Melanie Anne Phillips

I’m holding a free one-hour chat on story structure this friday evening from 7 – 8 pm. PDT on Skype.  For me, this is to test the system to see if I can hold paid classes in this manner.  For you, it is a chance to ask any questions or bring up any topics on story structure and discuss them with the creator of StoryWeaver and co-creator of Dramatica (me!) This chat is limited to the first nine respondents, so email your request to join to  classes@storymind.com .  I’ll let you know if you made the cut, but if you didn’t, don’t worry because the paid classes (and they won’t be very expensive) are coming soon! –Melanie  Anne Phillips, your blogger

Pete stumbled backward as John advanced upon him with the staple gun. John grabbed Pete by the throat and shoved him hard against the wall, thrusting the staple gun into his face. Veering off at the last moment, he stapled Pete's shirt sleeve, then the other, the sides of his shirt, and his pants, until Pete was fastened helpless to the cheap wood paneling. "Now," shouted John, "you will listen to my poetry!" "For the love of God, Montresor!" pleaded Pete. "Damn Straight!" replied John, and he began to read...

Personal Goals are the motivating reasons your characters care about and/or participate in the effort to achieve or prevent the overall goal. In other words, they see the main story goal as a means to an end, not as an end itself. Although a personal goal for each character is not absolutely essential, at some point your audience or readers are going to wonder what is driving each character to brave the trials and obstacles. If you haven’t supplied a believable motivation, it will stand out as a story hole. Visit Storymind.com for more of my writing tips