Have you ever written half a manuscript or script only to find yourself asking, "What story am I writing anyway?" This presentation summarizes a few effective ways to rediscover the true story that you are writing. This presentation is based a workshop I gave in 2008 sponsored by the City of Ottawa. The Ottawa Independent Writers asked me to adapt it for their Annual General Meeting.

1. WHAT’s YOUR STORY? By Nichole mcgill 27 January 2011 Ottawa Independent Writers AGM

2. Tonight! WHAT WHY WHAT SPECIFICALLY WHO WHAT EXACTLY 10 FRAMES But first…

3. “A CAUTIONARY TALE”aka “HOW NOT TO WRITE A NOVEL”

5. Novel?

6. Film?

7. TV – Movie of the week?

8. Producer?What was the heart? ONCE UPON A TIME, I had a… !

9. Tell the truth even If no one believes you shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

11. First person!

12. Young adult!

13. Thriller!

14. Hero: Suspicious!

15. Wants: Independence!

16. Needs: Tell the truth!

17. Arc!New purpose

18. On writing: “Camilla vs. YANN” headlights Plots, plots, plots

19. recommend: Both “voice”, flavour Action, engaged reader

20. 1. WHat? Type / Format Genre Message What happens (one sentence) Who is your main character Transformative action End result

21. 1. WHat? Novel (200 pages) Young adult, thriller Telling the truth Logline: A teenage girl who mistrusts adults… …decides to take on a stalker by herself, endangering herself… …but ultimately learning the importance of telling the truth.

23. It will transform

24. This is your pitch: test this with strangers and friends

25. “What are you writing?”“I’m writing a YA novel about a teenage girl who takes on a stalker by herself” “I’m writing a thriller about a papergirl who is obsessed with the abduction of girls in her neighbourhood.” TIP: An incomplete logline will tell you what you’re missing.

26. 1. WHAT ABOUT YOU? Type / Format Genre Message What happens (one sentence) Who is your main character Transformative action End result

28. Moral

29. One messageYour message will dictate your ending. Your ending will dictate the entire story.

31. Importance of telling the truthEnding = transformative action Story = tension *** Ending = she has to tell someone about the stalker Story= her not telling

33. Moral

34. One messageYour message will dictate your ending. Your ending will dictate the entire story.

35. 3. What EXACTLY? The WHY drives this: Type / Format Genre Message What happens (one sentence) Who is your main character Transformative action End result

36. YOU CAN’T FOOL THE READER If it doesn’t ring true for you, it won’t ring true to your readers

37. 4. WHo: GOOD guy/GAL The Protagonist (#1) (aka The Hero/Heroine/Main Character) What does my main character want? What does my main character need? * What is their arc/journey?

38. 4. Who: BAD GUY/gal The Antagonist (#2) (aka The Bad Guy/Bad Girl/Person or Thing Thwarting Your Protagonist) What do they want and how are they thwarting your protagonist? Does your antagonist have a character arc? (Not necessary but could be interesting.)

41. Want?

43. Want?

45. PLOT TOOLS Three-Act Structure Scene Outline Tell your story in ten panels

48. Catalyst

50. Obstacles

51. Middle30 – 90 pp

52. Syd Field’s THREE-ACT Page 1: Sets the mood Page 3: Viewers needs to know central question of story Page 10: Viewers need to know what the story is Page 30: New world (1stTurning Point) Page 45: Protagonist has character growth Page 60: The Point of No Return: Character commits themselves further to their goal; some success Page 80: All is Lost! (2ndTurning Point) Pages 90-120: Climax, End

53. SYD FIELD’s VIEW of “Alice in Wonderland” Page 1: Alice with her sister doing lessons Page 3: Alice is bored; sees white rabbit Page 10: Alice falls down rabbit hole Page 30: Alice enters Wonderland (can’t escape) Page 45: Takes control. She can shrink and grow at will Page 60: Alice decides she wants to go home Page 80: Croquet with the Queen. “Off with her head!” Page 90-120 Trial.Alice grows big. Mushroom wears off. Chased by guards. She wakes up. “It was all a dream!”

54. “A” STORY vs. “B” STORY Plot out your “A” story first Everything in your story is a slave to it Alice in Wonderland All “A” story Titanic A = Love story B= Boat’s sinking

55. WHAT ABOUT you? Page 1: Sets the mood Page 3: Viewers needs to know central question of story Page 10: Viewers need to know what the story is Page 30: New world (1stTurning Point) Page 45: Protagonist has character growth Page 60: The Point of No Return Character commits themselves further to their goal; some success Page 80: All is Lost! (2ndTurning Point) Pages 90-120: Climax, End

57. 1stTurning Point: Protagonist is in a new world

58. Protagonist has character growth

59. The Point of No Return

60. 2ndTurning Point: All is Lost!

61. Ending

62. VERY, VERy important! Something has to happen on every page, script or prose. That “SOMETHING” has to move your plot forward.

63. TACTIC #3: 10 PANELS This is a test… Script, novel or long story “A” storyline On track

64. TACTIC #3: 10 PANELS This is a test… Script, novel or long story “A” storyline On track Can you tell your story in 10 panels?

65. TACTIC #3: 10 PANELs Panel 1: Set-up main character and situation Panel 2: Show us what this story is about Panel 3: 1st turning point: Main character is in new territory

66. TACTIC #3: 10 PANELs Significant Second Act Events Panels 4 to 7: Character growth Point of no return Could test “B” story Could put 2nd turning point

67. TACTIC #3: 10 PANELS Panel 8: 2nd turning point Panel 9: Climax Panel 10: End

68. TACTIC #3: 10 PANELS Panel 1: Set-up main character and situation Panel 2: Show us what this story is about Panel 3: 1st turning point (New territory) Panel 4: Character growth Panel 5: More growth / “B” story / success or failure Panel 6: No return Panel 7: Some success Panel 8: All is lost (2nd turning point) Panel 9: Climax Panel 10: End

69. WHAT ABOUT YOUR 10 PANELS? Panel 1: Set-up main character and situation Panel 2: Show us what this story is about Panel 3: 1st turning point (New territory) Panel 4: Character growth Panel 5: More growth / “B” story / success or failure Panel 6: No return Panel 7: Some success Panel 8: All is lost (2ndturning point) Panel 9: Climax Panel 10: End

70. www.nicholemcgill.com nicholemcgill@gmail.com @nicholemcgill QUESTIONS?