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Story structure
4 days ago
"You know you make the world a special place, just by being you."
Fred Rogers.
Fred Rogers.
I've always liked writing, but struggled with the structure needed to write a novel. Now, playing Ace Attorney gives me some ideas.
What events might shape a story? A trial. A school year. Pregnancy. And so on. The point is, events that order a character's life can also mold the plot. That's easier to grasp than abstract concepts like "arcs" or three-act structure. (Where did arcs come from, anyway? They seem to have just appeared in YouTube videos one day.)
Ace Attorney follows the same structure each time: present the case, hear testimony, etc., broken up by shouts of "Objection," "Hold it" and cartoon-style shenanigans. But it still manages to be suspenseful and funny each time. You find yourself eagerly waiting for the hero to straighten up, point a finger and yell, "Objection!" accompanied by bold Chinese-style letters. Like a comic book in motion.
I shall have to think on this revelation.
What events might shape a story? A trial. A school year. Pregnancy. And so on. The point is, events that order a character's life can also mold the plot. That's easier to grasp than abstract concepts like "arcs" or three-act structure. (Where did arcs come from, anyway? They seem to have just appeared in YouTube videos one day.)
Ace Attorney follows the same structure each time: present the case, hear testimony, etc., broken up by shouts of "Objection," "Hold it" and cartoon-style shenanigans. But it still manages to be suspenseful and funny each time. You find yourself eagerly waiting for the hero to straighten up, point a finger and yell, "Objection!" accompanied by bold Chinese-style letters. Like a comic book in motion.
I shall have to think on this revelation.
For me, the story writes itself. I don't plan anything.
Vix
Vix