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The Dan Harmon Story Circle, also known as “The Embryo”, is an approach to plotting developed by TV writer Dan Harmon. It follows a protagonist through eight stages, beginning with the character being in their comfort zone, then venturing out into the unknown to seek something they want.
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- You: the character is in a comfort zone. Step 1 takes place at the very beginning of your story, when you are introduced to your main character, understand the world that your character lives in, and demonstrate that they are in a familiar situation of some kind (whether that is emotional, physical, etc.).
- Need: The Character Must Want Something. Right from the beginning, you should make it clear that all is not right in the protagonist's world. While they are operating from a place of comfort, they have some internal or external need.
- Go: The Protagonist Enters an Unfamiliar Setting. It is at this point that the characters are thrust into worlds unknown, completely outside of their comfort zone, whether that be literally or emotionally.
- Search: The Character Must Adapt To the Unfamiliar World. It is at this point that the character realizes that they may have bitten off more than they can chew.
Aug 23, 2020 · What's Dan Harmon's Story Circle? The Dan Harmon Story Circle is a story structure divided into eight distinct parts following a protagonist's journey. Also called "The Story Embryo" or "Plot Embryo," these 8 steps follow a character's pursuit of a goal outside of their normal world.
Apr 10, 2024 · The Dan Harmon Story Circle describes the structure of a story in three acts and with eight plot points, which are called steps. When you have a protagonist who will progress through these, you have a basic character arc and the bare minimum of a story—the story embryo or plot embryo, if you will.
Oct 8, 2021 · Dan Harmon’s Story Circle depicts eight steps for the protagonist to travel into this special world. The Story Circle is also known as The Story Embryo as each step represents a new change in the story. The Circle is split into two halves horizontally and vertically.
Aug 25, 2021 · The Story Circle is an eight-stage story structure that Harmon developed, and it is a simple and proven way to develop engaging plots! Dan Harmon’s Story Structure is a fantastic guide for any author, but it’s especially beneficial for the novice writer.
May 9, 2023 · The story circle is a story structure guide created by Dan Harmon based on Joseph Campbell’s analysis of the Hero’s Journey. The story circle consists of the eight main plot points that create a story’s foundational structure, which Dan Harmon has labelled: you, need, go, search, find, take, return, changed. You – A character with a problem.
