Screenwriting Tricks for Authors

Share this post

Working with Story Structure Patterns, Part 2

alexandrasokoloff.substack.com

Working with Story Structure Patterns, Part 2

Alexandra Sokoloff
Dec 30, 2022
∙ Paid
2
3
Share
Share this post

Working with Story Structure Patterns, Part 2

alexandrasokoloff.substack.com

Continuing our discussion of Story Patterns! In Part 1 I asked you “What classic story pattern is at the center of both The Godfather and Succession?”

Of course there’s more than one answer to this, but they are both very notable examples of the “King Has Three Children…” story pattern, immortalized in myths and fairy tales from all over the world. The Godfather is the story of an old king with three sons, and the story question is “Which son will inherit the kingdom?”

In perhaps the most famous example of this archetypal story, King Lear, the old king has three daughters. In Succession, the king has three children. Oops, I mean four, but Con doesn’t really count, does he? Or… does he? In each, the question of succession provides the action and suspense. And the story pattern is such an ancient one that it brings the weight of millennia with it—and usually the weight of tragedy (This deserves a whole post of its own, doesn’t it? Noted!)

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
Previous
Next
© 2023 Alexandra Sokoloff
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing