Story Diamond Key

The Story Diamond Key www.moralpremise.com/storyaids.php

Resurrection 11

Break into 3 13

Dark Night of the Soul 12 Road Back 10

alte …S rna tive IDE s OF MP S

Near Death - Faux Ending

AC T2

3 Sta ge

Moment of Grace

9 Midpoint

OR

Act 2 Climax

:B TR arg ide Act IES rati 2B: ainin on PO ga —— nd SIT —— Wa Win IVE nin —— rrio … g r

A

7 Approach to Inmost Cave

3. C ons

am

ing Los info nal and er S ing nder dditio a ain a MP W arg ore OF m 3: B -— ge IDE 2A: —— Sta …S Act —— rity se ilia Tea

2. F E… TIV GA NE

Check

8 Fun and Games

Antagonist Initiates Turning Point

T2 AC

6 Tests, Allies & Enemies

r

Protagonist Initiates Turning Point

IES TR

5 Crossing Threshold 6 Break into 2 7 B Story Begins

MORAL  PREMISE     STATEMENT  (MPS):   _________________  
 leads  to   __________________   but…   __________________
 leads  to   __________________

nar row

Act 1 Climax

Resurrection 11

Final Incident

All Is Lost 11

B

L

AC T1 e

anc Nui s

sd Act efiniti 1: O on rph an Sta ge

Sta ge

5 Accepts Journey

2: A nge

B

OP PO R - ne TUNI TY ed Aw a

ren e

ss

AC T1

4 Meeting Mentor

RE JEC TS 1.

5 Debate

Finale 14

A T3 AC

3 Refusal of the Call

Victor or Defeat

3B ACT

2 Call to Adventure

cc 5: A

Inciting Incident

ge Sta

4 Catalyst

Act 3 Climax

ha

3 Set-Up

Return with the Elixir 12

UL SO L OF AL HT T W NIG INS t RK GA DA K A es ou i r C t n sio BA Trial res 4. r er Dep Kill arty ge 4: ND 3: M Sta -HA Act -TO HT t ND FIG en HA TH mitm e A anc DE se com ept

1 Ordinary World (Vogler)

Final Image 15

DENOUEMENT

urc 5. P

A

2 Theme Stated

IFE (Ali ( s BE 1: D Schec on Fis FO eni hte her P R al ( Küb r’s 4 A urchas E eP rch lerRos ety yram i pe s) s) d)

[PROLOGUE]

Bul ly

1 First Image (Snyder)

Bad Guys Close In 10 Confrontation

Reward/Seizing the Sword 9

Transform characters gradually not suddenly.

8 The Ordeal

This is a graphic way to look at the traditional (major) structural beats of a story and ensure that they are all supportive of the true moral premise, and create an emotional roller coaster effect, (minor) beat-to-beat, as the truth of the moral premise is tested. (It’s true, no it’s not, it’s true, no it’s not, etc.) The diamond was conceived by Chris Vogler and Will Smith, and used by screenwriters Marianne & Cormac Wibberley. Added are Campbell/Vogler’s 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey, Alison Fisher’s 5 Act Purchase Funnel for Romantic Comedy, Michael Hauge’s 13 Steps, and Blake Snyder’s 15 Beat Sheet, and Jeffrey Schechter’s four archetypes (via Carol Pearson), and the Kübler-Ross 5 Stages of Grief, and Larry Brook’s Pinch Points, all as interpreted by Stan Williams in regard to the unifying concept of the Moral Premise Statement and the Moment of Grace. For plotting your story, use a blank version of this diagram on a 4-ft x 8-ft sheet of masonite. More info at www.moralpremise.com/storyaids.php. 
 Parts Copyright © 2014 Stanley D. Williams. All Rights Reserved.