Pixar #4: The “Story Spine”

Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

I believe this is called a “story spine.” Work it out, and you have the most basic essence of a story, which you can then tell in infinite ways.

1. Once upon a time there was A GIRL NAMED RIDING HOOD. This sets up a fairy tale feeling, evoking a primal story response. The “blank” represents a lead character, the point of view that will carry us. And while there are excellent stories with multiple characters who seem to have equal weight, that is VERY advanced storytelling, and I suggest that you start with single main characters until you have mastered that.
2. Every day SHE TOOK DINNER TO HER GRANDMOTHER. This sets up “the normal world, a bad situation to be remedied, or paradise to be lost and regained.
3. One day SHE WAS WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS AND MET A WOLF. This is the event that destroys equilibrium. The story will then be about how things got worse, returned to normal, or got better.
4. Because of that THE WOLF TOOK A SHORTCUT TO GRANNY’S HOUSE, ATE GRANNY AND DISGUISED HMSELF. Things get worse.
5. Because of that A SUSPICIOUS RIDING HOOD QUIZZED THE WOLF UNTIL IT REVEALED ITSELF
6. Until finally RIDING HOOD UNLEASHED HER SECRET NINJA SKILLS, AND TOOK HOME A WOLF-SKIN RUG.

Or something the like. And as long as we empathize with Riding Hood and believe she is n jeopardy…