How to Build an External Plot

There’s a million books and videos out there on story structure, yet you are still confused on how to build a plot with clear momentum. Today that will change.

I am going to show you a clear, simple way to get the skeleton of your external plot working. If you can do this, then your story will have a much clearer structural flow.

This is not a full understanding of how to build an entire story, but this will give you the starting point to build a plot that is at the very least focused and has a consistent momentum.

[ProMontreal]

Every-time I structure a script or come up with an idea, Tyler’s speech pattern comes to my brain. I write how he speaks

[makaryben]

Man, this video just made it click instantly. Your previous videos were awesome but I struggled when it comes to applying the circle... I applied it effortlessly after watching this video. Can't wait to see how my short turns out. Thank You.

[MeticulousProductions]

Love this, definitely clears up the external side of writing stories.
Would it be possible to get a video squarely discussing how to generate the internal side as well? Have you already made one about it?

[mohammaddehbashi]

I've watched your videos at least 2-3 times and each time I learn a few new things

[leviphotenhauer]

Dude I’m TELLING ya, keep making videos like this where there’s visual aid, more video essay esk, as aposed to you just talking to the camera and your channel is going to skyrocket!!!

[GamingStew]

This has helped clarify my understanding of the story circle more than anything else I've watched. Thanks

[MrRobloxIndonesia]

love the new template your using, is easy and more to understand than the previous one

[Suleimanfilmaker]

Hi Tyler I’d like to tell you that because of your teachings I made a short film called tremble and people really did like it, thank you for your teachings will always stick with them.

[mohammaddehbashi]

i don't know how to thank you for this incredible knowledge you share with us

[raven-sfdi]

This break down is good because it shows that the person holding the want doesn't have to be the main character,
I'm guessing in star wars that character is Princess Leia until later on when Luke becomes more proactive in the story

[-bitpersona]

Man simplified a simplified version of the hero’s journey… respect.

[nebari]

Finally I get what do you mean by "return" in act 8. These whole times, I wasn't able to understand what do you mean by "return" in act 8.

[Alexanderamat-presents]

Thank you for this clarification. Much appreciated

[wiseauserious]

Damn this is exactly what I needed today

[Shka_maru]

Great video!

Will you, in the future, go through more examples on building iconic characters using that 4 corner op potion method? Maybe using a few more examples to help solidify it (ie Breaking Bad, Batman The Dark Knight, etc...films/series you've used many times to help illustrate your point).

Also, and this is just an idea, could you do a video series using all the methods/theory to build a story, from beginning to end? I think it would help TREMEDOUSLY as usually, these analysis/theory videos are great but I think the missing piece is actually showing us how YOU (the narrator) apply them to a story you're building.

[kit]

Depends on the genre. John Truby gives 15 to 20 beats for each of the 14 main genres in his new book Anatomy of Genres.

[albertmailyan]

Great episode, Tyler! Cool idea to make the story circle as a color wheel with complementary colors and so on!

[aliciajones]

This is amazing this is good for understanding my characters in seasons and individual episodes.🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[Avarn]

I look forward to checking this out because I've made good progress on my story, identifying the central conflict and having an ending in mind; I need help getting there. Harmon story circle is really useful as it is just the Hero's journey which for me personally, reading the Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler has helped a lot. Thank you very much for posting this. Always push yourself and never give up.

[Helios]

Thank You Tyler you're The Best teacher