Category Archives: Message

Story Structure – Part 2 (Video)

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Here’s a link to the next class in my 113 part series on story structure. In this episode, we explore how story structure came to be in the first place, beginning with the earliest storytellers and evolving into a linear, … Continue reading →

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Narrative Space

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Melanie Anne Phillips

“Narrative Space” describes the complete breadth and depth of subject matter in which you seek to define a story. Simply put, most authors don’t come to a story with a complete structure immediately in mind.  Rather, they are attracted to … Continue reading →

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Both Sides of the Thematic Argument

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

Every powerful theme pits a “Message Issue” against a “Counterpoint”, such as “Greed vs. Generosity”, or “Holding On To Hope” vs. “Abandoning Hope”. The Message Issue and Counterpoint define the thematic argument of your story. They play both sides of … Continue reading →

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The Purpose of Stories

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Melanie Anne Phillips

This is the purpose and function of story: to show that when something has previously served you well one hundred percent of the time, it may not continue to hold true, or conversely, that it will always hold true. Either … Continue reading →

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