#103: Morality Genre Conventions

Fiction Writing Made Easy

Savannah Gilbo

Education, Fiction, Writing Tips, Arts, Bestseller, Writing, How To, Author, Writing Community, Books, Novel, How To Write Fiction, Writing Fiction, Writer, How To Write A Book

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 8 August 2023

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today’s episode, I’m covering the conventions of the morality genre using the movie A Man Called Otto as an example. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[05:09] The protagonist starts the story at their worst (with a "wrong" moral compass)

[06:40] The antagonist pressures the protagonist to face their bad behavior/wrongdoing

[07:54] The protagonist is haunted by their past mistakes or selfish behavior

[09:09] A character who represents the consequences of the protagonist’s wrongdoing

[10:20] At least one mentor figure who helps the protagonist see right from wrong

[11:13] External conflict that pits the protagonist's goals against the needs of others

[12:53] A foil character who positively or negatively demonstrates different behavior

[14:24] The protagonist gets help from unexpected sources

[15:23] The setting must offer the protagonist opportunities to be selfish or altruistic

[16:49] The end of the story is often bittersweet

[18:04] Final thoughts and episode recap.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Real quick, my five-day live challenge called Unlock Your Story is about to begin.
0:04.7	We're about to shut down enrollment and get started on September 28th,
0:08.5	so I wanted to give you one last chance to head over to SavannahGilbo.com forward slash
0:13.3	challenge to save your seat before your chance is gone. If writing a novel has been a dream of yours
0:18.0	for a while or something on your to-do list that you'd really like to check off,
0:22.2	then join me inside the Unlock Your Story Challenge, where I'll help you develop the four
0:26.4	foundational elements of a working story idea. A plot that hooks interest at protagonists
0:30.8	with a compelling goal, conflict with high stakes, and a theme with heart in just five days.
0:35.6	It's only $47 to join, but the doors are closing very, very soon. You can either
0:40.2	head to savannagilbo.com forward slash challenge to sign up, or you can find me on Instagram
0:45.1	at savanna.gilbo and send me a DM with the word challenge. If you DM me the word challenge,
0:50.1	I will send you a link with all the details you need to join. Hope to see you there.
0:54.1	So the external conflict here could really be anything, but the point of it is that it
0:58.3	highlights the need for change in the protagonist. So it puts pressure on the protagonist
1:03.0	until they either change or cling even harder to their immoral or selfish behavior.
1:09.1	Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. My name is Savannah Gilbo and I'm here to
1:14.0	help you write a story that works. I want to prove to you that writing a novel doesn't have to be
1:19.6	overwhelming. So each week, I'll bring you a brand new episode with simple, actionable,
1:23.6	and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right away. So whether
1:28.2	you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned author looking to improve your craft,
1:32.0	this podcast is for you. So pick up a pen and let's get started.
1:37.1	In today's episode, we're going to talk through the conventions of the Morality genre.
	...

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