Happy Ever Afters

Happy Ever Afters

What is the Happy Ever Afters story tactic?

We're suckers for a happy ending. Life is no fairy tale, hut you can always give your story a satisfying end.

Stories show us what it means to grow up and find our place in the world; how to fit in with others and how to do the right thing. Does your Hero achieve these things by the end of your story? If not, can you at least hold out the hope of a happy ending to lift our spirits?

You might start at The End when writing your story, then show us how you got there. See Five Ts for a Timeline approach.

How to use the Happy Ever Afters story tactic

This tactic lets you finesse the ending to a story you've already prepared. Happy Ever After = Your Hero Changes by:

  1. Growing Up. Luke starts out a farm boy and ends up a Jedi. Harry goes to Hogwarts and becomes a Wizard.

    • How has your hero grown?

    • What life-stage transition have they achieved? (see Circle of Life)

    • How are they older and wiser?

    • How have you helped?

  2. Finding Home, Love or Respect. Odysseus makes it home to Penelope. Beauty tames The Beast.

    • How does your hero find a place in the world? Has "home" changed after the journey they've been on? (try Voyage & Return to develop this story)

    • How is your hero more worthy of love?

    • How have they earned the respect of those who matter

    • How have you helped?

  3. Doing the Right Thing. Ripley fights an Alien queen. Rastamouse is here to "make a bad thing good."

    • What's the bad thing your hero faced? ( check with Three Great Conflicts)

    • How did they put the bad thing right?

    • What did it cost them?

    • How did you help?

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Happy Ever Afters is one of 54 storytelling recipe cards inside the Storyteller Tactics card deck.

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