>>> Item number 20391 from WRITERS LOG9311B --- (55 records) ----- <<< Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1993 18:00:05 JST Reply-To: WRITERS Sender: WRITERS From: Mike Barker Subject: TECH: Story Types In previous discussions, I've mentioned some of the categories of stories that I've dreamed up to understand some of my reading and writing. I'm not sure what the masters of ltierature might call these, but I thought it might be helpful if I set down my list... 1. Straight-line. This is the story told in chronological order, as someone advised Alice to do, starting at the beginning and then going on until you reach the end. Very simple, but strong. Can include flashbacks and other trickery, but the main story plods along from time A to time B. 2. Framing. These are stories where one or more flashback(s) takes over. I.e., the "framework" story starts, then we flashback to the "inner" story and march along in that time for a while, and eventually return to the "framework". Pure form is frame, inner, frame. Obviously, this can be twisted and turned into lots of different forms - with the inner story framing another story, multiple inner stories, etc. The main story usually is in the "inner" stories. In some cases, the frame is merely glue to transition. Other times, the frame is a story in itself, as are the "inner" stories. One reason these are used is to take various short stories and make a book-length presentation. I think in most cases the "inner" story completes (is resolved) before returning to the framing story. 3. Braided. This is a name I made up for a story where there are multiple levels interlaced. E.g. ABABAB ordering, with bits from story A alternating with bits from story B. Ordinarily the final scene provides linkage between the two stories, but it doesn't necessarily. Can be frustrating to readers, although they will try to figure out connections and will accept it IF there is a good reason for "jumping" their point-of-view around. Note that a clear identification of which thread we are in is very necessary - a repeated sentence, the name of the viewpoint character, or even subtitles. Both framing and braiding can be done on the simple level of time. They can also be done on other bases, such as character point-of-view, style, etc. One version of "framing" that some people have used is that "mock-academic" quotation from a history book - followed by the "real-life" events. This is a very subtle way of adding to the "suspension of disbelief" of the reader - the dry style of the history book somehow adds to the believability of the story. anyone else? I'm sure I've missed a few ways (The Things They Carried - shopping list style?), but these are some I have seen, at least. tink