[HOW-TO]
CHAPTER 7
Structure of a story
“Human beings master the basics of storytelling as young children and retain this capability throughout their lives.”
—STEPHEN DENNING, The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling
IF YOU ASK A 10-YEAR-OLD, “What’s the structure of a good story?” the child might say something like, “Oh, that’s easy! There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end.” True, perhaps. But not very helpful. If you ask a Hollywood script writer the same question, she might tell you there are six parts: the setup, catalyst, first turning point, climax, final confrontation, and resolution.1 True again. And if you plan to write a screenplay or a murder mystery, that structure will serve you well. If you ask a cognitive psychologist, he will ...
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