OCPRSA welcomed Orange County Screenwriters Association founder Mark Sevi to share on how to craft stronger stories that instantly catch the attention of reporters and the general public. Here are three takeaways from the webinar:
Find the “Hero’s Journey” within your story
Every story has universal themes we relate to. Joseph Campbell, professor and mythologist, developed the Hero’s Journey to describe the common pattern of evolution human beings go through as they journey through life – think Star Wars or Black Panther. Using the Hero’s Journey framework, The Monomyth, when writing a blog or press release can help you tell a richer story that people will resonate with.
Go deeper into your characters
There’s always more going on behind the scenes when you’re writing a story. Evaluate your main characters to learn more about who they are and what they want. For example:
1. Apply Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to each character
2. Find the tension between good and evil.
3. Evaluate whether your character has conflict with an institution, belief system, person, etc.
Understand backstory
When pitching a story to the media, understanding the backstories of your characters is pivotal. We are who we are today because of what has happened to us in the past. Diving into the backstory sets you up as an expert on the subject and helps create more engaging stories.
Sponsor:
This event was sponsored by Greg Cocroft of Precision Services Group, a communications support company that helps large enterprises and franchises quickly and cost-effectively produce, manage and distribute all of their marketing and corporate communication materials. Inquiries can be directed to Greg at 714-390-3222 or gregc@psggo.com.
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