The Mathematics of Storytelling

1. STARTING THE ADVENTURE - 1.1. The number 4

Let's use one of the simplest formulas there is:

2 + 2 = 4

The first Two is our main character. He takes a journey, which is the second Two, and he ends up on his destination, which is the end result – number Four.

"Mark got out the office and went to his car in the parking lot. (2)

+

He started the car and drove for two hours in the traffic jam. (2)

=

After an exhausting ride, he got home. (4)"

Boring right :D

Why is that so? The word you are looking for is – Ordinary!

Sure, Mark got into a traffic jam for two hours, but that's not enough to catch our attention. He successfully got home, and that's kind of that.

We have to add something to our formula. Spice it up a bit.

The end result should still be the number four.

And this is the advice many successful writers give, and I happen to concur. YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE YOUR STORY ENDS BEFORE YOU START WRITING. This is especially true if you are writing short stories or flash fiction. But it helps also, immensely if you have your ending already thought out for your novel, and it's a MUST for script-writers ( or so script writer tell me :D )

So, Mark ends up at home, either way (Number 4). But if we ask a question of HOW, then we are taking a first step of the story ahead. Keep in mind that our Reader doesn't know where this story is going. That information is reserved for YOU!

There are endless ways and formulas we can use to come to the same result. For Example:

1+1+1+1=4

1x2+1x2=4

(1x1) + (1 x 3) = 4

2+3-1= 4

or even something like

{ (100/5 + 48 – (2+2+10 – 6)) + (300 / 3 – 150 + (2x10 + 30)) } / 30 + 2 = 4

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Author's note

*( I don't really know if this last one is a valid formula but you get the point :D But if someone wants to check or can give an example of an even more complicated formula, be my guest :D )