#writing

idea

Harmon's story circle is a story structure pattern identified by Dan Harmon (Rick-and-morty's creator) which is very common in stories. It is composed of eight steps on a circle[1]:

  1. Introduce the protagonist, living their normal life in a situation of balance
  2. The protagonist wants or needs something, something isn't quite right
  3. The protagonist passes the threshold and acts. There is now an imbalance, and we switch to the bottom of the circle which is chaotic
  4. The protagonist searches for their need
  5. The protagonist finds their need
  6. They take it and pay the price. We're now on the left of the circle which symbolizes change
  7. They return home to their balanced state
  8. But they have changed.

The top steps are balanced, character is in their zone of comfort. The bottom steps are imbalanced, character is in a challenging or unfamiliar situation[2].

The right of the circle is with the character ad they started. The left is them having changed.

links

references

[1]: Reedsy / The Dan Harmon Story Circle: What Authors Can Learn from Rick and Morty

Studio Binder / How Dan Harmon’s Story Circle Can Make Your Story Better

Film theory / Rick and morty sold you out

[2]: YouTube / every story is the same