Identity

Oh hey you made it so now we can talk about the next step in pre production identity. This part is probably the most important as this will be the “lighthouse” of your story. As a quick reminder this section should have the following subsections

Spark

Tone

Theme

Motif

Genre

There’s probably a better naming convention I can do to make a better mnemonic device but for me I use this because it reminds me of the rapper SpoTTeMGotem. I am going to respect my audience’s collective intelligence and not bore them with what each section is minus the one that is uncommon.

A spark in this concept is your story distilled in a sentence or two.

Again this can be done to taste

For an example I’m gonna use my upcoming story Off the rails.

My identity section looks like this

Spark: Elric of Melibone meets The shadow with a little bit of dnd sprinkled in.

Tone: Optimistic larger than life drama juxtaposed with stiller quiet moments

Theme: Man vs Institution, and No matter how bleak things get you must retain your decorum and sense of self.

Motif: sword and sorcery detective work

Genre: urban fantasy pulp hero

It is important that you do this for because this section should guide you through the rest of pre production and giving your story a solid foundation of what it is and isn’t. It establishes the frame at which you can build on, and brainstorm characters scenes and dynamics while still being vague enough that you can expand and make the world your own.