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Why are stories important?
Storytelling is as old as human society. Stories
fulfil a basic human need. Turn on a television any night and there
will be a stream of them on tap: comedies, dramas, soaps and documentaries.
Stories provide us with a meaningful emotional
experience. They are both metaphors and equipment for life.
What is a story?
A story is a strategic sequence of events or moments
of change but perhaps more importantly it is the embodiment of an
idea or an idea wrapped in an aesthetic emotion
The Premise is the
name given to the "idea" that lies at the heart of a story. It tries
to answer to that most basic question: what is the story about?
All the decisions that a writer makes about a story (structure,
characters, action, setting) are or should be based on this key
concept.
When thinking of a premise, it's helpful to put
an invisible pre-fix in front of it: what happens if ?
A mad bomber rigs a crowded LA bus so that
it explodes if it goes under fifty miles per hour and a cop is on
board to stop it.
A meek man finds an ancient Viking mask and, when he wears it, has
magical abilities.
A divorced dad, missing his kids, pretends to be an English nanny,
and is hired by his ex-wife.
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