Are You Using the 5 Cs of Great Storytelling?
Successful writers will tell you there are always certain components to a successful story. They will also tell you that rules are made to be broken. That means it won’t necessarily be a flop if your story doesn’t have the components we’re about to discuss. You can still tell great stories if you miss one or two of the following pieces. You’re just making the job more difficult on yourself.
It would be best to have the following five C’s in your story most of the time.
- Circumstances
- Conflict
- Crisis
- Climax
- Conclusion
To paint a clear picture, let’s use the Cinderella fairytale.
Cinderella has a pitiful life with her evil stepsisters and stepmother, who constantly harass her. She receives an invitation to the royal ball. Alas, she has nothing to wear and no way to get to the ball. Her fairy godmother appears and supplies her with a dress and a coach to transport her.
Cinderella is told she must be back home before midnight. She goes to the ball, the Prince falls in love with her, then midnight strikes, and she’s back to her less-than-enviable life. She loses a shoe at the ball, and the Prince finds it. He tries it on the feet of the women in his kingdom and eventually finds Cinderella. They live happily ever after.
Circumstances: Cinderella has a difficult life cleaning for her stepmother and stepsisters, and they constantly bully and mistreat her.
Conflict: She is ecstatic that she received an invitation to the royal ball but has nothing to wear. And if she did have a suitable gown, how would she get to the ball?
Crisis: She’s having the time of her life but has to leave the Prince before midnight strikes, and he discovers who she really is.
Climax: The Prince finds her, and she once again has hopes for a great life.
Conclusion: They live happily ever after.
As you can see, if you had those five components figured out, then you would only need to flesh out the story. If you can create your five C’s before you begin writing your story, filling in the blanks is simple.
You’re providing yourself an outline that’s been proven to engage your audience and compel them to keep on reading. Use the five C’s of crafting a story, and your storytelling ability will grow.
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