want to “see the strings” of the storyteller any more than we will tolerate it from the illusionist.
2) Something done really well looks easy.
Watch a professional basketball game, or football game. It’s amazing what athletes can do. Watch Liberace play the piano. Watch Picasso paint. They make it look easy!
I watch masters of their craft, from Dave Matthews (musician), to LeBron James (basketball), to Vernon Davis (football), to David Fincher (filmmaker), and I think, “I can do that!” But in reality, they just make it look easy; like they aren’t even trying.
3) We are so full eating donuts that we neglect to eat the broccoli.
In the world of nutrition “empty calories” is the term for food that has little-to-no nutritional value. Eating a diet of donuts would fill our stomaches but deprive us of nourishment.
In the same way, we snack on movies and TV shows that are so heavy with special effects and amazing production values, yet are void of story. We were satisfied by the attractive stars and amazing explosions, and lulled into thinking that somehow there was a story there, even when there wasn’t.
Every great work is planned.
What makes some buildings, songs, stories, movies, paintings, and designs so amazing is the structure that is hidden inside the work.
