10-minute storytelling

Today we are using the ‘DOTS’ method to create an idea for your own short script in 10 mins. Use the method to help your story appear - try not to spend longer that the time indicated!

 

Here’s what to do:

 

1 minute: Think up a central character to tell your story through, and any other supporting characters to be in your story. You don’t have to get to the ‘nitty gritty’ - just name and gender is enough for now.

 

2 minutes: Choose a location for your your story to be told in. Initially write down what it looks like, but then I want you to imagine being in the location with your eyes closed: What can you hear, feel and smell?

 

3-5 minutes: Now, build your scene using a formula designed to deliver the sort of conflict and drama that makes all plays, tv shows and films unmissable!

 

This is called D.O.T.S - I explain it through a very basic example story:

 

Desire - What does your central character (your ‘protagonist’) want? (eg: to make breakfast)

 

Obstacle - What is getting in their way/stopping them from getting what they want? (eg: the kitchen door is locked)

 

Tactic - What does your protagonist do to try and overcome the obstacle? (eg: kick the kitchen door down to get their food!)

 

Success? - Is your protagonist successful? If they are, great! But often stories work best if they are not successful straight away, because this helps to keep the drama up. Even better - does your tactic not only fail, but create a bigger obstacle?

 

An example in my story could be the protagonist hurting themselves by kicking the kitchen door down, meaning their obstacle has grown and they need to come up with a new tactic to both manage their pain and make their breakfast.

 

Play with the DOTS formula for your scene until you have an ending you’re satisfied with.

 

BONUS - 3 mins If you have time, have a go at creating a scripted scene between 2 or 3 characters that tells your DOTS story. If there is just 1 character - it could be a monologue script, or their internal thoughts.

 

Remember - it’s not about creating a perfect script - but about getting an idea on the page!

1) 1 munud: Lluniwch gymeriad canolog i adrodd y stori, a chymeriadau/gwrtharwyr eraill i fod yn y stori. I arbed amser, peidiwch â threulio oesoedd yn mynd drwy fanylion eich cymeriadau: mae enw a rhywedd yn ddigon am y tro.

 

2) 2 funud: Meddyliwch am leoliad eich stori. Yn y lle cyntaf disgrifiwch sut mae’n edrych, ond yna dwi am i chi i ddychmygu sut beth fyddai bod yn y lleoliad gyda’ch llygaid ar gau: Beth fyddech chi’n ei glywed, teimlo ac arogli?

 

3) 3-5 munud: Nawr adeiladwch eich golygfa yn defnyddio fformiwla sydd wedi’i gynllunio i greu’r math o wrthdaro a drama sy’n gwneud dramâu, rhaglenni teledu a ffilmiau yn werth eu gweld. Enw’r fformiwla yw D.O.T.S – egluraf drwy ddefnyddio stori syml iawn: Dyhead – Yr hyn mae eich arwr eisiau (e.e. paratoi brecwast) Osgoi – Beth na ellir ei osgoi/pa rwystrau sy’n ei hwynebu wrth geisio cael beth maen nhw eisiau (e.e. mae drws y gegin lle mae’r bwyd ar glo) Tacteg – Beth wnaiff eich arwr i geisio goresgyn y rhwystr (e.e. cicio drws y gegin i lawr i gyrraedd y bwyd!) Stori dda? - A yw eich arwr yn llwyddiannus? Os ydyn nhw, gwych! Ond yn aml mae straeon ar eu gorau pan nad ydyn nhw’n llwyddiannus yn syth, er mwyn cynnal yr elfen ddramatig. Gwell fyth os yw eich tacteg nid yn unig yn methu, ond yn creu rhwystr mwy o faint. Enghraifft yn fy stori i fyddai’r arwr yn brifo ei hun drwy gicio’r drws i lawr, gan olygu bod y rhwystr wedi cynyddu. Byddai angen iddyn nhw feddwl am dacteg newydd er mwyn rheoli eu poen a pharatoi brecwast. Daliwch ati i chwarae gyda fformiwla DOTS ar gyfer eich golygfa tan fod gennych ddiweddglo sy’n eich bodloni.

 

4) BONWS - 3 munud: I orffen, os oes gennych chi ddigon o amser, rhowch gynnig ar ysgrifennu sgript fer o’ch stori DOTS. Gan mai hwn mwy na thebyg fydd eich cynnig cyntaf ar lunio sgript, peidiwch â phoeni am fformatio perffaith neu ym mha gyfrwng fydd y sgript yn ymddangos - Mwynhewch, a pha mor bell bynnag yr ewch chi â’r stori, rhannwch eich canlyniadau ar-lein drwy ddefnyddio’r hashnod #HerMisIonawr!