1. Page Where Story Arc and Character Arc Meet
The Dance of the Divine
Where Story Arc and Character Arc Meet

2. Story Arc – Old School Greek Cool
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Dénouement
Sets up story and ends with inciting incident
Hook me!
Obstacles, problems, trouble
Show me conflict!
Comedy-things go bad. Tragedy-things go well.
Show me huge change!
Moment of reversal after the climax, final suspense.
Start wrapping things up
Conflicts are resolved. Catharsis.
Give me a feeling a that lingers
Aaron Ritchey - Dance of the Divine

3. New School Story Arc Now in Technicolor!
Ritchey Divine

4. Story Arc – Save The Cat! ACT I ACT II ACT III OPENING IMAGE
Page
Story Arc – Save The Cat!
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
OPENING IMAGE
THEME STATE
SET-UP
CATALYST
DEBATE
BREAK INTO ACT II
B STORY
FUN AND GAMES
MIDPOINT
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN
ALL IS LOST!
DARK MOMENT
BREAK INTO ACT III
FINALE
FINAL IMAGE
Ritchey Divine

5. Classic Character Arc a call to adventure - accept or decline?
a road of trials
achieving the goal or boon (self-knowledge)
a return to the ordinary world
application of the boon
Thank you , Mr. Campbell
Ritchey Divine

6. The Don’s Character Ideas
Three Types of Characters
Everyman
Classic Hero
Dark Protagonist
Internal conflict – When does your character want what they most desire and when do they want the exact opposite?
What in your character’s past has hurt them the most? What is the mystery?
What in your character’s life could dramatically change them forever? No going back.
Thank you, Donald Maass
Ritchey Divine

7. Save the Cat Character Stuff
The trick is to create a character who…
Offers the most conflict in that situation
Has the longest way to go emotionally
Is the most demographically pleasing.
Thank you, Blake Snyder, wherever you are.
Ritchey Divine

8. Page
Puppies
Pet the puppy. What makes the heroine the heroine? Why should we care?
Kick the puppy. What makes the villain the villain? Why should we hate her?
Ritchey Divine

9. My Character Arc Questions
What does my heroine most want?
What does my heroine most fear?
What is the worst thing that could possibly happen to my heroine?
Thank you, Battlestar Galactica
Ritchey Divine

10. Story Arc and Character Arc
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
What does your character most want?
How is your character weak or strong?
Pet the puppy scene\kick the puppy scene.
Becoming the Hero – The Big Decision
What does your character most fear? Show me through the obstacles.
How is your character changing because of the obstacles? Handling good times\bad times.
What is the worst thing that can happen? Make it happen and leave us in darkness.
How has your character changed in order to get out of the dark moment?
How has your character grown in order to defeat the villain?
What unique perspective into the human condition has your character gained?
Confirm the theme\answer all story questions.
Ritchey Divine

11. Story Arc and Character Arc
Use character for a strong opening – what is it about the character that makes us want to love her?
Use character for Act II – trials and obstacles that make the character grow
Use character to create dark moment – what is the worst thing that can possibly happen?
Use character for climax – How has the character grown so they can defeat the villain?
Ritchey Divine

12. Bibliography The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Screenplay: The Foundation of Screenwriting by Syd Field
Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling by Donald Maass
Story by Robert McKee
The Never Prayer by Aaron Michael Ritchey
Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder
Ritchey Divine