@annaleen @NiftyLinks @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer @ouropinions
Another idea might be to explore story structures other than the conflict-based 3-act.
Something more like #kishotenketsu - built around a challenge or twist might be a better framework for a less-pessimistic story.
Early SF was often based around problem-solving, but the authors usually didn't put any effort into characters or other elements, so they don't resonate with modern readers.

I wrote a pair of blog posts about #kishotenketsu - Asian 4-part story structure, looking at Shinkai's beautiful Garden of Words and Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service.

The driving force in these stories isn't conflict between characters, it's an external twist or challenge.

https://www.paulkemner.com/kishotenketsu-asian-story-structure-anime-garden-of-words/

#anime #manga #writing

The other on #Kishotenketsu is Shinkai's Garden of Words.

#anime #kishotenketsu

https://www.paulkemner.com/kishotenketsu-asian-story-structure-anime-garden-of-words/

I wrote a pair of posts about #Kishotenketsu 4-part story structure and how it's used in a couple #anime movies. First one is Kiki's Delivery Service:

https://www.paulkemner.com/kishotenketsu-asian-story-structure-anime-kiki/

Kishotenketsu- Asian 4-part story structure, and how it's used in Shinkai's Garden of Words:

https://www.paulkemner.com/kishotenketsu-asian-story-structure-anime-garden-of-words/

#anime #writing #manga #animanga #kishotenketsu

Kishotenketsu- one reason why anime movies are so different!

I show how this story structure is used in Kiki's Delivery Service:

https://www.paulkemner.com/kishotenketsu-asian-story-structure-anime-kiki/

#anime #writing #manga #animanga #kishotenketsu

@nlowell @JoanGrey @lastrobot @Zachwritesstuff @indubitablyodin @DRoberts @bookstodon I had to look up #Kishōtenketsu. Fascinating. Surely there are groups somewhere that can support this.

A few years ago, I found a great research paper on the differences between what is known as Kishōtenketsu across and within Japan, China, Korea, and I think more countries. It went into detail about the history of the differences and changes. I lost the data files unfortunately, and haven't been able to find the paper again. I am posting this in case anyone here has it by chance or related research they could share -- thank you!

#Kishōtenketsu #Research #Writing #Structure #History

Kishōtenketsu: We don’t need your conflict

“So the Hero has decreed through his mouthpieces the Lawgivers, first, that the proper shape of the narrative is that of the arrow or spear, starting here and going straight there and THOK! hitting its mark (which drops dead); second, that the central concern of narrative, in

http://lunastationquarterly.com/kishotenketsu-we-dont-need-your-conflict/

#conflict-lessstorytelling #iyashikei #kishotenketsu #UrsualK.LeGuin #westernstorytelling