Go On Your Own Quest — Week 1: Plot

“The Quest” began Monday! And so did Go On Your Own Quest, an opportunity for anyone to follow the structure of “The Quest” to dig into screenwriting theory [Core — 8 weeks], figure out your story [Prep — 6 weeks], and write a first draft [Pages — 10 weeks]. It’s a 24-week immersion in the screenwriting process and you can do it here — for free!

This week, we are reflecting on the subject of Plot, mirroring the content the Questers are engaged with in Core I: Plot. They are working through six lectures I have written building off the 1st Essential Screenwriting Principle: Plot = Structure.

Here in GOYOQ land, we had a fascinating start to our discussion Monday — you can see those comments from GITS readers and myself here. We began with two questions: (1) How would you define plot? (2) How is plot different in a screenplay compared to a novel? Then followed up with another question: Do you subscribe to the theory that screenplay plots have patterns or paradigms? If so, what patterns or paradigms do you think they are? You can read the ensuing discussion here. Then another question: How do you go about working out your screenplay’s plot? Be specific: What is your plotting process? You can read that discussion here. Another question: Index cards: Do you use them when plotting your story or not? The discussion is here.

A final question this week: William Goldman [Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride] says, “Screenplays are structure.” What do you think he means by that?

I’ll see you in comments for your thoughts on this question and [hopefully] a discussion that will enlighten everyone about the subject of Plot.

For background on “Go Into The Story: The Quest,” go here and here.

I will be teaching Core I: Plot through Screenwriting Master Class next week beginning Monday, July 23.

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