Writing strategies are basically the core elements to making a story, along with characters and locations. To which location is the setting of the story, which can set the mood for the whole story. An example is Lord of the Ring, set in a fantasy world where creatures take place, along with contrasting elements of nature like woods and volcano is perfect for the film. If the film was set in a futuristic time in space the film wouldn't make much sense and will completely ruin the mood for the whole story.
Symbolism is where an object or picture has some form of meaning. For example a Eagle in games symbolizes hope and freedom but it can also differ between cultures. It's all about the audiences perspective of things and object, I see things that symbolizes things that a different person might see differently.
Symbolism is where an object or picture has some form of meaning. For example a Eagle in games symbolizes hope and freedom but it can also differ between cultures. It's all about the audiences perspective of things and object, I see things that symbolizes things that a different person might see differently.
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The Freytag Pyramid is a writing strategy that sets up the main areas within the story.
1. Exposition - This area of the Freytag Pyramid introduces the characters, story, plot, goals etc. to the audience. Giving them a basic knowledge on where the story is going. This is often shown as an opening cinematic, for example 'Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring' where the whole story is told within the first few minutes of the film.
2. The Rising Action - Often known as 'The build up' section. This area is mainly to build up tension and may often be used more than once during a story.
3. Climax - Pinnacle of the story, where the audience my come across the final battle in a war, or the final confrontation in a film. In games, this is often a boss level. An example of this 'The Legend of Zelda' where Link will come across several bosses during the run through of the story and game.
4. Falling Action - This area is where loose ends start to become apparent, where more context is involved rather than action. This could be seen as the completion of a quest or story adventure part, taking those last steps. Eg. Frodo dropping the ring into the volcano in 'Lord of the Rings'.
5 Denouement - Finally the final area where everything can continue without any risk. Where everything has been resolved and back to normality.
1. Exposition - This area of the Freytag Pyramid introduces the characters, story, plot, goals etc. to the audience. Giving them a basic knowledge on where the story is going. This is often shown as an opening cinematic, for example 'Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring' where the whole story is told within the first few minutes of the film.
2. The Rising Action - Often known as 'The build up' section. This area is mainly to build up tension and may often be used more than once during a story.
3. Climax - Pinnacle of the story, where the audience my come across the final battle in a war, or the final confrontation in a film. In games, this is often a boss level. An example of this 'The Legend of Zelda' where Link will come across several bosses during the run through of the story and game.
4. Falling Action - This area is where loose ends start to become apparent, where more context is involved rather than action. This could be seen as the completion of a quest or story adventure part, taking those last steps. Eg. Frodo dropping the ring into the volcano in 'Lord of the Rings'.
5 Denouement - Finally the final area where everything can continue without any risk. Where everything has been resolved and back to normality.
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/2/6/24264715/1171792.png?401)
The next writing strategy is 'The Hero's Journey'. Where much like the Freytag Pryramid is sets out the key areas in a story, this dwells a little deeper into those areas and splits them up more.
Looking at the images to the right, we can see the main 12 steps of the Hero's journey. The Hero starts with an ordinary life, then receive a form of call to his quest, adventure etc. The hero then more or less refused the call but then can't resist the adventure. (Star Wars and The Hobbit). Meeting the mentor is like Ben-Kenobi from Star Wars, a guidance on the quest. The hero then leaves his normal life and set off to his/her journey, meeting challenges, enemies along the way. The hero then approaches his/her final goal to then find a way to overcome his/her fear and finish the goal or quest. The Hero is then rewarded either by gold, money or even knowledge. The hero then takes the road back to his/her home village. When arrived we see that the hero has changed into a newer self, being the resurrection stage. And finally return with elixir is when the hero continues his or her ordinary life with the rewards he/she gathered from the quest.
Just by looking at the step you start to think which stories use this method. The most common one is Star Wars and it is even said that this method was a massive influence to the story-line of Star Wars.
Branching narrative is also an approach to writing strategies, especially in games. A huge use of this in games is Mass Effect and Star Wars: The Old Republic. These two games have an amazing feature as it allows different dialogue responses to the actions you as the audience make, either it be a negative or positive response. This then leads to a consequence system as choosing a path that is considered 'frowned upon' in the game will lead to incomplete quests or even death of main or secondary characters.
Overarching narrative is the main story to the story, although second stories may occur during the travel, there is still that one main goal in the characters mind. For instance, Lord of the Ring' overarching narrative is to destroy the One Ring, but during their quest to destroy it they come across other 'obstacles' in their path to destroy the ring.
Looking at the images to the right, we can see the main 12 steps of the Hero's journey. The Hero starts with an ordinary life, then receive a form of call to his quest, adventure etc. The hero then more or less refused the call but then can't resist the adventure. (Star Wars and The Hobbit). Meeting the mentor is like Ben-Kenobi from Star Wars, a guidance on the quest. The hero then leaves his normal life and set off to his/her journey, meeting challenges, enemies along the way. The hero then approaches his/her final goal to then find a way to overcome his/her fear and finish the goal or quest. The Hero is then rewarded either by gold, money or even knowledge. The hero then takes the road back to his/her home village. When arrived we see that the hero has changed into a newer self, being the resurrection stage. And finally return with elixir is when the hero continues his or her ordinary life with the rewards he/she gathered from the quest.
Just by looking at the step you start to think which stories use this method. The most common one is Star Wars and it is even said that this method was a massive influence to the story-line of Star Wars.
Branching narrative is also an approach to writing strategies, especially in games. A huge use of this in games is Mass Effect and Star Wars: The Old Republic. These two games have an amazing feature as it allows different dialogue responses to the actions you as the audience make, either it be a negative or positive response. This then leads to a consequence system as choosing a path that is considered 'frowned upon' in the game will lead to incomplete quests or even death of main or secondary characters.
Overarching narrative is the main story to the story, although second stories may occur during the travel, there is still that one main goal in the characters mind. For instance, Lord of the Ring' overarching narrative is to destroy the One Ring, but during their quest to destroy it they come across other 'obstacles' in their path to destroy the ring.
References -
1) Freytag's Pyramid image - http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/images/Freytag.jpg
2) The Hero's Journey circle, Print screened off internert. - http://bernijourney.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/hero-journey-wheel-2.gif
1) Freytag's Pyramid image - http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/images/Freytag.jpg
2) The Hero's Journey circle, Print screened off internert. - http://bernijourney.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/hero-journey-wheel-2.gif