The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen - Erik Bork [FULL INTERVIEW]

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the seven essential elements of a viable story for screen, stage, or fiction as discussed by Erik Bork in his interview. Understanding these components can significantly enhance your storytelling skills and improve your screenwriting craft.

Step 1: Identify the Premise

• Define the central idea or concept of your story.
• Consider what makes your story unique and engaging.
• Ask yourself what the emotional core of the story is.

Step 2: Develop Compelling Characters

• Create characters that are relatable and well-rounded.
• Ensure each character has clear motivations and goals.
• Consider their flaws and strengths to add depth.

Step 3: Establish a Strong Conflict

• Identify the main conflict that drives the story.
• Ensure the conflict is significant enough to engage the audience.
• Explore both internal (personal struggles) and external (situational challenges) conflicts.

Step 4: Construct a Clear Structure

• Organize your story into three acts: setup, confrontation, and resolution.
• Maintain a logical flow of events to keep the audience engaged.
• Use plot points to mark transitions between acts.

Step 5: Create Engaging Dialogue

• Write dialogue that feels natural and true to each character’s voice.
• Use dialogue to reveal character traits and advance the plot.
• Avoid excessive exposition; let actions speak as well.

Step 6: Build an Emotional Arc

• Ensure that your characters undergo a transformation throughout the story.
• Create moments that evoke emotional responses from the audience.
• Reflect on how the characters’ experiences resonate with the audience’s own emotions.

Step 7: Craft a Satisfying Resolution

• Tie up loose ends and resolve the main conflict by the story's conclusion.
• Ensure that the ending feels earned and true to the characters’ journeys.
• Leave the audience with a sense of closure, or a thought-provoking question.

Conclusion

By integrating these seven elements—premise, characters, conflict, structure, dialogue, emotional arc, and resolution—into your storytelling, you can create compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. As you apply these principles, consider revising and iterating on your drafts to enhance their impact. Happy writing!