story-check

Apply this skill when:

• Evaluating a screenplay draft
• Identifying story weaknesses
• Preparing for rewrites
• Validating story fundamentals before submission

Here are twelve great questions you should ask yourself about your script/story while you are developing it. You should actually chart it out.

Question 1: Story Elements

What are the elements of my story?

• What is my story's concept?
• What genre is my story?

```

CONCEPT: ___________________________________

GENRE: ___________________________________

```

Question 2: Message

What do I want to say with my script or story?

• The state of the world?
• Relationships?
• Governments?
• Religions?
• Life in general?
• People?

```

THEME/MESSAGE: ___________________________________

```

Question 3: Audience Reaction

How will audiences or readers react to my story?

• Interesting?
• Believable? Is it a true story?
• Credible?
• Compelling?

| Criterion | Rating (1-5) | Notes |

|-----------|--------------|-------|

| Interesting | | |

| Believable | | |

| Credible | | |

| Compelling | | |

Question 4: Beginning

Where does my story begin?

• What is the setup?
• Is the protagonist in a crisis?
• Have you established your world? The rules?
• The restrictions?

```

SETUP: ___________________________________

WORLD RULES: ___________________________________

```

Question 5: Ending

Where does my story end?

• What is the outcome or resolution? And why?
• Do you answer any and all questions presented?
• Did you fulfill the premise of the story?

```

RESOLUTION: ___________________________________

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: [ ] Yes [ ] Partial [ ] No

PREMISE FULFILLED: [ ] Yes [ ] No

```

Question 6: Rising Tensions

Are there rising tensions?

• Are there surprises?
• How does the conflict escalate?
• Is there a climax?

```

SURPRISE COUNT: ___

ESCALATION PATTERN: ___________________________________

CLIMAX: ___________________________________

```

Question 7: Characters

Who are my characters?

• Are they likable?
• Interesting? Unique or different?
• Bigger than life?
• Will an audience care about them?

| Character | Likable | Interesting | Unique | Care Factor |

|-----------|---------|-------------|--------|-------------|

| | | | | |

| | | | | |

| | | | | |

Question 8: Protagonist

What or who is my protagonist like?

• Can audiences empathize with them?
• What do they want?
• What are their goals in life? Needs?
• What's at stake for them?
• Are they tied to the problem they face?
• Are they in a position of no turning back?

```

EMPATHY: [ ] Strong [ ] Moderate [ ] Weak

WANT: ___________________________________

NEED: ___________________________________

STAKES: ___________________________________

POINT OF NO RETURN: Page ___

```

Question 9: Motivation

What are my characters' motivations?

• Are these motivations shown?
• Justified or unjustified?
• Built into the story?

```

PROTAGONIST MOTIVATION: ___________________________________

SHOWN ON SCREEN: [ ] Yes [ ] No

JUSTIFIED: [ ] Yes [ ] No

BUILT INTO STORY: [ ] Yes [ ] No

```

Question 10: Antagonist

Who or what is the antagonist in my story?

• Why are they trying to stop your protagonist?
• Is the antagonist a worthy foe?
• What drives them?
• What do they want or need?

```

ANTAGONIST: ___________________________________

MOTIVATION: ___________________________________

WORTHY FOE: [ ] Yes [ ] No

WANT: ___________________________________

```

Question 11: Over-Explanation

Do I over-explain my story?

• Is everything spelled out too clearly?
• Is the setup "messy" and too busy?
• Do events get explained or unfold dramatically?
• Do too many key events take place off screen?

| Issue | Present? | Page(s) |

|-------|----------|---------|

| Over-explanation | | |

| Messy setup | | |

| Told not shown | | |

| Key events off screen | | |

Question 12: Believability

If my story and characters are fictitious, can I now believe that they are real?

```

BELIEVABILITY SCORE: ___/10

AREAS TO IMPROVE: ___________________________________

```

```markdown

PASS/FAIL Assessment

| Question | Status | Notes |

|----------|--------|-------|

| 1. Elements | | |

| 2. Message | | |

| 3. Audience Reaction | | |

| 4. Beginning | | |

| 5. Ending | | |

| 6. Rising Tensions | | |

| 7. Characters | | |

| 8. Protagonist | | |

| 9. Motivation | | |

| 10. Antagonist | | |

| 11. Over-Explanation | | |

| 12. Believability | | |

Critical Issues

1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________

Recommended Actions

1. ___________________________________
2. ___________________________________
3. ___________________________________

Overall Assessment

[ ] Ready for submission

[ ] Needs minor revisions

[ ] Needs significant rewrite

[ ] Fundamental story issues

```

• [ ] All 12 questions answered honestly
• [ ] Issues documented with specific page references
• [ ] Action items prioritized
• [ ] Overall assessment reflects reality