story structure Archives | SteveCuden.com

Ask Steve: Using Backstory in Musicals

“Smoothly add bits of backstory along the way in ways that will not interrupt the story’s forward thrust. Information should blend in perfectly with the whole story, not feel like it’s the writer telling us a necessary thing in order for the...

Crafting Protagonists: The Importance of a Superobjective

Storytelling, Writing Musicals | 0 comments

The protagonist’s superobjective is the driving force that keeps audiences engaged in the hero’s journey. ~Steve Cuden Establishing the Protagonist’s Superobjective Every protagonist worthy of our attention, affection, and time needs a grand goal to...

Crafting Stories: Outlines, Loglines and Treatments

Writing Process | 0 comments

“Crafting a storytelling masterpiece requires meticulous planning from logline to treatment—each step shapes the narrative journey.” ~Steve Cuden Embarking on the journey of writing a film or musical is akin to scaling a rocky mountain: daunting,...