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Story is About Struggle

Storytelling is a reflection of life.

David Gane
David Gane

Although we might resist showing struggle in a story, it happens no matter what.

Storytelling is a reflection of real life, and in real life, we face struggles: with each other, the world, and, more importantly, ourselves. We wrestle with emotions, feelings, thoughts, and memories each day.

And our stories show that struggle—whether our characters succeed against it or not. And because of this, stories become our guides to face it.

Storytelling is our portal to confront the deepest parts of ourselves. We can dress it up as a formulaic thriller or attempt to resist it by changing the form, but it never goes away.

So embrace it. Tell it as your own, but accept that story is about struggle, whether we like it or not.

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David Gane

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Co-writer of the Shepherd and Wolfe young adult mysteries, the internationally award-winning series, and teacher of storytelling and screenwriting.

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