EPISODE DESCRIPTION:    
It's important for a storyteller to understand the difference between their protagonist's character flaws and their personality traits, because getting these two categories confused can not only baffle your audience, but can also inadvertently cause harm.This is because story is the most effective means by which the world learns what is good, right, and true. 

Since the heart of every story is a personal paradox, the real basis for story is the internal emotional journey that the protagonist experiences. It's always about the character's arc or growth as they heal from a wound, flaw, or some other characteristic that is holding them back and preventing them from becoming their authentic self. Consequently, the plot elements of the story actually become the device through which the character is able to address his flaws.

But if the storyteller doesn't understand the difference between these two categories, they are liable to have their character pursue the wrong stuff. This would confuse the audience, who has certain expectations. They want the character to heal from his wounds and to grow in self-acceptance and own his personality traits. We see all these things play out clearly through the TV character Bosch.

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Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

The self-love, self-acceptance, and self-actualization movement is a good thing. However, unless we can tell the difference between what is a true personality trait versus what is a character flaw, we run the risk of causing harm to or being harmed by others. 

It's quite common in today's climate for people to claim that a particular character flaw is in fact a virtue, or part of their essential self. This created a lot of confusion and turmoil in relationships, and disrupts our ability or willingness to work on our true character defects. 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on one of the links below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://missionranchfilms.com

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

When we hear self-condemning messages from our inner critic, composing positive affirmations to directly combat the lies is an effective way to achieve freedom from the self-abusive messages of our inner critic. However, whatever affirmations we compose must be actually and really true. The fundamental goal of the storyteller is to always tell the truth about ourselves and the world. Thus, we must avoid writing silly or self-flattering words of affirmations. The goal is not to feed a false view of self, but to grow in self-acceptance and self-love by acknowledging the reality of our character flaws while giving grace to ourselves for our foibles.

Here are a few examples of affirmations that might be written to specifically address some of the critical messages that might get played over and over again in the artist or trauma survivor's head. 

15 POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE

1. There’s nothing “wrong” with me. I’m doing the best I can to address both my trauma wounds and the sins of my past. I’m fully committed to a life of recovery. 
2. I am not perfect. I have made mistakes in the past. I have caused harm to myself and others. But these facts do not take away from my inherent value and dignity. I am a human person who is worthy of being loved. 
3. It is alright for me to make mistakes. The purpose of my making a mistake is to make more mistakes. I do not need to be perfect in order to be worthy of love. 
4. While it’s true that I am flawed, I have a lot of positive traits. I am kind, compassionate, honest, generous, thoughtful, talented and forgiving. Furthermore, I am repentant. Anyone would be lucky to have me as their friend. 
5. I do not need to prove myself to anyone. I need only express myself as honestly and effectively as I am capable. 
6. I am not a bad person getting good. I am a flawed person getting better. 
7. I am not my actions. I am the actor. My actions may be good or bad. That doesn’t make ME good or bad.
8. I take things one day at a time. Do first things first. I do the next right thing. 
9. I am not stuck. I have other options available to me. 
10. No one is forcing me to be here. I’m here by choice.
11. I do not act out of obligation. I no longer do things for others because I feel guilty or because I am “supposed” to do them. If I choose to say yes or no, either choice is okay.
12. I am not afraid of getting hurt. I do not need to push success away or subconsciously sabotage myself. Even if I do get rejected, it’s okay. Rejection from others does not define my value or worth.
13. I do not need to know how to do everything right at this moment. The knowledge and tools will come to me at the right time. 
14. All I have to do is my part. Just do the work. The rest is up to my higher power.
15.  I never fail. I either succeed, or I learn.

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

 This episode of The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe answers the philosophical question that was raised in episode 3 of this podcast, namely, what do we do if our perceptions of reality are distorted given that the artist's job is to tell the truth about the world as it really is? Zena provides four guiding principles to free artists from any potential fear or bondage related to this issue:

1. We can't "will" ourselves to believe what is true; we can only choose to expose ourselves to truth and let that truth permeate us.

2. We must commit to being rigorously honest with ourselves and others about how we feel.

3. We must live in consultation. When we isolate ourselves or try to arrive at truth on our own, we are more likely to miss the mark.

4. We must tame the inner critic, because we are in an abusive relationship with ourselves.

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

In Episode 15 of The Mission, Zena Dell Lowe clarifies a few of the issues raised in episodes 13 and 14 of this podcast.  Namely, what's the difference between bias and worldview, and what's the difference between agenda and theme? All of these terms are explored and explained to help the storyteller move forward without confusion. 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

Send us a text

Support the show

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:      

In story, it's essential that characters come across as credible and believable. A story must ring true in order for the audience to care and stay invested in the main character's journey. 

As discussed in episode 13, one way storytellers inadvertently violate the credibility of their story is when they approach the work with a prior philosophical commitment that precludes them from honestly engaging the true depths of their characters. 

This week, we explore how writers violate the credibility of their story when they approach the work with a prior philosophical agenda or message, which ultimately turns the characters into tools to be used. 

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

Send us a text

Support the show

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

In story, your characters and their world must be credible and believable. The job of the storyteller, first and foremost, is to tell the truth about the world as you know it, and about the people who inhabit that world. The acid test of how well you’ve accomplished this is always and forever the same: does it ring true to the audience? 

One kind of believability has to do with the characteristics of the character him or herself. Have you given them the right characteristics to effectively convince the audience that he or she could do whatever it is they end up doing in the story? 

But there’s another way to undermine the believability of the story, and that’s when a characters simply aren't real enough. They don’t feel like real people. They’re not fully fleshed out as three dimensional beings. They're sketches. One thing that can lead to this:

When the storyteller holds a prior commitment to a certain philosophy that limits their willingness to explore the true depths of character

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

Send us a text

Support the show

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

In this episode of The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe, Zena proposes that the acid test of a story is: does it work? By that, she means does the audience buy it?  Are the characters credible or believable? Zena then goes on to discuss two common ways in which the credibility of a story may be undermined.

1. If the writer rushes, or fails to take the time to allow the characters to transform in a believable way over the course of the telling. 

2. If the writer tries to justify character actions or choices according to a false worldview, whereby what we instinctively know to be true about the psychology of the human person is ignored or violated in some way.

At the end of the day, it's essential that one's story rings true with the audience - we must believe that the characters could or would do whatever it is that they do in the story.

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

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In this episode of The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe, Zena expands on one of the fundamental principles of storytelling, namely, that the finest writing not only reveals true character, but arcs or changes that character for better or for worse over the course of the telling. But in order to show us that a character has grown, you must:

1.    Set up the character’s need from the very beginning, and differentiate their need from their want.

2.    Recognize that with very few exceptions, whoever changes the most in the story is your main character. 

3.    Make sure that your character’s growth is believable; the audience has to buy it. 

4.    Allow the character’s choices to take on greater and greater importance as they grow in self-awareness. 

5.    And finally, recognize that everything that happens in the story is part of the main character's internal emotional arc.

 
QUESTIONS OR TOPIC REQUESTS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

Send us a text

Support the show

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:     

 In this episode, Zena provides three reasons why characters need to grow and change in order for the audience to stay involved in the story. Since the essence of every story is suffering regardless of the genre, she reiterates the important role of the storyteller in society. Artists tackle the greatest conundrum of the human condition - suffering. Their work is the basis for culture because leisure time is not throw away time. It's the work between the work that gives people a chance for deeper contemplation.

SPECIAL THANKS

The Mission with Zena Dell Lowe would like to thank composer Carla Patullo for the original music she graciously permits us to use in the intro and outro of this podcast. To find out more about this amazing talent, go to  www.carlapatullo.com

QUESTIONS OR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS? 

If you have a question or a specific writing related topic that you would like Zena to consider addressing in a future podcast, click on the link below to leave a voicemail recording for Zena.

https://www.speakpipe.com/ZenaDellLowe

WANT TO DOWNLOAD ANY TRANSCRIPTS?

Zena is currently working on making the transcripts for these podcast episodes available for download on the Mission Ranch Films website. If you would like to be notified when this option is available, click here to join our email list. https://missionranchfilms.com

Send us a text

Support the show