How to Improvise? Coherence & Consistency

• Coherence is defined by the presence of certain Elements.
  • It is a Quality issue.
• Consistency is defined by the intensity/rhythm at which these Elements are used.
  • It is a Quantity issue.
• Coherence & Consistency form a Cohesion.

Summary – 6 steps to a Cohesive Story

1. Create the Main Story.
2. Write your Ending.
3. Create 4 to 12 Characters.
4. Link them through Stories.
5. Let their Relationships evolve.
6. Execute your Ending.

• Coherence should be checked in terms of :
  • Character – Character Relationships
  • Character – Environment Relationships
• Consistency should be checked in terms of :
  • Character Evolution
  • World’s Evolution



The Main Story

• 4 Themes
• In order to Create any Story you need 5 Words.
• The 1st Word will become the Title of the Story.
• The other 4 are the transcription of your Story’s Themes.
• They segment your Story in 4 distinct parts.
• The 4 Themes irradiate through your whole Story :
  • 4 Characters.
  • 4 Organizations.
  • 4 Environments.
  • 4 Items.

• Main Storyline
• How to make your more Cohesive?
• Start with The End.
• Beginning with the Story’s End give you a Clear trajectory.
• It makes the Story more readable for You, the Public & the Characters.
• It allows you to manage the Rhythm (Consistency) & the Content (Coherence) more easily.
• Then define 4 Phases.
• Having 4 clear phases give you more control over the Elements you’ll include.
• Define the Main Events of each Phase before hand.
• You only need 1 Main Event per Chapter.
  • Which will become the Title of the Chapter.
• Once you’ve defined your 4 Main Events make use of the 8 Story types.
• Summarize your Story in 1 Phrase.
• Define the Main Goal of your Story in 1 Phrase.
• And stick to this Phrase.
• It’s the surest way to ensure your Story’s Cohesiveness.
• You will always be able to tell when to stray from this 1 Sentence.

• The End
• The End is what most people will remember.
• In order to make it memorable, make it simple.
• The Following Structure can be applied to any Scene :
  1. Define the Location.
  2. Describe the Atmosphere.
  3. Define which Characters are present.
  4. Establish the Stakes.
  5. Present the Issue/Crisis.
  6. Propose at least 1 mean of Resolution.
  7. An Outcome.
  8. And the Aftermath.

Stories	Issue – Discovery	Resolution – Discovery	Outcome – Discovery	I – Development	R – Development	O – Development	I – Conclusion	R – Conclusion	O – Conclusion
Discovery
Collect
Transport
Defeat
Protect
Escape
Investigate
Negotiate

If you want to know more about Summarizing Stories.



Main Characters & the Main Story

• Identity
• A Character’s Origin will influence her whole Story.
• By defining the Location she was born in you determine the Character’s Behavior traits.
• The Early Issues she had to face will model her Strengths & Weaknesses.
• The Character’s 1st Crisis should have a repercussion on her Story.
• Her Ideal fate has been imagined by a Relative through her Name & her Goal.
• The Character can choose to follow this Fate or diverge from it.

• Behavior
• The Characters Choices will impact her Strengths & Weaknesses.
• Her Strengths are developed in alignment with her Goal.
• She need skills to reach her Goal.
• Her Weaknesses are generated by the Issues she faced.
  • This is truer for Weaknesses than for Strengths.
• Each Behavior trait’s development is a Story.
• Each Scene is an Opportunity for the Character to change.
• The Character’s Behavior will lead her to other Characters.

• Relationships
• Relationships generate Stories.
• It could be The Creation of a Relationship.
• It Evolution.
• Or its End.
• There are 3 Main ways Characters can evolve through their Relationships :
• Strengths attract Allies.
• Weaknesses are compensated by Allies.
• Weaknesses are exploited by Enemies or reinforced/corrected through interaction with them.

• Quirks
• Quirks have 1 Goal : make a Character Memorable.
• They diversify through the Character cast.
• Especially in the main group.
• 1-3 quirks per character should be enough.
• The Characters can Acquire new quirks through Stories.
• In the form of Gifts or Rewards.
• They could be Souvenirs from an enemy.
• They could be
• Or reinforce the symbolic Value of the Quirks
• They can Develop the Attachment to their quirks.
• If the Quirk is a Phrase, its meaning will evolve.
• If it’s a physical object, it can be altered or destroyed.
  • Then the object itself can me mourn.

If you want to know more about Characters Balance.

2ndary Characters & the Main Story

• Identity & own Interest
• Every Character, they need Origins & a Goal.
• They should have their Own Issues.
• Which will conduce them to contact the Main Characters.
• Either asking for help.
• Or in order to fight them.

• Behavior & Reaction
• Characters need to Act.
• When they meet other Characters they will React.
• They can either feel Comfortable in their Presence.
• And develop feelings of Attraction, Amity or Admiration.
• They can either feel Uncomfortable.
• Leading to potential Crisis.
• And develop feelings of Repulsion, Disgust or Hatred.
• Each Encounter is a potential Story.

• Relationships
• The Outcome of each encounter depends on each Characters primary needs.
• Characters becomes Allies if they need help.
• They become Opponents if they intend to thwart one another.
• For each Character include 3 personal Relationships:
  • The 1st should include a Relative.
  • Another a potential Rival.
  • And lastly an Enemy.

• Quirks
• Quirks also make Stories memorable.
• Through the Characters bearing them.
• Each Quirk should be linked to their Interest.
• 2ndary character only need 1 quirk each.
  • Try to alternate between phrases, equipment & body features.

If you want to know more about 2ndary Characters.

Themes/Characters

Goal

Needs

Behavior

Quirks

Relationships

Role

Function

Class

World

Story 1

Story 2

Story 3

Character 1

Character 2

Character 3

Character 4

Character 5

Character 6

Character 7

Character 8

Character 9

Character 10

Character 11

Character 12

Adapting the Main Story

• Limit the Number of Stories
• You need a Main Story.
• And 2-3 2ndary Stories.
• That’s it.
• If you plan on Twisting the Main Story…
• You need to start with a Simple frame.
• Cohesion is about Rhythm.
• And Rhythm is Contrast.
• All scenes need to follow a recurrent alternation of Strong & Weak elements.
• The Story will test your Characters.
• There will be moments of Silence & Rest.
• Punctuated by Crisis.

• Hidden Characters
• All Characters should be known.
• However, their true Role may remain hidden.
• These hidden Characters can be Helpful.
  • They can grant gifts to the Character team.
  • A Counterpart may be determined later on.
• Or they can be Hindrances.
  • They can assault the Team.
• All of these interactions can be direct or indirect.
• Either way, the Team shouldn’t be able to determine why the hidden Character interacts with them.
• And are likely to conduce an Investigation to discover this One’s identity.
• Some Characters’ role will chance.
• These role Reversal are changes to make the Story evolve faster.
• Most reversals are motivated by Self-Preservation.

• Encounters
• Encounters Rhythm the Story.
• They are Operations performed in a specific order.
• Therefore, Encounters should be Diverse.
• Some Encounters will be peaceful other harmful.
• Encounters are meant to have variations in terms of :
  • Intensity
  • Difficulty
  • Stakes
  • Rewards
  • Opponent types
  • Opportunities
  • Mean of Resolution
  • Outcomes
    • Success
    • Loss
    • Other?
  • Aftermath

If you want to know more about Improvisation & Adaption.