WEAKNESS & NEED

Psychological and Moral Self-Revelation

When figuring out the self-revelation, try to give your hero both a psychological and a moral revelation. Be specific about what your hero learns. And be flexible and ready to change what you have written as you figure out the other six steps and as you continue through the entire writing process. Figuring out the seven steps, as well as many of the other parts of your story, is much like doing a crossword puzzle. Some parts will come easily, others only with great difficulty. Use the parts that come easily to figure out the tough parts, and be willing to go back and change what you first wrote when later material gives you a new take on your story.

Psychological and Moral Weakness and Need

Psychological and Moral Weakness – Not understanding that most peers are thoughtful and helpful. Pushing others away and keeping a guard up will do nothing other than create a lonely and sad life. Being selfish hurts others and by hurting others, in turn it can hurt yourself.

Problem

What is the problem, or crisis, your hero faces at the beginning of the story? Try to make it an outgrowth of your hero’s weakness. •

DESIRE

Gibby wants to gather all of the nuts that the human family throws into their backyard everyday. He wants to have more nuts than any other squirrel for the upcoming winter – not necessarily because he needs them, but because he doesn’t want to leave any for anyone else.

OPPONENT

Stan is Gibby’s neighbor who lives in the tree next door. He challenges Gibby in many ways to try to help him in becoming a better squirrel. While he’s technically the opponent, it’s not because he is against the main character, but because he wants the same things (nuts) for his family, and wants to teach Gibby how to be a better community member and friend, and that sometimes makes him look like the bad guy.

BATTLE

A hurricane strikes New England for the first time since Gibby has been alive – his tree is struck down so he loses not only his home, but his stock of winter nuts as well. He needs to convince his community members why they should help him when he has been nothing but selfish his whole life.

SELF -REVELATION

That just because he was left alone once (abandoned at birth) doesn’t mean everyone else is an enemy – most people are out to help.