Here's a great exercise to see if you can describe your original story in a "nutshell."

Tell us about your original story using the template below (also see below for an example written by a student last year).

Upload in Canvas AND bring four paper copies to class next week.

Follow this template: 

1. Create a kick-a** enticing TITLE
2. Give us a great LOGLINE that mentions: 1. inciting incident, 2. protagonist, 3. action, 4. antagonist, 5. stakes  (in any order)
3. State your brilliant THEME as a declarative sentence   
4. Write one sentence explaining your  PROTAGONIST'S wants and needs
5.  Write one sentence introducing your ANTAGONIST
6. Craft four short paragraphs about your PLOT:
   • Paragraph 1: Act I: Set up - and end with PLOT QUESTION
   • Paragraph 2: Act II (a): Initial Conflict 

• • Paragraph 3. Act II (b): Rising Conflict
  • Paragraph 4: Act III: Resolution

• Check out this "Nine Point Story Structure Template Links to an external site." for assistance.
• TRY TO SQUEEZE  IT ALL ONTO  TWO PAGES.  :)

EXAMPLE   

1. Title: Guest Services

2. Log Line: An uptight hotel general manager who believes that customer service is the
most important part of his life, finds himself murdering several people after accidentally
killing a celebrity guest and enjoying it.

3. Theme: You cannot deny what feels right, even if it is wrong.

4. Protagonist’s WANTS and NEEDS: The protagonist wants to be as helpful as possible
for his hotel guests, while believing he is a warm and positive person. Though he needs
to murder people.

5. Antagonist: The antagonist is a messy yet talented detective. He has the
personality and composure of the unfiltered beer-loving uncle at the barbecue.

6. PLOT:

ACT I opens up in the hotel, where chaos occurs. Hotel cleaners scramble around the lobby, cleaning the carpet and windows. A hired ice sculptor adds her final touches to her work. FRANCIS, the frantic hotel manager cracks down on his workers until suddenly, MADAM DOLIA enters the hotel. Francis tries to be friendly, but Dolia just wants to get her performance over with in the dining / entertainment room. Later that night, Dolia performs in front of a huge crowd of fans and writers. After a long day of dealing with rude guests, Francis coincidentally sits at a table with one of the guests who happens to be a detective on vacation. After the show, Dolia calls Francis to have the iced sculptor removed from her room. Though during the struggle, he accidentally stabs Dalia in the chest with an icicle. She begs for help, but Francis freezes. He never felt something like this before. He isn’t frozen in fear...rather it's excitement.

ACT II (a) starts when the body of Madam Dolia is discovered. Fans of Dolia cry as writers and photographers flood her room. The detective clears the scene, and realizes he has a homicide case resting in his hands. He puts the hotel on lockdown and puts together a list of possible suspects. He interviews several people, narrowing down the story of what happened on the night of Dalia’s death. Francis spends the day thinking of the odd feeling he felt watching Dalia die on the floor, both in fear and excitement. The next night, Francis encounters one of the rude guests he had to deal with the day prior.

ACT II (b). The idea of killing the guest overtakes  Francis in the moment but he quickly takes control over his sanity. Though after the guest gets angry at Francis and subtly implies that Francis is suspicious, Francis murders  her. Francis then goes on to kill several other rude guests he held grudges against throughout the week, while struggling and lying to himself that he doesn’t enjoy it. The detective gains more clues
after every murder, until all fingers point to Francis.

ACT III starts with Francis  caught in the act, though he sets up a hotel worker as the murder. He thinks he got away with it until the whole thing turns out as a set by the detective. Francis is caught, and the whole story spills out -- like the blood of Francis's victims.