Plot

The plot is the series of events that occur in the story. It’s what happens in order from beginning to end. The most basic plot is one in which the hero is presented with a problem, seeks to resolve it and either succeeds or fails. A more involved story has more plot elements to it.

1. Introduction – We are introduced to the hero and his world before he is faced with his problem.

2. Inciting Event – An event occurs which presents a problem for the hero which must be resolved.

3. Rising Action – Our hero attempts to solve the problem but is met with difficulty. There can be any number of rising actions.

4. Climax – Events build up to an exciting scene known as the climax. There can be more than one climax between rising actions.

5. Falling Action – after an exiting scene in a story, events wind down a bit before the next climax.

6. Resolution – The problem that began our story is solved for better or worse. We see either a new world or things are brought back to normal.

Plot can be very difficult to weave together in an involved story. I suggest developing notes in other areas fist and saving plot for last.

Scene

Maybe you don’t have the full story mapped out yet, only a romantic scene like the hero confronting the dragon or scaling the tower to rescue the princess. This is fine. Your can use your scene to develop a foreground and background. In other words, deciding what happened to lead up to that scene and what happens after. You can continue to build scenes until you have a story.

1. Where does the scene take place?

2. Describe what the hero senses here – see, feel hear, smell, taste?

3. What do you like best about this scene and why should readers like it?

4. From who’s point of view is the scene presented?

5. What events took place to lead up to this scene?

6. What events will happen because of this scene?

7. How do the events of this scene affect the characters?

Crossroads

A crossroad is a point in the story where the hero must make a difficult decision that will affect the rest of his life. It is not unusual to make important decisions but we don’t always recognize the decisions we make as being important. The crossroads decision represents your hero’s awakening. Your hero is no longer as ignorant as he was before and is aware of the gravity of the choices that need to be made.

1. What choices are open the hero?

2. What choice does he make and why?

3. What are the consequences of the choices?

4. Where in the setting does he make this decision?

5. How does the hero come to realize she is at a crossroads?

Tools (Artifacts, Weapons, Etc.)

Great and mysterious artifacts such as magic swords, wand, rings, or cups, are interesting to say the least and are a source for grand stories. They also assist the hero in finding his way and completing tasks.

1. What tools assist your hero on her quest?

2. Describe them?

3. Are these tools magical?

4. Where does she find them?

5. How does she find them?

6. Is the villain looking for the tool also?

7. Was the tool won from the guardian/monster?

8. How does the hero learn to use the tools?

9. How does the tool help in the quest?

10. Is the tool dangerous to the hero? How?

11. How did the tool get to where it was found?

12. Where was it made?

13. Who made it?

Animal Familiar

An animal familiar is a friendly helper. It’s often an animal like a dog, cat, horse bird, etc. but it doesn’t have to be. It helps the hero along his quest for little reason other than loyalty to the hero. The animal familiar recognizes the inherent good within the hero. Even if the animal familiar doesn’t understand the quest it understands the hero.

1. Who or what is the animal familiar?

2. What does it look like?

3. What are its special abilities?

4. How did it meet the hero?

5. Why do they like each other?

6. How do they complement each other?

7. How do they communicate with each other?

8. How does it help the hero?

9. Why do the work well together?

10. Where did it come from?

The Guardian

If you had a valuable treasure that everyone else wanted to take from you, would you leave it on kitchen table? You would most likely hide it and if you could you would post a guard to protect it. This is the guardian. Toward the end of your quest, just prior to finding what your hero is looking for, she will need to confront its guardian. The guardian is either intelligent or monstrous or a combination of both. If the prize at the end of the quest is meant for only a special person, the guardian needs to be intelligent enough discern those who deserve it from those who don’t. Maybe he gives the hero a challenge or a riddle. If no one is supposed to claim the prize, then there is no reason for an intelligent guardian. The guardian can be a fearsome monster like a dragon or hydra renown for horrible deeds. The guardian may also be the very last test of heroism before your hero confronts the villain. If your hero has a special weakness, getting past the guardian may resolve that weakness once and for all.

1. What or who is the guard protecting?

2. Is the guard good or bad; cruel or kind?

3. How does the guard reflect the hero’s fear?

4. Where did the guard come from?

5. What doe he/she look like?

6. How did it become the guardian of the treasure?

7. What is the guardian’s weakness?

8. How does the hero defeat the guard?

9. How does defeating the guardian lead to the treasure?

10. What are the guard’s strengths or special abilities?

11. What is fearsome about the monster?

12. Describe the guardian?

13. Describe his lair.

14. How is the monster like the hero?

Your Hero’s Guide/Protector

The guide is the fairy godmother in the fairy tale, the person who directs the hero and helps in times of need. Why does the hero need a guide? The hero is on a quest as opposed to a simple search. The word quest implies there is a question to be answered. The hero needs a guide because he doesn’t know exactly what he is looking for. Maybe he begins looking for one thing but realizes what he’s looking for is really something greater, more important. The guide has a better idea of what needs to be found and knows that the hero is the best one to find it. However, the hero is ignorant of many things on the road ahead. The guide gives the necessary tools or training needed for the hero to finish the quest. In children’s fairy tales, the origin of the guide is often answered by explaining that everyone has one. If this doesn’t ring true for you, your hero will need an origin. Often the guide knows things about the world the hero must enter and can give readers information about your fairytale world as he gives it to the hero. The guide is like a mother or father figure in this way. There was a time when we were amazed at how much our parents knew about the world. Their vast knowledge seemed magical, mysterious. This mystery makes the guide questionable. Is she really someone we can trust?

1. Who is the guide?

2. What doe he/she look like?

3. Where did the guide come from?

4. How does the guide help the hero?

5. Why does the guide help the hero?

6. What things does the guide know that the hero doesn’t?

7. What are the guide’s special abilities?

8. Are these abilities apparent or hidden?

9. Is the guide male or female?

10. Is the guide an adult or child? What age?

11. List three adjectives that describe the guide.

12. Describe yourself in 10 to 20 years. How will you be like your hero’s guide?

13. Why does your hero like the guide?

14. Why does your guide like your hero?

15. How do others see the guide?

16. Was the guide always guide like he/she is now?

17. Give examples of his wisdom?

18. What does the guide fear?

19. What are you guide’s strengths?

20. List two more adjectives that describe the guide.

21. How is your hero similar to the guide?

22. Give another example of his wisdom.

23. Where does the guide come from?

24. What is the guide’s job?

25. Who does the guide work for?

26. Who works for the guide?

27. Is there anything special about the way the guide was born or where he came from?

28. Describe something funny that once happened to the guide.

29. Describe something dramatic that once happened to the guide.

30. How did the guide get his/her special qualities?

31. How should readers feel about the guide?

32. What does the hero learn from the guide?

33. How does the hero meet the guide?

34. How do the villain and the guide know each other?

Your Villain

Your villain is very much like your hero. Only don’t make this too obvious. Your fairy tail could be written without a villain Your hero’s task could be fraught with dangerous obstacles without a protagonist but providing one make the story more interesting. Like the hero, the villain can come in two forms. There is the villain who is greater than the hero. This villain is your hero’s greatest and most difficult obstacle to be overcome before claiming the prize. To have a more powerful villain for your hero to defeat makes your hero seem all the greater after doing so. If the villain is greater than the hero, then how is he to be defeated? Usually the hero finds a weakness than in the villain that no one else has been able to exploit. This weakness is unknown to the villain or uncorrectable or else he would certainly have corrected it. Then there is the villain who represents the hero’s dark half. He is very similar to the hero in many ways. It should appear ironic for the reader that the most difficult obstacle for the hero to defeat is a representation of his own self. In many such cases the villain will be a blood relative of the hero or have the same origin as the hero. Questions about the villain are also designed to make him/her more realistic and interesting. The reader might be less interested in the life of your villain but your villain stands in the way of your hero’s goals. The villain’s background can explain this in a plausible way.

1. Who is your villain?

2. What doe he/she look like?

3. Does he/she have special powers? What are they?

4. Is your villain male or female?

5. Is your villain an adult or child? What age?

6. List three adjectives that describe your villain.

7. What things does the villain know that the hero doesn’t?

8. How is your villain like you?

9. How is your villain different from you?

10. How is your villain like most people?

11. How is your villain different from most people?

12. What are your villain’s favorite things?

13. What are your villain’s hobbies?

14. How do others see your villain?

15. Was your villain always villainous?

16. Are your villain’s villainous qualities hidden or apparent to others?

17. If hidden, when and how will they be revealed?

18. If apparent, how and when did his villainous qualities become apparent to others?

19. Give examples of his villainy?

20. What does your villain fear?

21. What does your villain like most?

22. What are your villain’s strengths?

23. List two more adjectives that describe your villain.

24. What are your villain’s weaknesses?

25. How is your hero similar to your villain?

26. Does your villain change through the story? How?

27. What makes your villain villainous?

28. Give another example of his villainy.

29. Where does your villain come from?

30. What is your villain’s job?

31. Who does your villain work for?

32. Who works for your villain?

33. Does your villain have siblings or parent?

34. Are the siblings older or younger than your villain?

35. Describe his relationship with them.

36. Is there anything special about the way your villain was born or where he came from?

37. Who are your villain’s closest friends?

38. Why are they close?

39. Describe something funny that once happened to your villain.

40. Describe something dramatic that once happened to your villain.

41. How did your villain get his/her special qualities?

42. What does your villain realize at the end of the story?

43. What is your villain’s greatest desire?

44. What will fulfilling this desire do for your villain?

45. What are your villain’s least attractive qualities?

46. Why should readers dislike your villain?

47. Why do we want to see him lose?

Character Building

Answer these questions to develop your character notes. If you can’t answer a question come back to it later. Some questions are asked more than once in various ways. Practice answering them again using other words.

Your hero

The hero is the main character in your story and is on a quest of some sort. There are two kinds of heroes that we tend to remember. There are larger than life heroes who lead extraordinary lives filled with great feats. Maybe their accomplishments are surprising but their greatness is evident early on and it is no surprise that they should be the ones to step in and accomplish great deeds when no one else can. The larger than life hero lives for the glory that comes from his great accomplishments. Then there is the reluctant hero. This hero may have hidden talents that are only revealed when pushed to reveal them. Even this hero himself never imagined that he would ever do great things. His accomplishments are a surprise to everyone. Unlike the larger than life hero, he doesn’t want to go on the quest but reluctantly sees that the task is for him alone.

Deciding which kind of hero to use for your story is to decide which hero you admire most. The larger than life hero of our fantasies is fun to pretend to be. However the reluctant hero is the hero we hope we can be when we are pressed by circumstances confronting us. The questions about your hero’s are designed to give him some background – a history that took place before the quest began. Revealing background about your hero in subtle ways can make your character seem more realistic and can establish why he/she should be on this quest as opposed to anyone else. Remember the quest your hero is on is special and your hero is special for taking it on. No one else can accomplish the tasks before him. That’s what makes heroes unique.

1. Who is your hero?

2. What doe he/she look like?

3. Does he/she have special powers? What are they?

4. Is your hero male or female?

5. Is your hero an adult or child? What age?

6. List three adjectives that describe your hero.

7. How is your hero like you?

8. How is your hero different than you?

9. How is your hero like most people?

10. How is your hero different than most people?

11. What are your hero’s favorite things?

12. What are your hero’s hobbies?

13. How do others see your hero?

14. Was your hero always heroic?

15. Are your hero’s heroic qualities hidden or apparent to others?

16. If hidden, when and how will they be revealed?

17. If apparent, how and when did his heroic qualities become apparent to others?

18. Give examples of his heroism?

19. What does your hero fear?

20. What does your hero like most?

21. What are your hero’s strengths?

22. List two more adjectives that describe your hero.

23. What are your hero’s weaknesses?

24. Does your hero change through the story? How?

25. What makes your hero heroic?

26. Give another example of his heroism.

27. Where does your hero come from?

28. What is your hero’s job?

29. Who does your hero work for?

30. Who works for your hero?

31. Does your hero have siblings or parents?

32. Are the siblings older or younger than your hero?

33. Describe his relationship with them.

34. Does your hero have parents?

35. Is there anything special about the way your hero was born or where he came from?

36. Who are your hero’s closest friends?

37. Why are they close?

38. Describe something funny that once happened to your hero.

39. Describe something dramatic that once happened to your hero.

40. How did your hero get his/her special qualities?

41. How is your hero similar to your villain?

42. What does your hero realize at the end of the story?

43. What is your hero’s greatest desire?

44. What will fulfilling this desire do for your hero?

45. What are your hero’s least attractive qualities?

46. Why should readers like your hero?

47. Why do we want to see him win?

Setting

Developing your setting can be rather involved. Some of our most memorable and most beloved stories take place in worlds that are rich with detail. For the escapist who reads to be taken to far away lands, there is almost never enough detail. The more interesting things people can discover about your world, the more they want to return to it.

Fairy tails present two contrasting worlds. There is the normal world, usually devoid of enchantment and the enchanted world full of wondrous things than don’t happen in the ordinary world. In some stories the enchanted world is very far away from the normal world – in a forest, under water, in the sky or in underground caves. In other stories the enchanted world may exist within the ordinary world but can only be experienced by a special few. It’s for you to decide.

1. Where is your ordinary world?

2. How does its location affect the story?

3. Where is your enchanted world?

4. How does its location affect the story?

5. How do people travel in your story?

6. How do people travel to the enchanted word?

7. Where in time is your story – past, present, future?

8. What is technology like in your worlds?

9. What is your hero’s world like at the beginning of the story?

10. What is your hero’s world like at the end of the story?

11. How is the enchanted world different from the ordinary world?

12. How is the enchanted world different from the ordinary world?

13. Describe the geography of your worlds. What does it look like? What land features will the hero encounter.

14. Where are these locations in relation to each other?

15. Describe the recent history of your world.

16. Describe the more distant history of your world?

17. Describe the ancient history of your world.

18. What is enchanted about your world?

19. How do people travel to the enchanted world?

20. What magic creatures are there?

21. What magic artifacts are there (wands, swords, rings, etc.)?

22. How does the hero use magic in the story?

23. How do other characters use magic in this story?

24. What will the future of your worlds be like if your hero wins in the end?

25. What will it be if he does not?

The Quest

Your hero is on a quest. What is he looking for and why does it matter? These and other questions should be answered in your story.

1. Is he looking for a prize or treasure?

2. Is he trying to find the answer to a question?

3. Is he looking for an adventure?

4. Is he trying to destroy something?

5. Is his quest achievable?

6. What will she find it in the end?

7. Describe in detail what the hero is looking for.

8. Why is the hero driven to find it (as opposed to someone else being driven to find it)?

9. Where is it?

10. Where did it come from?

11. Who else is after it?

12. Who guards it?

13. What’s it’s power?

14. Is it enchanted? In what way?

15. Why do people want it?

16. How is it hidden?

17. How can one find it?

Essential Elements of the Fairy Tales

1. An object or person to be found. Who or what is your hero looking for? The Gem of Brilliance

2. A long journey to find it. Where must your hero go? What must he endure along the way?

3. A person with the right qualities. What qualities does your hero have that makes him right for the quest.

4. A test or series of tests to screen out the unworthy. How can the hero’s “right qualities” be tested?

5. A guardian or monster to be overcome – Who is the guardian how is he overcome by the hero?

6. Helpers and guides with magic powers to help the hero – Who are the helpers and how do they help?

It Begins with a Spark

Have you ever wanted to recapture an experience that brought you a sensation of wonder? I think that’s the very reason we read fairy tales more than once. I don’t just mean reading the same fairy tales again and again but also looking for that exciting feeling in reading the next fairy story. The next story is only a variation of what we have read before because certain elements must exist to carry the sensation. The characters might be different and the world might change but we are usually reading about a hero on a quest.

This web log is my journey into creating my own fairy tale world. I want others to enjoy it. However, it is there for me to enter and set my own fairy stories. I will also leave a trail of sorts for others, who might want to do the same. I will include articles on how you can create your own detail enriched story world usually in the form of writing and brain storming exercises. Those who follow along regularly should have enough notes to write their own stories set in a magic world.

A story begins with a spark of an idea. Sparks are ideas that are not fully developed enough to stand on their own. When I go to my wife and say I have an idea for a world where songs are magical spells, she says That’s nice and continues with her projects. So the spark can’t stand alone and be of interest to others for very long. But you have to begin somewhere and that’s why sparks are important.

I think we have sparks everyday and don’t realize them for their potential. When we do realize the potential for a spark, maybe we don’t know what to do with it and let it fade. For my next journal entry, let’s practice feeding and coaxing a spark into something bigger.