Next up in John Truby’s The Anatomy of Story is the Story World, Chapter 6.
This is a very interesting chapter, wherein Truby describes how you should flesh out the world of your story, beginning again with the characters.
“Notice that in this area, storytelling expresses real life by being the reverse of real life. In real life, we are born into a world that already exists, and we must adapt to it. But in good stories, the characters come first, and the writer designs the world to be an infinitely detailed manifestation of those characters.”
This chapter is very complicated for many reasons, not the least of which is that these world elements of the story work exactly opposite to the linear story elements because these are happening simultaneously and in 360 degrees. So, I’ll leave you to read, discover and enjoy it in detail.
However, these are the notes I took when I first read it.
I am considering how closely to model this story after a detective story since Sam in effect is trying to find the truth about Carl’s death. Another possibility is to have Sam be her own narrator as perhaps she literally tells the story in a debriefing or interrogation. We’ll see.
The Story World expressed in one line is: A journey (to find and rescue her fiancé) from one war to another more intense and personal war to a new place of safety.
Value Oppositions and Visual Oppositions
This is the same list as before.
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- Sam:
- Independence, love, friendship, connection, power
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- D. Knapp:
- Power, strength, money, status, connections, deception
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- Kevin:
- Safety, mental-health, security, compassion, love, connection, family, loyalty,
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- Bats:
- Loyalty, friendship, action, power, strength, fun, excitement
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- Carl:
- Strength, friendship, loyalty, love, connection
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- Police Captain:
- Order, routine, procedure, predictability, authority, strength, power
Visual Oppositions
Sam vs. D. Knapp
- Sam: A suburbs girl, American, ordinary
- D. Knapp (and WKCH, Inc.): International, militaristic, corporate and well-funded, mostly white, Republican
Sam vs. Kevin
- Sam: Blue collar
- Kevin: Academic, “tweedy” (by way of Los Angeles)
Sam vs. Bats
- Sam: Cute but plain
- Bats: Urban, more styled and sexy and athletic
Sam vs. Carl
- Sam: Cute and feminine, “football fan”
- Carl: Regular guy, white-American, “football fan”
Sam vs. Police Capt.
- Sam: Female, out of uniform
- Police Capt.: Male, in uniform
Land, People and Technology
The story begins in a war-torn city in Iraq, moves onto a U.S. City (L.A.?) that becomes embroiled in a small, personal war, leading to a final battle in Sam’s high school (familiar territory).
System
Sam is getting out of the military (a system). She’s either a Corporal or a Sergeant.
Natural Setting
Freeway? River?
Weather
Desert/Summer heat?
Summer heat to rain?
Man-made Spaces
Freeway? Auditorium, amphitheater.
Miniatures
I haven’t thought of any yet. But a good example is the train station toy from ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.
Becoming Big or Small
Nothing…
Passageways
Army debriefing (airport, jetway?)
Freeway
Break-in at WKCH
Hallway at High School
Technology
Weapons, the internet (Google)
Hero’s Change or World Change
By the end, Sam has defeated D. Knapp/WKCH but the cost make her retreat into her mind. Her world is destroyed (and reborn) while the real world is at peace (calm) and allowed to rebuild.
Seasons
One day (18 hours) – Summer?
Holiday or Ritual
4th of July, Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day? (the day populates the world with military icons and reminders)
Maybe event at High School
Visual Seven Steps
- Sam’s Problem/Ghost:
- MST and Hostage in Iraq
- Weakness or Need:
- Sam’s High School
- Desire:
- Home with Carl?
- Opponent:
- Army/WKCH Bases, office H.Q., Construction site
- Visit to Death:
- (Memorial Day on TV…)
- Battle:
- High School Auditorium?
- Freedom or Slavery:
- Sam is in a sunny simple world of clear distinctions, “us” and “them.”
© The Trubyphiles and “Blunt Force” Copyright 2009 Melton Eduardo Cartes. All other copyrights are those of their respective owners.
