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[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I think about this post from time to time, mainly because the artwork used here was incredible. There is so much soul and expression to be seen, and it really reminds us that, throughout all these endless eons,  we may have changed features, we may have made progress as a species, we may have reached for the stars and beyond, but our emotions, deep down, have always remained such a critical component to what we are as not just a species, but as a people.

today in “things i’m disproportionately emotional about”:

it’s facial reconstructions of prehistoric humans!!

like, look at this part-homo sapiens, part-neandertal man from well over 30,000 years ago:

doesn’t he just look like a dude you’d wanna hang out with? like he probably washes dishes in the kitchen with you, and has excellent weed

what a charming fellow. what stories he probably has to tell. i’d definitely go shoot the shit with him on Contemplation Rock after i’d finished my day’s work carving a bone flute for the autumn hunting ceremony, or whatever

people have been people ever since people first became people, i tell you what

they all had lives and histories and families and friends and dumb gossip and games they played and total bullshit in which they believed wholeheartedly

they all argued about the nature of the world, and of themselves

they all sang songs

they all drew pictures

they all buried their dead in graves, and they buried their dead in graves well before they did a lot of that other stuff. they buried their dead with flowers, with panther claws, with the bones of animals they’d killed, with the bones of family members who had died at the same time or earlier. they buried their dead with their arms folded across their chests

they fell in love

they took care of their old and their sick and their disabled, even when it cost them

they made new things, and worried about what the new things meant for people everywhere, as a whole

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I have made my wish.

Here’s hoping it comes true.

you have been visited by the seven magic dragon balls your biggest wish will be granted but only if you reblog

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

Story Structures for your Next WIP

hello, hello. this post will be mostly for my notes. this is something I need in to be reminded of for my business, but it can also be very useful and beneficial for you guys as well.

everything in life has structure and storytelling is no different, so let’s dive right in :)

First off let’s just review what a story structure is :

a story is the backbone of the story, the skeleton if you will. It hold the entire story together.

the structure in which you choose your story will effectively determine how you create drama and depending on the structure you choose it should help you align your story and sequence it with the conflict, climax, and resolution.

1. Freytag's Pyramid

this first story structure i will be talking about was named after 19th century German novelist and playwright.

it is a five point structure that is based off classical Greek tragedies such as Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripedes.

Freytag's Pyramid structure consists of:

Introduction: the status quo has been established and an inciting incident occurs.

Rise or rising action: the protagonist will search and try to achieve their goal, heightening the stakes,

Climax: the protagonist can no longer go back, the point of no return if you will.

Return or fall: after the climax of the story, tension builds and the story inevitably heads towards...

Catastrophe: the main character has reached their lowest point and their greatest fears have come into fruition.

this structure is used less and less nowadays in modern storytelling mainly due to readers lack of appetite for tragic narratives.

2. The Hero's Journey

the hero's journey is a very well known and popular form of storytelling.

it is very popular in modern stories such as Star Wars, and movies in the MCU.

although the hero's journey was inspired by Joseph Campbell's concept, a Disney executive Christopher Vogler has created a simplified version:

The Ordinary World: The hero's everyday routine and life is established.

The Call of Adventure: the inciting incident.

Refusal of the Call: the hero / protagonist is hesitant or reluctant to take on the challenges.

Meeting the Mentor: the hero meets someone who will help them and prepare them for the dangers ahead.

Crossing the First Threshold: first steps out of the comfort zone are taken.

Tests, Allie, Enemies: new challenges occur, and maybe new friends or enemies.

Approach to the Inmost Cave: hero approaches goal.

The Ordeal: the hero faces their biggest challenge.

Reward (Seizing the Sword): the hero manages to get ahold of what they were after.

The Road Back: they realize that their goal was not the final hurdle, but may have actually caused a bigger problem than before.

Resurrection: a final challenge, testing them on everything they've learned.

Return with the Elixir: after succeeding they return to their old life.

the hero's journey can be applied to any genre of fiction.

3. Three Act Structure:

this structure splits the story into the 'beginning, middle and end' but with in-depth components for each act.

Act 1: Setup:

exposition: the status quo or the ordinary life is established.

inciting incident: an event sets the whole story into motion.

plot point one: the main character decided to take on the challenge head on and she crosses the threshold and the story is now progressing forward.

Act 2: Confrontation:

rising action: the stakes are clearer and the hero has started to become familiar with the new world and begins to encounter enemies, allies and tests.

midpoint: an event that derails the protagonists mission.

plot point two: the hero is tested and fails, and begins to doubt themselves.

Act 3: Resolution:

pre-climax: the hero must chose between acting or failing.

climax: they fights against the antagonist or danger one last time, but will they succeed?

Denouement: loose ends are tied up and the reader discovers the consequences of the climax, and return to ordinary life.

4. Dan Harmon's Story Circle

it surprised me to know the creator of Rick and Morty had their own variation of Campbell's hero's journey.

the benefit of Harmon's approach is that is focuses on the main character's arc.

it makes sense that he has such a successful structure, after all the show has multiple seasons, five or six seasons? i don't know not a fan of the show.

the character is in their comfort zone: also known as the status quo or ordinary life.

they want something: this is a longing and it can be brought forth by an inciting incident.

the character enters and unfamiliar situation: they must take action and do something new to pursue what they want.

adapt to it: of course there are challenges, there is struggle and begin to succeed.

they get what they want: often a false victory.

a heavy price is paid: a realization of what they wanted isn't what they needed.

back to the good old ways: they return to their familiar situation yet with a new truth.

having changed: was it for the better or worse?

i might actually make a operate post going more in depth about dan harmon's story circle.

5. Fichtean Curve:

the fichtean curve places the main character in a series of obstacles in order to achieve their goal.

this structure encourages writers to write a story packed with tension and mini-crises to keep the reader engaged.

The Rising Action

the story must start with an inciting indecent.

then a series of crisis arise.

there are often four crises.

2. The Climax:

3. Falling Action

this type of story telling structure goes very well with flash-back structured story as well as in theatre.

6. Save the Cat Beat Sheet:

this is another variation of a three act structure created by screenwriter Blake Snyder, and is praised widely by champion storytellers.

Structure for Save the Cat is as follows: (the numbers in the brackets are for the number of pages required, assuming you're writing a 110 page screenplay)

Opening Image [1]: The first shot of the film. If you’re starting a novel, this would be an opening paragraph or scene that sucks readers into the world of your story.

Set-up [1-10]. Establishing the ‘ordinary world’ of your protagonist. What does he want? What is he missing out on?

Theme Stated [5]. During the setup, hint at what your story is really about — the truth that your protagonist will discover by the end.

Catalyst [12]. The inciting incident!

Debate [12-25]. The hero refuses the call to adventure. He tries to avoid the conflict before they are forced into action.

Break into Two [25]. The protagonist makes an active choice and the journey begins in earnest.

B Story [30]. A subplot kicks in. Often romantic in nature, the protagonist’s subplot should serve to highlight the theme.

The Promise of the Premise [30-55]. Often called the ‘fun and games’ stage, this is usually a highly entertaining section where the writer delivers the goods. If you promised an exciting detective story, we’d see the detective in action. If you promised a goofy story of people falling in love, let’s go on some charmingly awkward dates.

Midpoint [55]. A plot twist occurs that ups the stakes and makes the hero’s goal harder to achieve — or makes them focus on a new, more important goal.

Bad Guys Close In [55-75]. The tension ratchets up. The hero’s obstacles become greater, his plan falls apart, and he is on the back foot.

All is Lost [75]. The hero hits rock bottom. He loses everything he’s gained so far, and things are looking bleak. The hero is overpowered by the villain; a mentor dies; our lovebirds have an argument and break up.

Dark Night of the Soul [75-85-ish]. Having just lost everything, the hero shambles around the city in a minor-key musical montage before discovering some “new information” that reveals exactly what he needs to do if he wants to take another crack at success. (This new information is often delivered through the B-Story)

Break into Three [85]. Armed with this new information, our protagonist decides to try once more!

Finale [85-110]. The hero confronts the antagonist or whatever the source of the primary conflict is. The truth that eluded him at the start of the story (established in step three and accentuated by the B Story) is now clear, allowing him to resolve their story.

Final Image [110]. A final moment or scene that crystallizes how the character has changed. It’s a reflection, in some way, of the opening image.

(all information regarding the save the cat beat sheet was copy and pasted directly from reedsy!)

7. Seven Point Story Structure:

this structure encourages writers to start with the at the end, with the resolution, and work their way back to the starting point.

this structure is about dramatic changes from beginning to end

The Hook. Draw readers in by explaining the protagonist’s current situation. Their state of being at the beginning of the novel should be in direct contrast to what it will be at the end of the novel.

Plot Point 1. Whether it’s a person, an idea, an inciting incident, or something else — there should be a "Call to Adventure" of sorts that sets the narrative and character development in motion.

Pinch Point 1. Things can’t be all sunshine and roses for your protagonist. Something should go wrong here that applies pressure to the main character, forcing them to step up and solve the problem.

Midpoint. A “Turning Point” wherein the main character changes from a passive force to an active force in the story. Whatever the narrative’s main conflict is, the protagonist decides to start meeting it head-on.

Pinch Point 2. The second pinch point involves another blow to the protagonist — things go even more awry than they did during the first pinch point. This might involve the passing of a mentor, the failure of a plan, the reveal of a traitor, etc.

Plot Point 2. After the calamity of Pinch Point 2, the protagonist learns that they’ve actually had the key to solving the conflict the whole time.

Resolution. The story’s primary conflict is resolved — and the character goes through the final bit of development necessary to transform them from who they were at the start of the novel.

(all information regarding the seven point story structure was copy and pasted directly from reedsy!)

i decided to fit all of them in one post instead of making it a two part post.

i hope you all enjoy this post and feel free to comment or reblog which structure you use the most, or if you have your own you prefer to use! please share with me!

if you find this useful feel free to reblog on instagram and tag me at perpetualstories

Follow my tumblr and instagram for more writing and grammar tips and more!

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

You’ll have to tie me up and drag me if you think I’m watching Hamilton, that overhyped, pontificating messianic mess of tacky hip hop and stretched truth.

And I say that as someone who’s as leftist as leftist gets.

I’d rather spend ten hours getting root canal work done than listen to anything by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Blah.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

No fooling, I have wanted a nightcap and long night shirt since I was in junior high. Every single year, my family gets me pajamas for Christmas, and every year I hang my head in sorrow because I didn’t get that kind.

personality test what kind of cartoon pajamas do u wear

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

MAN, my roommate chews loudly.

I just laugh because he complains about my cooking food with garlic, but the sounds he makes as he chews his food would not be out of place in a documentary about how hyenas eat.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

We’re often told to respect old age. But personally, I don’t think being old necessarily means you automatically garner respect because you lived this long. The way I see it, respect is earned, not given. Some of the foulest and most vitriolic people I’ve ever met were old, and they thought that just because they were older than me, they would automatically be granted my respect.

Still, maybe I went a bit far when I told a particularly loud and unpleasant boomer on a Facebook page to look beyond his crusty little desiccated mummified eyes.



[ldsalasthecartoonking]

My response is simply this: how can we ascertain that these predatory creatures are solely predatory? In the case of the space slug, or exogorth, it’s got roots that go down into the asteroid, from which it extracts nutrients.

The whole “how the hell does this predatory creature get enough sustenance” thing that plagues fantasy and sci-fi occasionally gets so absurd it loops around into being funny, like the scene in Star Wars when the Millenium Falcon is flying through an asteroid field and gets swallowed by a worm.

I could complain about that, but I could also conclude that the supply of reckless space pilots flying into asteroid fields has been consistent enough for the past few million years for animals to evolve to prey upon them.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this.

Often times it’s that kind of expressed love or amicability that really helps someone in dire straits, and we may not even realize it at the time.

Reblog if you think it’s okay to platonically say “I Love You” to your friends

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

One thing I never understood was people on Facebook getting all hot and bothered the minute someone expresses an opinion they don’t agree with.

I know that might seem like a very incriminating statement, but it’s like this: the minute I say that I disapprove of smoking, for instance, as something that people shouldn’t do, at least one smoker will pipe up (no pun intended) and try to convince me why I am wrong or why people who do smoke aren’t doing it for my approval. Like I never said that people have to do things for my approval, I’m just expressing my displeasure with smoking. When I say that people get defensive over opinions, I mean things that are generally nothing to be upset by, like “I don’t like this style of clothing” or “I don’t think swearing is attractive”; I certainly wouldn’t say anything like “this race is better than this race” or other such bigotries, namely because I don’t feel that way, but also because I was taught to hold my tongue and to not be a bigot.

Conversely, I have expressed my displeasure with certain haircuts or with tattoos, and people will scream and squeal how I am wrong and how people don’t do it for my approval. I never said anybody has to earn my approval. I just said I don’t like it. You’re perfectly free, if you don’t like my comments, to look away.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I take any bad memory from you and proffer this happy one:

It’s a cool spring day, the skies are cloudy and the air is crisp. You sit comfortably in a booth in a small mom-and-pop owned Mexican restaurant, while Ben E. King’s timeless classic “Spanish Harlem” plays in the background, and the smiling waiter brings you your food, spiced to perfection, steaming hot, and served with a delicious cold Jamaica to wash it down.

Life is sweet, sweet as the Jamaica.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

Kiss to a rose.

bonding with your houseplants by watering them from a water bottle you’ve already drank from

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

Would somebody be able to identify a movie based off of a description?

Years and years ago, I saw rather a dark scary animated movie. The thing is, I can’t discern whether it was a dream or something I actually saw, but I remember seeing it when I was very young in Peru around 1994.

Weirdly enough, it looked like something out of Disney. I remember there was a pitch black setting with a giant chessboard and jet black chess pieces moving, and I think the knight pieces had frightened faces. In another shot, a number of tiny figures were falling in a dark shadowy place (on the left side of the screen), while a duck figure similar to Donald Duck cackled maniacally with a mouthful of razor sharp teeth. He was giant and took up the other side of the screen. I remember it was much too polished and well-shaded to be a Saturday morning cartoon.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I decided I’d make a comic about the pteranodons I built. https://www.instagram.com/p/CM5WZ-Cl-f5/?igshid=14jcq1qrkgapk

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

Okay, so I haven’t drawn much lately. Here’s a quick little doodle of a nefarious burglar up to do no good. On a side note, how come burglars in movies are always depicted as wearing turtlenecks and leather jackets? Who decided that that was the definitive fashion statement for larceny? #drawing #burglar #cartoon https://www.instagram.com/p/CLDaN0-l2Xr/?igshid=fbgz7hsmycvj

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I gotta say, the thing I’ve come to despise the most about conservatives is how smug they get. They think anyone that doesn’t agree with them has no business expressing opposing views, and it’s been my experience that they’ll happily tell you to “stay in your lane” if you say something that goes against their grain.

One such conservative told me on Snapchat that I should not be posting so many political things. He told me that I’m a cartoonist, and I should just stick to making cartoons. I’ll bet you all the money in my savings that if I was a conservative, he would have no problem telling me to keep it up.

[ldsalasthecartoonking]

I stand with my black brethren.

Reblog if you're black tumblr.

You don’t have to be black, it just means you support us, you stand by us and you’re for us.