11.6 Expanding and modifying original stories
4 min read•august 21, 2024
Expanding and modifying original stories is crucial in episodic drama. Writers must master foundational elements like characters, plot structure, setting, and themes to create engaging narratives that span multiple episodes.
Expansion techniques and modification strategies allow writers to broaden and transform existing stories. By adding , developing characters, exploring backstories, and , writers can create complex, multi-layered narratives that captivate audiences throughout a series.
Original story elements
- Foundational components form the basis for expanding and modifying narratives in episodic drama
- Understanding these elements allows writers to create compelling, multi-layered stories that engage audiences over multiple episodes
- Mastery of original story elements provides a solid framework for creative expansion and modification
Characters and arcs
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- Develop multi-dimensional protagonists and antagonists with clear goals and motivations
- Create that span the entire series, showing growth and change
- Establish supporting characters with unique personalities and roles in the story
- Utilize character relationships to drive conflict and plot development
Plot structure
- Implement traditional three-act structure adapted for episodic format
- Develop overarching plot for the entire season or series
- Create episode-specific storylines that contribute to the larger narrative
- Balance rising action, climax, and resolution within individual episodes and the overall series
Setting and world-building
- Construct a rich, detailed environment that supports and enhances the story
- Establish rules and limitations of the story world
- Develop unique cultures, societies, or technologies relevant to the narrative
- Create opportunities for exploration and expansion of the setting throughout the series
Themes and motifs
- Identify central themes that resonate throughout the entire series
- Incorporate recurring motifs to reinforce themes and create cohesion
- Use symbolism and imagery to convey deeper meanings
- Explore thematic elements through and plot progression
Expansion techniques
- Methods used to broaden and deepen the original story elements in episodic drama
- Expansion techniques allow writers to create more complex and engaging narratives over multiple episodes
- Mastering these techniques enables writers to sustain audience interest and create richer storytelling experiences
Adding subplots
- Introduce secondary storylines that complement or contrast with the main plot
- Develop subplots that explore supporting characters' motivations and conflicts
- Use subplots to add depth and complexity to the overall narrative
- Ensure subplots intersect with or impact the main storyline in meaningful ways
Character development
- Deepen character backstories and motivations throughout the series
- Create opportunities for characters to face new challenges and grow
- Explore relationships between characters to reveal new facets of their personalities
- Introduce internal conflicts that drive character arcs across multiple episodes
Backstory exploration
- Reveal character histories through flashbacks or expository dialogue
- Use to explain character motivations and behaviors
- Introduce past events that impact the current storyline
- Gradually unveil backstory elements to maintain audience interest and create suspense
World expansion
- Introduce new locations, cultures, or societies within the established setting
- Develop secondary characters that provide insight into different aspects of the world
- Create historical or mythological elements that enrich the story world
- Explore the consequences of world-specific rules or technologies on the plot and characters
Modification strategies
- Techniques used to alter and transform existing story elements in episodic drama
- Modification strategies allow writers to present familiar narratives in fresh and innovative ways
- Understanding these strategies enables writers to adapt stories for different audiences or platforms
Changing point of view
- Shift narrative perspective to explore events from different characters' viewpoints
- Alternate between multiple POVs to provide a more comprehensive story experience
- Use POV changes to reveal new information or create
- Experiment with unreliable narrators to add complexity to the storytelling
Altering timelines
- Restructure the chronology of events to create tension or reveal information strategically
- Implement non-linear storytelling techniques (flashbacks, flash-forwards)
- Use parallel timelines to explore different aspects of the story simultaneously
- Create time loops or alternate realities to explore "what if" scenarios
Shifting genre elements
- Incorporate elements from different genres to create unique hybrid narratives
- Subvert genre expectations to surprise and engage audiences
- Blend multiple genres within a single series to appeal to diverse viewer preferences
- Use genre shifts to highlight different aspects of characters or plotlines
Reimagining outcomes
- Explore alternative endings or plot resolutions
- Create "what if" scenarios that diverge from the original story
- Develop new consequences for character actions or decisions
- Use reimagined outcomes to comment on or critique the original narrative
Key Terms to Review (25)
Adaptation: Adaptation refers to the process of transforming a story from one medium to another, often altering elements to fit the new format while preserving the core narrative. This can involve expanding plotlines, modifying characters, and adjusting themes to resonate with a different audience or explore new dimensions of the original work.
Altering timelines: Altering timelines refers to the manipulation of a story's chronological order, allowing events to be presented in a non-linear fashion or changed altogether. This technique is often used to create suspense, explore character motivations, or provide deeper context by revealing information out of traditional sequence. By shifting timelines, storytellers can enhance the emotional impact and complexity of their narratives.
Anthology Series: An anthology series is a type of television program that features a different story and a different set of characters in each episode or season, often connected by a common theme or narrative style. This format allows for varied storytelling and the exploration of diverse subjects, creating unique viewing experiences while still maintaining a cohesive identity for the series.
Backstory: Backstory refers to the history and background of a character or setting that informs their current motivations and actions within the narrative. It plays a critical role in shaping characters' personalities, relationships, and development throughout a story, adding depth and context to their experiences and decisions.
Changing point of view: Changing point of view refers to the deliberate shift in perspective from which a story is told, allowing multiple characters or narrators to provide their unique insights and experiences. This technique enriches the narrative, enhances character development, and creates a more immersive experience for the audience by presenting events through different lenses.
Character Arcs: Character arcs refer to the transformation or inner journey of a character throughout a story, showing their development, growth, or change as they face challenges and experiences. A well-crafted character arc enhances the narrative by connecting the audience emotionally and providing depth to both standalone and overarching plots.
Character conflict: Character conflict refers to the struggle between opposing forces within a story, primarily involving characters who have different desires, goals, or values. This tension is essential for driving the plot forward and shaping character development, as it reveals motivations and challenges that characters must overcome. By expanding or modifying original stories, writers can create new layers of conflict that deepen the narrative and enrich character arcs.
Character Development: Character development refers to the process of creating a believable, multi-dimensional character who grows, changes, or evolves throughout a story. This involves establishing the character's motivations, relationships, and challenges, allowing for dynamic interactions that can enhance narrative depth and engage audiences.
Character Motivation: Character motivation refers to the driving force behind a character's actions, desires, and decisions in a narrative. It is essential for creating compelling and relatable characters, as it helps audiences understand why characters behave in certain ways, thereby enhancing the emotional impact of the story. The motivation can stem from internal desires, such as personal goals and fears, or external influences, such as relationships and societal expectations.
Cliffhanger: A cliffhanger is a narrative device used to create suspense and maintain audience interest by leaving a story unresolved at the end of an episode, often with a shocking or dramatic moment. This technique encourages viewers to return for the next installment to find out what happens next, making it an essential tool for building tension and engagement throughout a series.
Cold Open: A cold open is a technique used in television writing where a scene or sequence occurs before the opening credits, grabbing the audience's attention right from the start. This immediate engagement helps establish tone and set up key story elements that will unfold in the episode, making it a crucial tool in episodic storytelling.
Dramatic Irony: Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows more about a situation than the characters do, creating tension and engagement. This knowledge can enhance emotional connections and make character decisions more impactful, as viewers are often left anticipating the consequences of these choices.
Fan theories: Fan theories are speculative interpretations or explanations created by fans of a story that attempt to make sense of narrative elements, character motivations, or unresolved plot points. These theories often arise from the viewer's desire to engage deeply with the material and can influence the reception and understanding of the story, especially when plot twists and reveals challenge expectations.
Flashback: A flashback is a narrative device that interrupts the chronological flow of a story to revisit past events, providing context, background, or insights into characters and plot. This technique enriches storytelling by revealing character motivations, past traumas, or critical backstory, enhancing emotional depth and engagement.
Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing is a literary technique used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story. It serves to build anticipation and create a sense of suspense, allowing viewers to connect various elements of the narrative as they unfold. This technique enhances narrative continuity and can deepen character arcs by setting up future events and emotional responses.
Pitching: Pitching is the process of presenting a television show idea or script to producers, networks, or studios in order to gain interest and secure funding or a production deal. This involves effectively communicating the concept, characters, story arcs, and overall vision of the project, often accompanied by visual aids or a detailed outline. A successful pitch requires not only a strong understanding of the material but also an ability to convey enthusiasm and marketability to potential stakeholders.
Reimagining: Reimagining refers to the process of taking an existing story, concept, or character and creatively transforming it into a new form or interpretation. This involves expanding on original ideas, adding fresh perspectives, and sometimes altering essential elements to fit a different context or medium, ultimately breathing new life into the narrative.
Reimagining Outcomes: Reimagining outcomes refers to the process of creatively altering the ending or results of a story, allowing for different possibilities that diverge from the original narrative. This technique opens up new avenues for character development, plot twists, and thematic exploration, enabling writers to challenge conventional storytelling norms and engage audiences in unexpected ways.
Serialized storytelling: Serialized storytelling is a narrative technique where a story is told over multiple episodes or installments, allowing for complex character development and ongoing plotlines that evolve over time. This format creates a sense of continuity and engagement, inviting viewers to return for each new episode to see how conflicts unfold and characters grow.
Shifting genre elements: Shifting genre elements refer to the changes and blending of characteristics that define different genres within a narrative. This can involve mixing elements from various genres to create a unique storytelling experience, allowing for the exploration of complex themes and characters while engaging audiences in innovative ways.
Showrunner: A showrunner is the person responsible for the overall creative direction, management, and execution of a television series. This role involves making crucial decisions about the story, characters, and production while also overseeing the writers' room and collaborating with directors and producers to ensure the show's vision is realized. The showrunner is essentially the head writer and executive producer rolled into one.
Subplots: Subplots are secondary storylines that run parallel to the main plot, often involving supporting characters and enhancing the overall narrative by providing depth and complexity. They can enrich character development, theme exploration, and tension-building while allowing for a more intricate storytelling experience. Well-crafted subplots can also intersect with the main plot, revealing deeper connections between characters and events.
Tension building: Tension building is the process of creating and escalating suspense or emotional stakes within a narrative, making the audience eager to see how conflicts will resolve. This technique is vital for keeping viewers invested and engaged as they anticipate what will happen next, often through dramatic situations, character dilemmas, and cliffhangers.
Viewer investment: Viewer investment refers to the emotional and psychological commitment that an audience develops toward characters, storylines, and the overall narrative of a series. This investment is critical for retaining viewers, as it leads them to care deeply about the outcome of the plot and the fates of the characters. Building viewer investment can influence how effectively a show balances standalone episodes with overarching narratives, how it establishes a compelling series premise, and how it manages multi-episode story arcs.
World expansion: World expansion refers to the process of broadening the narrative universe of an original story by introducing new characters, settings, plotlines, or thematic elements. This technique enhances the storytelling experience by allowing deeper exploration of the original material and creating opportunities for new narratives that coexist within the same fictional framework.