Scene Two: THE STORY WORLD BEAT
6 Scenes in 6 Weeks: A Structure Guide to Writing Your First SIX SCENES
The Story World Beat is the second scene—or sequence of scenes—that creates a compelling story.
The Story World Beat is about everything surrounding a heroine, her society, and most importantly, her social status.
It includes the following:
minor characters,
natural settings,
cultural norms,
and the technology crucial to that story.
Create an original story world for your Story World Beat, like in Harry Potter. The step-by-step Story World building outline is below.
Beyond the visual Story World elements like natural setting, food, clothing, language, location, and technology…
The Story World Beat also presents the meaning (theme, moral lesson, genre stakes), which should be embedded in a good story world using symbolism and motifs and stated in the dialogue.
Creating a fresh Story World is a given in fantasy and science fiction, as the natural setting is a character.
But should you build a unique story world when writing in other genres?
The Story World Beat should be a creative consideration for all genres:
Even in war-technology genre stories, ask yourself, where is the world of technology in relationship to the natural world? See how Harry Potter did this below in the step-by-step guide.
Remember, 99% of writers fail at the premise line. This is true mainly because the idea is not original, and this can be fixed with a unique Story World Beat.
A premise succeeds when it has a complex Plot intertwined with a unique Story World and a High Concept that includes a story twist.
Read my article on using a Premise Template; download the template, and you’ll have a recipe for a satisfying story.
Story World Beat Outline: Harry Potter
1. Introduction to Harry’s Ordinary World (Before Magic)
Natural Setting: Harry lives with the Dursleys in a mundane suburban setting, symbolizing his enslavement to a life of neglect and invisibility. The ordinary, colorless world reflects Harry’s low social status and lack of control over his life.
Social Status: Harry is treated as a burden with no authority or freedom. This mirrors his weakness: a lack of identity and belonging.
Cultural Norms: The Dursleys represent a society obsessed with normalcy and conformity. Magic is feared, and Harry's existence is hidden—he’s denied access to his true identity.
Technology: The mundane technology (alarm clocks, school uniforms, basic transportation) contrasts with the magical world Harry will soon enter, emphasizing how trapped Harry is in the ordinary.
2. Transition to the Magical World (Hogwarts Introduction)
Natural Setting: As soon as Harry enters Diagon Alley, the magic world fully reveals itself. Magical creatures, shops selling wands and broomsticks, and the enchanted Hogwarts Express reflect Harry’s internal journey—moving from invisibility to being seen.
Social Status: Upon arriving at Hogwarts, Harry is no longer a nobody. He’s "The Boy Who Lived," instantly elevated to celebrity status. This introduces the coming-of-age theme, as Harry must learn to balance his newfound fame with humility.
Cultural Norms: Hogwarts operates on a merit-based social structure with houses representing different qualities. Harry’s placement in Gryffindor ties him to bravery and leadership but also sets up expectations he’s not yet ready to meet. The magical society values legacy (bloodlines, historical ties), which Harry has to navigate.
Technology: Magical technology, such as wands, broomsticks, and enchanted objects, serves as a plot device but also as an extension of the characters. Harry’s wand is tied directly to his identity, and Voldemort’s is linked to his fate, linking his fate to the life-and-death stakes of the action-adventure genre.
3. The Magical World as a Reflection of Harry’s Weakness and Need
Natural Setting: Hogwarts itself is filled with hidden corridors, secret rooms, and shifting staircases, representing Harry’s need to explore and understand not just his environment but himself. The castle’s mysterious nature mirrors Harry’s journey toward self-discovery and his quest to understand his past.
Social Status: Harry’s popularity is both a strength and a weakness. While he gains friends (Ron and Hermione), he also gains enemies (Draco Malfoy, Snape). This duality reflects his internal struggle with his fame and the pressure it places on him.
Cultural Norms: The magical world doesn’t operate by the same rules as the Muggle world. Mystical creatures, house elves, and Quidditch matches all contribute to a sense of unpredictability, reflecting Harry’s inner confusion as he navigates this new life.
Technology: Crucial objects like the Invisibility Cloak and the Mirror of Erised reflect Harry’s emotional desires. The Invisibility Cloak could represent his fear of vulnerability. At the same time, the Mirror can symbolize his deepest longing to belong to a family, exacerbating his need for acceptance and love.
4. The Stakes: Magic, Life, and Death in Action | Adventure
Natural Setting: As Harry delves deeper into the magical world, the dangers become more pronounced. Forbidden forests, dangerous creatures, and life-threatening obstacles (the troll, Fluffy, and the enchanted chessboard) raise the stakes.
Social Status: Harry’s discovery that Voldemort is still alive turns his fame into a burden. He’s no longer just "The Boy Who Lived," but the target of a dark force, escalating the life-and-death stakes of the story. His weakness is now his vulnerability as a symbol of hope to stay alive.
Cultural Norms: The magical world’s acceptance of good versus evil plays into the action-adventure genre. Voldemort’s return threatens the entire magical community, placing Harry at the center of a brewing war.
Technology: The Sorcerer’s Stone, the final object, represents ultimate power and immortality, directly challenging Harry’s growth from innocence to someone who understands sacrifice. His refusal to take the Stone reflects his moral compass and coming-of-age transformation.
5. The Final Story World Beat: Harry’s Growth
Natural Setting: At the film's end, Hogwarts remains, but Harry has changed. The once-foreign magical world has become a home, symbolizing his internal shift from a powerless, invisible child to a confident, accepted young wizard.
Social Status: Harry now belongs to a community, having proven himself not just as "The Boy Who Lived," but as someone capable of bravery, friendship, and sacrifice. His acceptance at Hogwarts reflects his emotional journey toward belonging and finding his true home with them.
Cultural Norms: Harry’s experience reflects the hero’s arc in a coming-of-age story. The magical world is no longer just a setting but a mirror of Harry’s growth and self-realization.
Technology: Harry's final use of magical technology (wands, spells, enchanted objects) in the battle against Voldemort solidifies the life-and-death stakes of the action-adventure genre as he steps into his role as a protector.
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Best wishes,
Kelly E. Keough