TECH: Truby’s 22 Steps? First 3!

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/3/4

Hum, that’s interesting. I was listening to the Writing Excuses podcast this week, and they mentioned a plot structure I hadn’t run into before. Truby’s 22 Steps? Google gave me a set of links to examine, and… interesting. Let’s take a look at some of them…

https://luisanaduarte.com/2018/03/02/trubys-22-steps/ has the whole set, with some descriptions. Looking at them, let’s take the first three, since they seem to be somewhat independent of plot or action, more digging into the character…

1. Self-revelation, need, and desire
Self-revelation: The character’s realization of what they need to change/accomplish.
Need: Both a psychological and a moral need.
Desire: The character’s main goal.
These three are elemental when discovering where your character will end up.

My comment: Okay. Start with what the character thinks they need to change or accomplish. Add in a need, and a desire. Mix well, to get an idea of where this character is going.

2. Ghost and story world
Ghost: The history of the character. That which still haunts the character and may cause struggle. Basically,  the character’s ‘backstory.’
Story World: Simply, the world surrounding the character and their daily life.

My comment: aha! The character’s background, where are they coming from, and what is the world like around them. Sure…

3. Weakness and need
Weakness: The flaws in the character. Can be moral and/or psychological. Usually, characters have both. In other words, the internal damage of the character that impedes them from becoming their best self.
Need: The change the character must go through in order to become their best self.

My comment: So, we have a flawed character, who needs  something to become great? Okay, where do they have problems, and what do they need to achieve.

It seems to me as if these three steps are really aimed at understanding the character. What do they think they need, where are they coming from (and what surrounds them), and what do they actually need? Sure, let’s work up the character to start.

What do you think? Do you usually start with these steps?

Exercise? Well, if you have a work in progress or one that you are thinking about, consider these three steps. Can you fill in the details of these for your character?

Write! 

TECH: Truby’s 22 Steps, 4-8

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/3/5

Okay, next batch from https://luisanaduarte.com/2018/03/02/trubys-22-steps/ 

Looks like one bit of plot/action, a goal, and a whole group of other characters…

4. Inciting event
The ‘spark’ moment that brings the character’s situation from bad to worse. This event also challenges the character into action.

My comment: aha! Here we go with an actual event, the kickoff start to things! Okay…

5. Desire
The goal that drives the character and the story. Usually, the desire grows/intensifies as the story progresses, raising the stakes for the character.

My comment: what does the character want? Okay, that’s what is specific to this story, to that spark we just noted.

6. Ally or allies
The best buds. Those characters that give aid/advice to the main character. The allies can also have a goal. Sometimes, the ally’s and main character’s goals are the same, promoting collaboration.

My comment: Who does the character have along for the trip? It’s good to have friends!

7. Opponent and/or mystery
Opponent: This ‘bad guy’ doesn’t want the main character to achieve their goal. This relationship is usually the most important one in the story as it provides conflict to the story.
Mystery: The opponent can be a mystery at its roots, therefore giving the protagonist the task of discovering their antagonist, and defeating them.

My comment: okay, the antagonist. If we have allies, there’s probably somebody causing trouble, too.

8. Fake-ally opponent
A ‘sneaky’ character whom the protagonist initially believes is their ally. There is usually heartbreak and deception for the protagonist when the truth is discovered.

My comment: ah, it isn’t bad enough that there’s a protagonist, we need someone who betrays the good guy, too? Okay…

So, in this set of steps, we add in something that kicks off the action, a goal for where we are going, and a set of other characters, both pro and con. 

Again, if you like, you could try applying these steps to your own work in progress. Or even start a new work, just playing with these steps, to see where you go!

Write! 

TECH: Truby’s 22 Steps, 9-11

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/3/6

And, here we go again! This time, a plot piece, and plan and counter-plan? From https://luisanaduarte.com/2018/03/02/trubys-22-steps/

9. First revelation and decision: Changed desire and motive
A threshold in the story that becomes a point of no return for the protagonist. Usually prompted by new information. The revelation can change the protagonist’s desire. Each revelation adds levels of complexity to the plot.

My comment: another actual plot piece! So we got the spark and the goal, the thing that kicked off the action, and where the character thinks they are going. Now we get some kind of revelation and change in what the character wants. So something started the character moving, and now as they get started, bam! Something pitches them into a real journey beyond what they ever imagined they would be doing.

10. Plan
The protagonist’s blueprint to achieve their desired goal. If you want a good story, the protagonist shouldn’t succeed on their first try to execute the plan.

My comment: okay, so we’re digging into what the character plans to do, what they are going to try to do. Lay it all out...

11. Opponent’s plan and main counterattack
Whether because they are trying to achieve their own goal, or actively keeping the protagonist from achieving theirs, the opponent attacks the protagonist’s plan. These attacks can and should come at different points in the story and can be both overt or covert in nature.

My comment: On the other side, we have the plans that the antagonist is making. Ho, ho, ho...

The first threshold of no return? Sure, here we go, out into the big bold world... And both sides lay out their plans for what is going to happen. Of course, we all know what happens to plans, right? Especially when the bad guys have a little plan of their own.

Exercise? Sure, try out these steps on your own work.

Write!