By Marne Ann Kirk
Author of “The Fae Dragon Chronicles: Love Chosen”
Coming Soon from Crescent Moon Press
What is a Story Bible?
y It is an encyclopedia of your story…
OR (in fancy terms)
y A comprehensive reference work containing articles on numerous aspects of a particular field.
Why Do You Need a Story Bible?
y Facilitates Brain‐Storming
y Accuracy y Ease of Story Continuity
y Peace of Mind
Where Can You Find a Story
Bible?
y Well, you can’t FIND one (that I know of…)But you can CREATE one.
y You can either create an electronic story bible or create a cool story bible in a binder (or scrapbook) with all of your pertinent information (I’ve done both). The choice is yours. y The purpose of this workshop is to give you some ideas of what to put into your story bible, whichever way you choose to display it…
So…What Goes INTO A Story Bible?
Well, I can tell you what goes into Mine,
Using “The Fae Dragon Chronicles: Love Chosen” as an Example…
y Short Overview of Story
y Story Building
y List of Characters
y List of Creatures
y Important Terms
y Rules/Laws
y Maps
y Character Information
y Synopsis (Chapter by Chapter)
y (Or you might prefer)Story‐Board
y (And another Option)Scene Cards
Overview of Story
Note: This is brief and focused on the big picture as well as (because it’s a love story) the relationship. It’s a reminder, to keep me in check. If you don’t have a firm plan of where your story is going, that’s okay. Just write where you think it might go. You can always change this, if your story goes in a different direction!
Here’s my example:
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The first book of a trilogy, “The Fae Dragon Chronicles: Love Chosen,” explores acceptance and redemption in a society unbalanced by discrimination. It follows the relationship of an unlikely couple who must catch a killer, and learn along the way love is the greatest weapon of all.
The Queen rules the fae, but Issie rules with the moon and helps non‐magical fae escape their hopeless fate. Tyler lives only to serve the Queen. Duty and honor rule his life. Tyler comes to Issie, searching for one of his guards. She sends him on a false trail, then finds her friend and Tyler’s guard dead. Murdered. Tyler realizes the killer is somehow connected to Issie, but she won’t accept Tyler’s protection.
Issie and her dragon, Fendera, save an urchin from a rogue dragon. Fendera warns Issie the evil permeating the fae might send the dragons away, if it can’t be stopped. Issie and Tyler join forces to catch the killer.
Issie is confronted with the fae she’s avoided for a hundred cycles, Ranulf. He threatens her, but Tyler saves her. Issie and Tyler kiss.
The killer strikes again. This time the victims are Issie’s parents. Tyler comforts Issie as she mourns. They make love and create a plan to oust the killer by revealing Issie’s restored majic power. But the killer attacks the Queen’s handmaiden and kidnaps the Queen’s babe, the Chosen One. The dragons leave.
Tyler leaves Issie to hunt down the killer and return the babe. Ranulf, the true evil behind the killings, wrests control of the kingdom from the Queen. Tyler returns to Issie and they save the Queen together. Issie and Tyler go after the Chosen One and her kidnapper. They save her, but the kidnapper escapes. Issie and Tyler, following the dragons’ commands, hide the Chosen One in a village of mortals. The Chosen One must grow into her own destiny before the dragons return to the fae. List of Characters
You will want every character listed here, beginning with your protagonist/antagonist, then secondary characters, and then minor characters. You will also want a (very brief) description…
Issie‐ Heroine. Inn keeper. Powers=controls animals/insects. GMC= to help lowers escape fate, because she feels powerless, but a killer forces her to work with the ones she’s thwarting. Looks: Small height, busty. Knee‐length honey‐dark blonde hair, kept loose or braided. Blue eyes, dimples, freckles across nose and cheekbones. Very clean. Tyler‐ Hero. Queen’s guard. Powers=telepathy. GMC= to find the killer, because he’ll do anything for his queen and to keep the status quo, but Issie challenges his every belief. Looks: 6’2’ with broad shoulders, strong build. Black, shoulder‐length hair with silver streaks. Silver eyes. Long, black lashes. Harsh bone structure, square jaw line. Very controlling and serious.
Ranulf‐ Antagonist. (you would want the brief description of the antagonist. I didn’t, for space…) (book 1)
Queen Morgana‐ Secondary Character. (see her information sheet) (book 1, book 2. Heroine book 3)
Lenore‐ Minor Character. Issie’s friend. Issie gives talisman. Dies in Ch. 1. (book 1)
Tanen‐Minor Character. Lenore’s lover. Tyler’s messenger. Dies in Ch. 1 (book 1)
List of Creatures
Sometimes, you’ll have a section in your story bible specific to your story, which you want to keep separate from the Important Terms. For me, it’s Creatures. For a medical thriller, it might be a list of medical terms. A western may include a list of cowboy slang or gear, the animals specific to the area… You get the idea.
y Bjoryak‐An ox‐like creature, adaptable to all extreme weather conditions because long matted coils of hair insulate. Spit like camels, holds water in large fatty deposit under neck and at neck. Used for pulling carts, riding, logging, stone quarrying, heavy loads. Grazers. Bellow, bleat, and grumple. y Dragon‐ Gave fae immortality and majic abilities. Fly. Eat animals (not humanoid). Look traditional. Some are fire‐breathers, some acid‐spewers, some poison fume‐breathers. Sentient. Mind‐melders.
y Golgae‐ Eat anything, including fae and human. 7+ feet tall. Rotting flesh with maggots. Bad egg smelly. Can communicate with each other, but don’t speak. Sharp, jagged teeth. Dirty. Very violent, yet seems dull. Will rip the arms off a large man, tear his head off, without any trouble (that strong). To be avoided or attacked en masse.
These may be words you’ve invented, terms important to this novel, interesting tidbits. This might seem more important for fantasy/paranormal/sci‐fi. However, there are times this is important in other genres as well. For example, a knitting mystery will have a terms page (just because the author knows what “pearl” is doesn’t mean the average reader does, and it helps to keep this in mind). Babars – A large tribe of humans living in the far north, beyond the Ierocks.
Boon‐ a favor granted for something
Drae Gate‐on the port of original Fae Kingdom
Dragons’ Isle‐ Where the dragons nest, off the coast of original Fae Kingdom.
Guardians of the Gate‐ dragons‐ usher dead across
The Kaleenic Dance‐ an intricate, fast‐paced provocative dance. Drums, flute, sensual.
Rules/Laws
y For Paranormal/Fantasy/Sci‐fi, rules are important. Without rules, there is little conflict. For example, magic must have limitations. Also, in world building, an author must think about societal laws, structure, natural laws, the things needed to create a world…
y In all genres, though, rules are important! If your facts are incorrect, a reader will call you on it. This is a great place to put those little‐known, researched facts.
Fae Law‐ One fae cannot invade another fae’s mind without permission
Fae Law‐ The High Council’s purpose is to control the fae, for their own good (book 1)
Fae rule‐ fae can mind link, if they have power.
Fae rule‐ fae are almost immortal. They can die…by choosing to pass through the dragons’ fire or by being beheaded. This one severe wound is irreparable. However, even though they can choose to die, most would never choose death, under any circumstance. Why? Life in the beyond is merely an extension of the life they lived here, only unchangeable.
Maps
You can create your
own map or use premade maps. This is
where floor-plans go,
as well. Maps and
floor-plans help a
writer stay consistent.
Map for “The Fae Dragon Chronicles”
Character Information
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Basics:
y Height
y Weight and Body Type or Build
y Marks/Tattoos/Moles/Scars/Piercings‐(where? What do they look like?)
y Eye color, shape, characteristics/hair color, style, characteristics/ facial shape, skin tone
y How does she dress? What does he sleep in? Who is your Character? (Tami Cowden’s “The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines” is a great resource for characters’ archetypes. I use it when I need to get to know a character who is not cooperating )
Write a journal entry or two from your character’s perspective, about a scene you’re thinking about for your story.
I also ask questions of my character (Character Profile). These are some examples, but if you’re stumped or want more, “Write Way” (writewaypro.com), is a writing program with a fantastic character profile.
y Family Life? Birth order? (“The Secret Language of Birthdays,” by Gary Goldschneider is an exceptional resource for creating your characters’ personalities, as well.)
y What was her childhood like? Did she have a lot of friends? Enemies? Was she responsible? Shy? A Daredevil? A studious quiet do‐good? Did she cause trouble or keep it from happening?
y What are his secrets? Fears? Happiest moment? Worst moment? Deepest regret? What would he give his soul for? What or who does he despise? Why? What would he do if face‐to‐face with it? y Is she a virgin? Why or why not? What is her past love life like and how does it change who she is right now?
y What is his best quality or strength? How is this a bad thing?
y What is her worst trait? How can it be a good thing? What about his best quality? How is it a bad thing?
Synopsis
y I like to do the synopsis as a bullet‐style, Chapter‐by‐Chapter outline. Remember, this can change as you go (and, for me, most of the time does change). An outline is nothing more than a game‐plan.
Example:
•Chapter One
•Introduce Issie, she gives her friend a talisman, then we see the Inn and get a feel for the lower fae and Issie’s GMC. •Introduce Tyler, who is demanding entry at the Inn. This is her first physical awareness
of him. He irritates Issie, though, so she puts on a brash act and sends him on a false lead for his missing messenger. •Issie goes to warn her friend and the messenger, and she finds their headless bodies. •Chapter Two
•Tyler returns and finds Issie unconscious in the room with the headless bodies. Here we get an idea of who Tyler is and his GMC. He calms the Inn’s residents and carries Issie’s still body into her room. This is his first physical awareness of her.
•He is struck by her beauty, but shoves the emotions down and attempts to search her mind for the memory of the deaths. Conflict: She awakens and stops him with a mind block. He questions her abilities, but two fae Uppers barge into the room before she responds. The two Uppers are her parents… You get the idea, right?
A Story Board (as an option)
Using Vogler’s 12 Step Hero’s Journey as an Example The Protagonist’s Ordinary World
The Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Meeting the Mentor
Crossing the First Threshold (Committing to the Journey)
Tests, Allies, and
Enemies…
Approach to the Innermost Cave
Supreme Ordeal
Seizing the Sword (Reward)
The Road Back
Resurrection
Return with Elixir
(Or you Might Prefer) Scene Cards
Scene Card Template (Courtesy of Kirt Hickman, author of “Revising Fiction: Making Sense of the Madness.”)
y Scene:
No.
y Type:
y POV:
y Characters:
y Setting:
y Conflict:
y Romance:
y Plot Points:
y Char Points: y Other Info:
y Research Topic:
y Pages:
(Template continued next page)
Scene Card Template Continued:
SCENE:
TYPE:
VIEWPOINT:
CHARACTERS:
SETTING:
CONFLICT:
PLOT POINTS:
CHAR POINTS:
OTHER INFO:
RESEARCH TOPICS:
ROMANTIC OR SUSPENSE ELEMENTS:
ELEMENT RESOLVED:
Permission to use template granted by Kirt Hickman.
I’ve added Vogler’s 12 Step Hero’s Journey and Hickman’s Scene Card as examples of other plotting devices. However, they are entire workshops in and of themselves. But if you have questions about these, I will be happy to help if I can.