Story Principles

The principle of singularity is there can be only ONE of each story element. Quick story…. A while back, I was at a book marketing conference watching a speech by… read more

The principle of equivalency is that each of the three core story elements (hero, goal, and obstacle) implies the other two. In a well-constructed story, the hero’s goal is inherent… read more

The principle of priority is that a story has extreme forces in opposition. As you already know, the principle of singularity is that there can only be one of each… read more

The principle of causality is that each scene in a story for entertainment should be the result of a scene before it – ideally right before it. The absolute best… read more

The principle of depth is that stories live beneath the surface. Think of a movie or a business presentation like an iceberg. Here’s why this is important. Suppose a writer… read more

The principle of perspective is that stories can be viewed from at least three different perceptual positions. This is related to the principle of depth, that stories live below the… read more