For Thursday: Simplify and Prioritize story ideas to clarify big picture.

Boil down your story down to a series of simple terms. Address each exercise topic with as few
words as possible that crystallize the point. Do not repeat answers that you have already given.
These restrictions can be challenging also enlightening. In as few concise words as possible:
1. Sum up what your story is about.
My story is about a couple that has a despute about wether or not they should live together.
2. Describe your main character.
Mimzy is a very strategic woman. She knows how to get what she wants,especially from
Dave.
3. Identify the most significant setting in your story. Use a noun.
Home
4. Describe this setting. Use an adjective for the noun you just wrote.
Manly
5. Describe your main character at the start of the dramatic journey.
Sad from the movie she has been watchin and agitated because Dave wants to watch football.
6. Describe your main character at the end of the dramatic journey.
Content
7. Describe the most important part of the transition: how your character moves from the
beginning to the end of the dramatic journey.
She plays her cards in a very specific way in order for a compromise to occur.
8. Define your main characters goal in the story: what he or she wants overall.
She wants to slowly move in with Dave.
9. Define the most difficult problem that your character must overcome in order to achieve
the story goal.
She has to overcome daves stubbornness.
10. Identify an important strategy that the main character tries successfully or notat any
time in the story in order to achieve the goal. Use a verb.
Pouting

11. Identify a second important strategy of the main character at any time during the quest.
Use a second verb.
seduction
12. Identify a third important strategy of the main character at any time during the quest. Use
a third verb.
Confrontation
13. Name something that tends to be highly valued in the world of your story.
The TV
14. Name something that is often very important in other places, but not so in the world of
your storyfor example, money might be very important in the business world but of
little value in a religious commune.
religion
15. Identify an important discovery that your character makes at any time during the story.
That the nachos are perfect
16. Identify something important that your character gains during the story.
She gets a drawer at Daves
17. Identify something important that your character loses during the story.
She doesnt get to watch her movie
18. Rethink your answer to the second question and sum up who your main character is.
Remember not to repeat what you wrote before.
Mimzy is a very meticulous planner. Who is much smarter than she seems.
19. Rethink your answer to the first question and sum up what your story is about.
Mimzys struggle to live with dave to secure her place in his life.
20. Sum up the main event of your storywhat happens overallin one sentence. Use any
of the words you found in the first part of the exercise.
Mimzy and Dave fight over the tv which leads into a fight about living together.
WRAP-UP
Before you begin to revise a completed draft, take the time to identify the most important
elements that have emerged from your character and story choices. Even the most complex
material boils down to simple terms that can help guide you through the rest of the script
development process.