Quantum Storytelling

Do you know what a template or a springboard is? What about a teaser, or a tag? 4 act structure? 5 act structure? What is an act-out?

They’re all reliable tools used on hit TV shows to keep them consistent and compelling. There are too many tools in this toolbox to possibly explain them all in one post, so for now I’ll simply direct you to Alex Epstein’s book Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside The Box.

Some of these tools have fundamentally changed the way I’m approaching my stories. I think things will be much smoother sailing from here on out, as I’m going to focus on creating a template for my stories that reinforce the hooks in every ‘episode.’

Keep in mind that some of these tools may be less useful to you if you’re only writing one-offs — stories and characters you are only writing once before moving onto something else. These tools mostly apply to long term projects, such as an entire series.

That shouldn’t stop you from taking a peek at some of these tools. You never know what might work for you.