Story Line

by Jennifer Grisanti

  Finding love is a unique journey for all of us. There are many obstacles to explore in this journey. Chances are the obstacles you’ve run into along the way are similar to those that millions of other people have encountered. Their stories might be totally different, but the emotions behind them are the same. This is why we love movies like When Harry Met Sally (Castle Rock Entertainment, 1989), Pretty Woman (MGM, 1989), I Love You, Man, 500 Days of Summer, and Up in the Air. It is stories like these that make us feel less isolated and less foolish in the things that we do and the obstacles we create for ourselves all in our quest for love.

  With regards to other goals for which you’ve probably faced many obstacles, think about your quest for success, achievement, and financial wealth. What are the stories behind your experiences? When you think of the word “money,” how does it make you feel? What obstacles have you faced with regards to money? How do you view money? There are definitely many people who will never be satisfied with how much money they have. The more they make, the more they spend, the more that they want. It is an ongoing dilemma. When I look at the people who’ve made over ten million dollars, I wonder what their story looks like. What does it feel like to achieve this? What was their relation to money before this achievement? I think there are all kinds of stories and all kinds of obstacles each one of us faces each and every day with regards to money. When you grew up, what were the issues surrounding money in your family? Do you carry on those issues in your relationship with money today?

  The journey to financial security is full of obstacles. All the recent financial scandals make you wonder just how far people will go to be rich. From my experience of seeing people suddenly be worth millions over night, I’ve observed that the higher you go, the farther you have to fall. The more money I see writers make, the bigger changes I see them make to their lives. They get married, they have kids, they buy bigger homes, they put their kids into private schools and the stakes are raised. So begins the journey of the pocketbook and the stress. What if the ideas stop flowing? What if your words that once carried so much weight aren’t worth as much anymore? What if things change? Change is a guarantee in life. It’s how you learn to react to it that will make the difference in your story.

  Because of the economy, a lot of families have found themselves facing new dilemmas. It is fascinating to read the stories in Time and Newsweek about couples who were well on their way to the “American Dream” with two strong careers, a healthy marriage, and a baby on the way. Suddenly, both people lose their jobs out of nowhere. They are forced to move in with their parents. There are so many similar stories right now. The lasting effects from a struggling economy is showing an ironic result: it is bringing families together in a time of need. There are positive stories behind the devastation.

  I remember all the hurdles that I hit on my journey to becoming a vice president. Yes, Aaron Spelling was my mentor and in some cases, this made my path easier and in other cases, it made it that much more challenging. I went after every promotion tooth and nail. I heard the word “no” so many times that it began to have absolutely no meaning for me. It just meant “no” for now or think of another angle to go after the goal. On the outside, climbing the corporate ladder seems very rewarding. On the inside, it is filled with highs and lows including disappointment and humiliation and moments of heightened accomplishments and great rewards. I experienced a whole range of important moments: moments of feeling completely humbled, moments of not reaching my mentor’s expectations, moments of exceeding my mentor’s expectations, moments of knowing that it’s time to move to the next part of my journey. Each of these moments has a purpose. In looking back at all the obstacles I faced along my journey to running a studio, I wouldn’t trade one of them. They made me who I am. They contributed to how I do business with others. They taught me how I want to treat people and how I don’t want to treat people. They made me feel the victory of accomplishment. They led me to my turning point of starting my own business instead of continuing my quest. They served the purpose of making me commit to each goal that I set for myself.

  I mentioned earlier that I felt like going from the corporate world to owning my own business is like going from entitlement to gratitude. When we grow up in the corporate culture, we become accustomed to the bonuses, the expense accounts, the ability to set up meetings at a whim, the perks of being in the position that we are in, etc. We often begin to take this for granted. Eating in all of the most expensive restaurants in town begins to lose its novelty. We begin to seek substance in each of the encounters because the ambiance and the perks aren’t enough for true fulfillment. Then, when it is taken away, we really feel the loss of all that we once had even though we weren’t completely fulfilled by it when we had it. I remember sitting in my office and thinking, “Do not get used to this. This office has had many people before you and it will have many people after you. You are but a visitor. Do not attach to it. Enjoy it for what it is in the moment but know that this is just a moment.” I guess this was a foreshadowing of what ultimately happened, but it was also a simple recognition: Everything will come to an end and it’s okay. Relish the new beginnings.

  When I decided to form a company of my own, I encountered new obstacles; getting health insurance, creating a niche that would grow, learning to market myself and my company in the best way possible, creating ongoing cash flow, and learning to trust in myself, my concept, and the universe. While the company continues to grow and evolve, I have so much appreciation for every obstacle that I hit along the way. I also have more respect for every successful entrepreneur out there who started their business as just a seed and kept building despite the setbacks.

  Our obstacles are our greatest opportunity for growth. They force us to see what we are really made of and give us the tools we need to reach our destination, if it is a destination that we are meant to reach. They help us to change. They connect us to self. They create intimacy by the knowledge that we can get over them. Every success achieved in your life and the lives of those around you has a rich backstory detailing obstacles overcome.

  This is what you want to create in your writing. In each of your story lines, you want to start with a small obstacle and escalate it. This is what heightens the stakes and makes the attainment of the goal that much more valuable. You want to draw from your own stories and the stories of others and learn to fictionalize them into your story so that you can entertain millions, influence your audience with your words, and leave your mark as a storyteller.

  EXERCISE

  Think back in your life to all the obstacles you faced. Did you have ones that in one moment appeared insurmountable? How did you get over them? How did it feel when you did succeed at overcoming certain life obstacles? Next, look into the obstacles that have come into your life that you’ve never really gotten over. Go into these moments. There is gold to be found in these moments that will unite you with your voice and strengthen your writing.

  When you think about your life from this point until the end, what are some of the future obstacles you’ll face that you fear the most? How do you think you’ll get over these obstacles? What tools will you draw from among those that you’ve gained from your past obstacles?

  Chapter Thirteen

  WHAT OBSTACLES DOES YOUR CENTRAL CHARACTER FACE IN PURSUIT OF HIS/HER GOAL?

  I read and walked for miles at night along the beach, writing bad blank verse and searching endlessly for someone wonderful who would step out of the darkness and change my life. It never crossed my mind that that person could be me.

  ~ Anna Quindlen

  Obstacles are a part of each of our lives in one way or another. When we read books or watch episodes of television or movies, we find that the greater the obstacle, the more gratification we feel when the character reaches his or her goal. When you create strong obstacles, you heighten the emotional stakes of your story. Part of creating strong obstacles is knowing what is at stake if your central character does or does not achi
eve his/her goal.

  There should be a moment in your story line when we feel that your character’s obstacle is insurmountable. You should hit this point in your “all is lost” moment. Strongly establishing your obstacle and then escalating it will help you reach greater emotional heights when you get to your “all is lost” moment. To get there, you can either escalate one scenario or create several scenarios that converge to keep your character from achieving his goal.

  Lately, I’ve noticed an effective formula for executing obstacles in story. In this setup, there is one overall goal for the episode and all of the story lines escalate obstacles that climax at an “all is lost” moment when it appears there is no way this goal will be achieved.

  A recent episode of Big Love used this formula. First I am going to give you a recap of the series in Season Four, and then I will go into the specific episode that I am going to discuss that used this formula.

  Season Four of the Golden Globe-winning series Big Love (created by Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer) has its lead character Bill Hendrickson (Bill Paxton) fighting battles on every front: at home, in business, and on the political trail. At home, he may never win: he’s married simultaneously to three unconventional women. The power struggles between first wife Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), second wife Nicki (Chloë Sevigny) and third wife Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) seem unending. Bill and his polygamist family are trying to open their new, “Mormon-friendly” casino in partnership with a group of Native Americans. And Bill speculates that his family might have a plausible chance to gain respectability if he successfully campaigns for the state senate of Utah.

  The goal of the episode titled “The Mighty and Strong,” written by Melanie Marnich, is for Bill to formally announce his candidacy for senator. All three story lines involve different obstacles that could prevent Bill from making his announcement. The first obstacle centers on federal investigators reviewing the books of Bill’s store in search of illegal aliens, but finding multiple wives on the payroll. This story escalates as the episode goes on. Right before Bill announces his candidacy, he asks Don Embry (Joel McKinnon Miller), his closest friend and business partner, to “come out” as a polygamist and thus misdirect any public attention from Bill’s own lifestyle as he announces his candidacy.

  The other story lines umbrella under this, all proving to be potential obstacles to Bill’s announcement. In the Margene story, Barb tells Margene that she must tell Bill how Ben (Bill’s son with Barb, played by Douglas Smith) was referred to as “Mr. Margene” on TV after she was seen to kiss Ben before going on-air to tape a show. Bill asks Ben if there’s anything they need to discuss. Ben says no, yet he also confronts Margene about the kiss. She admits to Ben that her kissing him meant something. Right before Bill announces his candidacy, Margene confesses to Bill, “I kissed him and I meant it.” This could be a huge obstacle to Bill announcing his candidacy.

  JJ (Nicki’s darkest secret, played by Zeljiko Ivanek) blackmails Joey (Bill’s younger brother, played by Shawn Doyle) in a mysterious “truer cause” having to do with Bill. Sarah (Bill’s oldest daughter, played by Amanda Sayfried) watches over the baby of a Native American girl. Tommy (Adam Beach), a casino employee, asks Barb about this and points out how this can be seen as “kidnapping.” Barb lies and says that she knows nothing about it. This story escalates when Bill walks into the confrontation between Barb and Tommy. Barb has to tell him about it. Every story line in this beautifully crafted episode is structured as a possible major obstacle to the outcome. The stakes are incredibly high by the time Bill achieves his goal and announces his candidacy.

  In an episode titled “Unorthodox” of The Good Wife (CBS Television Studios), written by creators Michelle and Robert King, the formula is also incredibly well crafted. Before getting into the episode and what made it stand out, I will give you a brief about this outstanding series.

  The Good Wife tells the tale of a woman whose life comes apart when her husband is jailed after a political corruption and sex scandal. Alicia Florrick (Emmy Award-winner Julianna Margulies) intends to pull her life back together in the wake of her betrayal and humiliation. She returns to her original career as a defense attorney. Taken on as a junior associate at a Chicago law firm, colleagues are interested to see how Alicia will perform after 13 years out of the courtroom. One in particular is intrigued; Will Gardner (Josh Charles), a firm partner, former law school classmate, and long-time friend of Alicia’s. Alicia is grateful the firm’s top litigator, Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski), offers to mentor her, but Alicia discovers the offer comes with conditions. Alicia finds another competitive challenge in Cary (Matt Czuchry), a recent Harvard grad, and a strong ally in the firm’s in-house investigator, Kalindra (Archie Panjabi). Alicia’s primary goal is providing a stable home for her children, 14-year-old Zach (Graham Phillips) and 13-year-old Grace (Makenzie Vega). With a newborn confidence, Alicia finds she is becoming more than a “good wife.” Day by day, she gains strength as an attorney, as a provider for a household, and as a self-assured mother to her children.

  In the episode “Unorthodox” Alicia’s dilemma and establishment of her goal is set up well from the beginning. Budget cuts are made and layoffs are happening. Alicia is expecting the worst when Will calls her into his office, but he asks her to be the second chair in the defense of Anna Loeb, the estranged daughter of the firm’s absentee partner, Jonas Stern (Kevin Conway), who is being sued. He tells her that if she wins the case, it could look good to a guy who controls one third of what goes on in the firm. We clearly understand the stakes: Alicia needs to win this case or she could lose her job. Alicia goes to see Anna Loeb. The first obstacle is when she finds out that Anna is represented by storefront lawyer Ryan Alprin (Chris Bowers) in a case where a pedestrian tripped over a cable in front of Anna’s house and is now suing Anna and her husband for $1.2 million, accusing them of negligence. The lawyer, Alprin, does not want Alicia involved. This obstacle escalates even more as an attraction between them blossoms. Ryan decides on a unique defense: as Orthodox Jews, the Loebs couldn’t repair the cable, which became detached on the Sabbath, as they are prohibited from working on that day. That argument soon runs into a problem and it’s left to Alicia and investigator Kalinda to get to the root of the accusations. It all may fall apart, however, when Alicia learns something shocking about Alprin himself. She discovers that he is not an attorney. All of these are phenomenal obstacles that escalate and could prevent Alicia from attaining her goal. This is a strong example of the power of obstacles in story.

  After setting up a clear goal and dilemma in each story line, both externally and internally, setting up strong obstacles in connection with the goal is crucial. Your obstacles can start small and escalate, or they can start big and grow even more. Every scene after the clear set up of the goal should present an obstacle or escalating obstacle. Your “all is lost” moment is your biggest obstacle of all. It is the moment when your central character or characters are as far away from achieving the goal as possible. Also, in this scene, it should be clear what launches your central character or characters into action to achieve their goal.

  In Up in the Air, there are well-placed external and internal obstacles. Ryan’s overall external goal is not to be “grounded” and to continue to live his life in the air, which he considers to be his “home.” The starting obstacle that gets in the way of this goal is the arrival of a new employee, Natalie, who convinces Craig, Ryan’s boss, that she has an idea that will save the company a significant amount of money and eliminate travel. Craig tells everyone they soon will all be grounded. This obstacle escalates throughout the story. As soon as Natalie gives her presentation showing how this new solution is going to be put into play, Craig goes to Ryan and gives him an ultimatum: Ryan is either “grounded” from this point on or he can take Natalie out on the road for one more stint and show her the ropes. If Ryan doesn’t agree, he will be grounded, he won’t get to see his girlfriend-on-the-run, Alex, and he will lose his
lifestyle. If he does take Natalie out to show her the ropes, he wins time to convince her that her solution will not work, saving his lifestyle. This is a great dilemma that presents lots of obstacles before hitting a conclusion. It escalates as Natalie learns the intricacies of firing people in person. After seeing the human side of the problem, the face behind each pink slip, she begins to see what Ryan is talking about. However, in the “all is lost” moment, Ryan’s boss only sees the bottom line. After seeing the numbers, he tells them it’s time to come home, they’re grounded.

  Another obstacle is internal. Ryan has a philosophy that has fueled his life. This is shown in his V.O.s with lines like, “the slower we move, the faster we die,” and symbolized by an empty backpack. Natalie also serves as an obstacle to Ryan’s philosophy because she makes him see that the way he is living is a “cocoon of self-banishment.” Yet another obstacle for Ryan is learning to be content in one place and being willing to make commitments. Girlfriend Alex is another threat to his belief system. We see this escalate as Ryan grows more and more emotionally attached, ultimately inviting Alex to his sister’s wedding, something he’s never done. The obstacles escalate when Ryan tells his sister Julie that since their father is not there, he would be honored to walk her down the aisle. She declines his offer, saying that her fiancé’s uncle is going to walk her down the aisle. This is a moment when Ryan really has to examine how his philosophy and his very narrow-minded, self-centered life is keeping him from sharing in the moments that he didn’t even realize he wanted. The final professional obstacle occurs when Ryan’s boss tells him that a woman he and Natalie fired jumped off a bridge. This is the final blow for Natalie, who quits. Ryan’s boss urges him to return to the air, chalk up more frequent flier miles, and do what he’s so good at. Only, Ryan has changed. We see him change as a result of the obstacles that were put in his path.