The structure of stories
What makes stories different from other communication products? We would argue that storytellers develop their content to conform to a general structure. This structure incorporates a plot that typically includes an element of conflict. Bryan Alexander (2011) who has written a recent book on the many forms of storytelling with new media defines a story as “… a sequence of content, anchored on a problem, which engages the audience with emotion and meaning." (p. 13). A story uses the conflict to pull the audience in and to use this interest to direct their attention to the details of how the problem is eventually resolved. The series of events that first establishes a context and reveals the problem and then continues through the uncertainty of how and if the problem will be resolved to a conclusion is often described as the “story arc” (Ohler, 2008). The arc describes the rise and fall of intensity surrounding the problem. Of course, we all know that stories are far from this predictable. Master story tellers have a way of drawing us in even though the general format is predictable - the devil is always in the uncertainty of the details. Attempts to define the sequence of events that make up a good story is mostly of benefit in scaffolding the experience of beginning authors or those needing a way to analyze the structure of exceptional stories.
There are many different ways of describing the story arc (Ohler, 2008). Here is our attempt to describe one version of this model.
Beginning - an introduction providing the context and introducing the central characters
Challenge - introduction of a crisis, conflict, or guiding question. This is the source of the emotion and the forward momentum for the story. What draws the audience in?
Pivot or turning point - this is the peak of intensity. The confrontation with the crisis.
Resolution - this how the conflict ends up being resolved. Often, the central character triumphs through personal change/improvement. What physical, emotional, social, or knowledge achievement allowed the conflict to be addressed?
Ending - this an effort to wrap things up. What image should the audience have of the characters at the conclusion of the story?
The point is could you use this structure to analyze the stories that are all around us and could you use these components to provide a structure someone could use in creating an engaging product. How might you apply this structure. You might begin with a single component - the conflict or problem, the resolution or change in the main character. What is a problem someone might write about? What changes might we want to encourage? Ohler (2008) even suggests drawing an arc and annotating this arc with brief statements proposing events in the story. So imagine an arc, a rainbow without the colors will do, and imagine hou you might scratch notes on this image. Consider how this might work if you were attempting to create a three-minute video about bullying. You might begin with the conflict. This would not be the beginning or the end, but the high point. What might represent an interesting and realistic dilemma? Perhaps the main character of our story witnesses a personal friend from the neighborhood being teased by others from a group of the main character’s school friends. This would put our protagonist in a bind. Why might the character look the other way? How might he feel if he does? We could generate a resolution. What might cause the character to a take a courageous stand? How might the central character and the victim be changed as a consequence? We might also portray an all too common resolution and have our central character give in to pressure. What might happen then?