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HIGH CONCEPT

A guide to using effective storytelling techniques to create compelling plots and character arcs. Learn how to hook readers with high-concept ideas and structure your story for maximum impact.

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HIGH CONCEPT

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  1. HIGH CONCEPT CJ Lyons

  2. High Concept A succinctly worded idea that immediately appeals to the imagination, leading the reader to ask: what happens next?

  3. It's a hook that establishes the book as compelling before the reader even opens the cover.

  4. Usually it is composed of an Unique Concept specific to the book linked with an Universal Icon.

  5. High Concept A secret society (universal icon) plots to conceal the fact that Jesus was married and had children (unique concept)

  6. High Concept A madman (universal icon) kills young women to create a "girl" suit (unique concept)

  7. A scavenger hunt…. to the death

  8. Prom queen terrorizes small town.

  9. Jaws on a spaceship.

  10. YourTurn!

  11. Power of the Pitch • High concept • Log line • Comparison • Tagline

  12. Log Line • Short and sweet <15-25 words • Emotional promise • Creates intrigue, leaves them wanting MORE!

  13. Comparison • Needs to be true, not just timely/trendy • Needs to be something audience knows • Needs to convey emotional essence

  14. Tagline “In space no one can hear you scream.” “Don’t go into the water…” “His whole life was a million to one shot.”

  15. YourTurn!

  16. STORY STRUCTURE CJ Lyons

  17. What is story?

  18. What is Story? Characters taking action over time

  19. What is plot? • Plot reveals character in conflict during course of novel • Plot = time • Beginning, middle, end = story • Beginning, middle, end = scene • Scene = story

  20. Why let your characters drive? • Readers identify with characters struggling, making impossible choices • Readers want to have someone to care about • Readers enjoy an emotionally satisfying ending

  21. Classic 3 Act structure • Opening • 10% Call to Action • 25% TP#1, End of Act 1 • 50% Midpoint • 75% TP#2, End of Act 2 • Black moment/climax • Resolution

  22. Character Driven 3 Act structure • Default Working • Default Failing • Old Default Sacrificed, New Default Created

  23. Default Actions/Attitudes • Character's attitude or "go to" action at beginning of story • By end of story will learn it's actually holding them back and will be able to change it because of events of story (reversal)

  24. Mythic 3 Act structure • Orphan • Seeker • Midpoint=End of Innocence • Warrior • Martyr

  25. Psyche 3 Act structure • Satisfied • Searching • Midpoint=End of Innocence • Struggling • Sacrificing

  26. Socratic 3 Act structure • Who, What, Where/When • Why v. Why Not • How v. How Much

  27. Opening • Immediate reader identification • Identify hero’s default action/attitude • Imply need for change • Foreshadow ending • Establish ordinary world = shared VISION with readers

  28. Plot with Character Arc Act One = world of the default working • Opening=reveal default • 10% Call to Action=opportunity to test default • 25% Turning Point #1: accepts possibility of other ways, decides to try and fails

  29. Plot with Character Arc, con’t Act Two= world of default failing, conflict • Badguys winning • 50% Midpoint: everything changes, sex and death, voice need for change (truth) but driven back to default • 75% Turning Point #2: grey moment, whiff of death, all is lost! Conscious decision to use old default one last time leads to disaster.

  30. Plot with Character Arc, con’t • Act Three = world of change, new default • Black Moment: All really is lost, old default sacrificed, hopeless until face greatest fear and embrace new default (ie. change) • 90% Climax: using NEW default wins • Resolution: uses new default when returns to “ordinary” world, mirror of opening

  31. Plot v. Character • Outer M-C-G drives plot • Inner M-C-G drives character arc

  32. Cinderella:Putting it all together M-C-G: • Outer Motivation = default is to obey • Inner Motivation = worthless, abandoned • Outer Conflict = Nemesis=stepmom • Inner Conflict = greatest fear = abandoned • Outer Goal = WANTs to marry prince • Inner Goal = NEEDs to learn she’s worthy of love

  33. Cinderella:Putting it all together Outer M-C-G, plot= • Obedient serving girl defies stepmother to win the love of a prince Inner M-C-G, character arc = • Girl who sees herself as worthless confronts her fears of abandonment to prove herself worthy of a prince’s love

  34. Cinderella:Putting it all together Act 1 Thesis = Obey and won’t be abandoned • Opening = OM= Default: in ashes, alone • Call to Action = Prince (OG) giving a ball, stepmom (OC) tells her if she obeys (uses Default) she can go • TP #1: decides to disobey and make a dress for herself, tries something other than Default

  35. Cinderella:Putting it all together Act 2 Antithesis = Default fails • Stepmom (OC) finds out about decision to disobey and abandons her (IC and IM) despite her vow to obey (return to OM,default) • Midpoint, everything changes when obeys fairy godmom (return to default), goes to ball, BUT falls in love with Prince (OG) and disaster ensues • TP#2: despite trying to obey (OM), home late, shoe gone, alone and in ashes, decides to cling to default and never disobey stepmom again--Nemesis won, returns to OM because of fear of abandonment (IC/IM)

  36. Cinderella:Putting it all together Act 3 Synthesis = world of change, new default, be true (obey) yourself and dreams (goals) come true • Black moment: stepmom (OC) hides her as prince (OG) approaches, all is lost! • Climax: faces fear (IC), realizes she is worthy of love, stands up for herself and wins prince, IG and OG both achieved, Nemesis defeated • Resolution: giving orders to stepmom as Princess but also hasn’t abandoned family, come full circle, revealing that old OM and IM are replaced forever

  37. YourTurn!

  38. Think about… • What’s your character’s DEFAULT? • What past trauma led to it? • What’s their greatest FEAR? • What do they NEED to learn to overcome this fear/create a new Default? • What is their Story Goal/WANT? • Who most stands in their way/Nemesis? • Bonus: what’s your THEME?

  39. ~Opening = Default ~Call to Action ~TP #1 = decides to try new ~Midpoint = Everything changes, sex/death ~TP #2 = decides to stick with old default, big mistake ~Black Moment = All is Lost! ~Climax = Faces greatest fear, learns new way ~Resolution = mirrors Opening but with New Default Act One • Motivation = Default Act Two • OC = Nemesis • IC = greatest Fear Act Three • OG = Wants • IG = Needs

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