![]() But I’m not qualified to advise you on that. Incidentally, it’s also what creates a satisfying life. It’s what the protagonist does with their victory that creates the satisfying ending. If it were, The Hunger Games would end when Katniss and Peeta win. You see, the story is never really about the victory. This structure trains your mind to develop a character arc that speaks to a shared human instinct to build something better. In Conclusion, the Story Circle RocksĮven if you choose never to use Dan Harmon’s Story Circle to write a novel, it’s worth understanding. To get a sense of which one is best for you, check out our rundown of all the different story structures. Or planners might skip the pants-friendly Story Circle in favor of the Snowflake Method. So it’s less a question of when you can use this method and more a question of whether there is a different structure that better fits your story or process.Īction-adventure writers might prefer the non-stop thrill ride that is the Fichtean Curve. This story structure works for everything from personal essay to fantasy epic. Remember when your (1) friend told you they (2) decided they were sick of being single, (3) joined a dating app, (4) sent a few messages and (5) secured a date, only to (6) have a terrible time and (7) return home (8) with a deeper appreciation for single life? These eight beats appear in nearly every story we tell, even the casual ones. Now that you know what Dan Harmon’s Story Circle is, how do you know when to use it? The beauty of the Story Circle is that it reveals the skeleton of all human storytelling. ![]() When Should You Use Dan Harmon’s Story Circle? Change: Harry is Now Capable of ChangeĮven though the Dursleys are awful, Harry returns to them with an almost giddy anticipation of what it will be like to finally hold the power in their household. Having escaped Voldemort, Harry closes out the school year and takes the Hogwarts Express back to King’s Cross Station where the Dursleys will retrieve him for the summer. Return: Harry Goes Back to Where He Started Soon, he’s face-to-weird-face with the villain himself. As he gets deeper into the magical world, he creeps closer to his greatest danger: Voldemort. The now free-and-empowered Harry follows his curiosities and desires wherever they lead, from tangling with magical creatures to spying on Snape. Take: He Pays a Price for Achieving His Goal He is immediately invited to join the Quidditch team, earning major social status as a star athlete. Harry discovers the epitome of empowerment and freedom when he finds himself to be a natural on a broomstick. Search: He Adapts to the Unfamiliar SituationĪwkward as it sometimes is, Harry finds his way in the wizarding world-learning the rules of magic, finding his friends, finding a mentor, and learning to fly a broomstick. Harry goes to Hogwarts, crossing the threshold into the wizarding world. The possibility of this whole other existence taps into his deepest need: to be free and empowered. Harry learns he is a wizard and is now old enough to attend Hogwarts. He knows how to navigate its challenges, and the same cannot be said for where he’s headed next.) 2. Harry Potter is a friendless orphan who lives with relatives who want nothing to do with him.(I know this does not sound like he’s in “a zone of comfort.” Sometimes “comfort” just means “familiar.” Harry is miserable, yes. Decide whether this particular story structure is right for you.įun fact: you can use Dabble's plot grid feature to lay out the Story Circle beats of your story.See the Story Circle at work in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.Learn the eight story beats of the Dan Harmon Story Circle. ![]() So, how do we apply this natural cycle to novel plotting? That’s what we’re going to cover right now. Logic follows that the characters who resonate with us do the same. In short, we use the victories we achieve or the lessons we learn to transform the world we call home … or at least change who we are within that world. More than that, we gravitate towards cyclical living. Also known as the “Plot Embryo” or “Story Embryo,” this method of story design comes from Dan Harmon, creator of the television shows Community and Rick and Morty.įocusing on character arcs, Harmon built his now-iconic Story Circle from the philosophy that human beings are drawn towards cyclical stories. Dan Harmon’s Story Circle is a storytelling structure that has gained popularity for its masterful simplicity.
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