Story physics: harnessing the underlying forces of storytelling

Part one: May the story forces be with you. The search for story

The shift toward story physics

The three phases of story development

Story physics defined

Writing in context to something

The ways and means of the search for story

Part two: The optimization of story physics. Idea vs. concept

The flip side of concept

Story physics as narrative benchmarks

The stories within your story

The seductive whisper of subtext

The great and silent story killer

The relationship between structure and physics

How to challenge your hero

A deeper vicarious experience

Part three: The power of process. The highest goal of your writing process

The transformative power of mission-driven storytelling

Mission-critical scene writing

Your story in nine bad sentences

The beat sheet

Your story on steroids

Part four: Story physics in the real writing world. The six core competencies of successful storytelling: a 101 review

Story physics at work in "The Help"

Story physics at work in "The Hunger Games."