Transforming Your Story Outline: From Traditional Paradigms to Subtxt Storyform

Welcome to an enlightening journey of narrative transformation!

This page aims to guide writers who have previously used traditional story paradigms, such as "Save the Cat!" or "The Hero's Journey," and now wish to adopt the Subtxt Storyform. You may already have a well-structured story, but we believe that introducing it to the Subtxt narrative can enrich and deepen its impact. The tools and strategies provided here will assist you in smoothly converting your existing storyline into a compelling Subtxt Storyform.

The Paradigm Shift: Objective Author-Based vs. Subjective Audience-Based Narratives

Before diving into the conversion process, it's crucial to understand the fundamental differences between traditional paradigms and the Subtxt Storyform.

The traditional templates like "Save the Cat!" or "The Hero's Journey" primarily follow a subjective, audience-based approach. These paradigms focus on providing a story that resonates with the reader or viewer's experiences and emotions. They map the narrative to universally recognized stages of human life and trials, aiming to provoke a sense of connection and identification in the audience. This methodology is beneficial, but by nature, it is inherently biased. The lens through which the audience views the story invariably shapes its understanding and perception, sometimes causing vital aspects of the narrative to be overlooked.

On the other hand, the Subtxt Storyform adopts an objective, author-based perspective. It emphasizes the internal logic and consistency of the narrative from the author's viewpoint. The Subtxt method focuses on the design of the narrative structure, allowing the author to carefully engineer each element of the story. The author shapes the narrative without being influenced by potential audience bias, enabling a broader, more comprehensive exploration of the story's themes and ideas.

This objective approach unveils a new layer of depth and complexity in storytelling, bringing to light the facets of the narrative that could remain hidden in a more subjective, audience-centric approach.

From "Save the Cat!" to Subtxt Storyform

Now that you understand the major differences between traditional paradigms and Subtxt, we can move to the exciting part - the conversion process. In the next section, we will provide a step-by-step guide to transforming your "Save the Cat!" story into a Subtxt Storyform...

"Save the Cat!"" is excellent for tempo, rhythm, and entertainment, but does not delve deeply into the underlying factors driving the conflict within your story. On the other hand, Subtxt allows you to objectively understand what drives your story and ensure a complete, solid narrative structure. However, it might not necessarily help you identify what makes a story "fun" and entertaining. ​ ​For example, the concept of the "B-story" is really a blend of what Subtxt refers to as the Obstacle Character and Relationship Story Throughline. While it may seem as if these are referring to the same thing, in reality they describe two completely different points-of-view in terms of the story's central inequity.

Here are some other key things to recognize:

• in Subtxt, the Protagonist and Main Character can be two different Players. In "Save the Cat!" they are always one and the same
• in Subtxt, the "Dark Night of the Soul" moment is usually the 3rd Transit of the Main Character Throughline
• in Subtxt, the "Fun and Games" section is always the 2nd Transits of all Four Throughlines
• in Subtxt, the "Debate" often involves the Obstacle Character

With these ideas in mind, you can absolutely use your existing outlines as a starting point in Subtxt. Here's how:

1. Open up Muse within Subtxt and copy-paste your synopsis. Ask Muse to identify the 'Four Throughlines' of your story (Objective Story, Main Character, Obstacle Character, and Relationship Story). If you're unsure about what these Throughlines mean, feel free to ask Muse. Consider Muse as your digital mentor in understanding narrative structure.
2. Once you have identified the Four Throughlines, you can establish how the Objective Story starts and stops, and define the goal that arises from it (First Story Driver, Story Goal, and Concluding Story Driver). Again, if you have any questions about these concepts or need help brainstorming--just ask Muse. Our digital mentor is designed to help extract that story within you.
3. You can then begin exploring the Character Arcs of your main characters. Decide which character (Main Character or Obstacle Character) changes their resolve due to the narrative's events and who remains steadfast. This relationship is key towards developing a complete story. Want to know why? Just ask Muse...

The objective here is to iteratively build a comprehensive understanding of your story, eventually leading to what is known as a Storyform. A Storyform is a holistic blueprint of ALL the thematic issues in your story from beginning to end based on the meaningful intent behind why you are writing this story. As of now, you'll need to finalize the Storyform on your own, but we're developing a feature where Muse can do it for you.

While there is much more to devle into, just identifying the Four Throughlines will provide significant clarity to your narrative structure (we know of one successful professional novelist who focuses primarily on this first step and then proceeds with their writing without going any deeper).

As you continue your journey with Subtxt, there's a lot more to explore and learn, and Muse will guide you throughout this process. While waiting for Muse to identify your unique Storyform, feel free to share your story synopsis with us. We can often assist in identifying key thematic points swiftly and easily.

From "The Hero's Journey" to Subtxt Storyform

"The Hero's Journey" provides a comprehensive roadmap for character development and transformation but can sometimes lack insight into the underlying forces driving the story's conflict. Subtxt, in contrast, facilitates a deep, objective understanding of your narrative's drivers, ensuring a complete and robust narrative structure. However, it may not inherently highlight the adventurous aspects that typically define a "Hero's Journey."

For instance, the "Refusal of the Call" in the Hero's Journey could intertwine aspects of what Subtxt terms the Obstacle Character and Relationship Story Throughline. While superficially similar, these elements embody two distinct points-of-view regarding the story's central conflict.

Here are some other critical distinctions:

• In Subtxt, the Hero and the Main Character can be two separate Players. In "The Hero's Journey," they are the same.
• In Subtxt, the "The Ordeal" or lowest point for the hero typically corresponds to the 3rd Transit of the Main Character Throughline.
• In Subtxt, the "Tests, Allies, and Enemies" aligns with the 2nd Transits of all Four Throughlines.
• In Subtxt, the "Meeting with the Mentor" or moment of enlightenment often involves the Obstacle Character.

With these understandings, you can use your existing outlines as a starting point in Subtxt. Here's how:

Open up Muse within Subtxt and copy-paste your synopsis. Ask Muse to identify the 'Four Throughlines' of your story (Objective Story, Main Character, Obstacle Character, and Relationship Story). If you're unsure about these Throughlines' implications, Muse is here to help. Consider Muse as your digital mentor in understanding narrative structure.

Once you've identified the Four Throughlines, you can determine how the Objective Story begins and ends and define the ensuing goal (First Story Driver, Story Goal, and Concluding Story Driver). If you have any queries about these concepts or need brainstorming assistance—just ask Muse. Our digital mentor is tailored to help extract the story within you.

Begin exploring the Character Arcs of your main characters next. Decide which character (Main Character or Obstacle Character) changes their perspective due to the narrative's events and who remains steadfast. This dynamic is essential for crafting a complete story. Want to know why? Just ask Muse...

The objective here is to gradually construct a comprehensive understanding of your story, leading to the creation of a Storyform. A Storyform is a holistic blueprint of ALL your story's thematic issues from start to finish, based on the meaningful intent behind your narrative. Currently, you'll need to finalize the Storyform yourself, but we're developing a feature where Muse can do it for you.

Even identifying the Four Throughlines alone can significantly clarify your narrative structure. (We know one successful professional novelist who primarily focuses on this first step, then proceeds with their writing without delving deeper.)

As you continue your journey with Subtxt, there's much more to uncover and learn, and Muse will be there to guide you every step of the way. While waiting for Muse to identify your unique Storyform, feel free to share your story synopsis with us. We're often able to swiftly and easily pinpoint key thematic elements.