[Use the exercise structure below to write stories that will accompany your weekly photography exercises]
We can't escape stories. They pervade our consciousness, seemingly from the moment we're born. From our childhood, we're all able to tell simple stories.
As complicated as some stories can seem, they typically can all be boiled down to that first story structure: "Once upon a time…"
The Once Upon a Time Story Structure
"Once upon a time there was ___.
Every day, ___.
One day ___.
Because of that, ___.
Because of that, ___.
Until finally ___."
And Ever Since that day_______.
Once upon a time there was a character in a story world.
Once upon a time there were three little pigs.
And every day, this character lived their ordinary life. It was a bit boring but it was theirs--and it was comfortable.
One pig built a house of straw while the second pig built his house with sticks. They built their houses very quickly and then sang and danced all day because they were lazy. The third little pig worked hard all day and built his house with bricks
One day, something happened. The character was presented with an opportunity for something they've always secretly dreamed of having. Or perhaps the character's greatest fear came true. Their life was disrupted.
A big bad wolf saw the two little pigs while they danced and played and thought, “What juicy tender meals they will make!” He chased the two pigs and they ran and hid in their houses.
Because of that, the character was thrown into a new world. They had to grapple with new circumstances, new people, and a seemingly new life. They had to form a plan to either pursue their dream or try to get their life back to the way it was.
The big bad wolf went to the first house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in minutes. The frightened little pig ran to the second pig’s house that was made of sticks. The big bad wolf now came to this house and huffed and puffed and blew the house down in hardly any time.
Because of that, the character faced challenges in the pursuit of their goal. It wasn't going to be as easy as they had planned. They'd have to become someone new in order to get what they wanted.
Now, the two little pigs were terrified and ran to the third pig’s house that was made of bricks.
Until finally, the character realized who they need to become in order to get what they wanted. They took decisive action and made a sacrifice in order to accomplish their goal.
The big bad wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the house down, but he could not. He kept trying for hours but the house was very strong and the little pigs were safe inside. He tried to enter through the chimney but the third little pig boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney.
They returned home to their old world. And every day since then, they lived as a changed person.
The two little pigs now felt sorry for having been so lazy. They too built their houses with bricks and lived happily ever after.