dSreDUX

The CPI of TF Fiction (Patreon)

Published:

2017-06-09 12:50:36

Imported:

Poll

The CPI of TF Fiction

Cause - I really enjoy seeing why a character ends up transforming. 3
Process - It doesn't matter to me what happens before or after, I am here for the transformation and anything else is icing. 23
Impact - How a character lives their life with their new changes is what I find most interesting. 23

Content

There are many great Transformation Stories out there, but when I think of my favorites - and how I try to shape my own long-form works - there are three tenants that I try to keep in mind - the Cause, the Process, and the Impact. There are enjoyable works that may only include one or two of these (I've certainly written them), but for me a truly complete transformation story addresses all of them.

This is more than just Beginning, Middle, and End. Although CPI can line up with BME, it doesn't need to go that way. Let me define what I mean by each:

Cause - This is more than just "made a wish on a rock" - although that would be part of it. Cause is the whole reason why our characters have found themselves transforming. For me, this ideally comes from some sort of moral decision that is wrapped up in the broader Beginning of the story, tying the events that occur to character agency and decision making - whether that be punishment for a transgression one should have known better about, or the fulfilling realization of how one can become their true self. But it could also be, "spoke out-loud around a goddess." For me, a good Cause absolutely affects how Process and Impact are received.

Process - The actual transformation. Slow or fast? Enjoyable or painful? Desired or unwanted? Accepted or rejected? On screen or off? Detailed or broadly written? Pretty much every transformation story has this, and we all have our preferences for how we want to be shown what the characters are experiencing.

Impact - I would say this part shows up the least in stories, as many just end once the Process completes. Impact deals with how the characters' lives have changed after the Process is completed - or sometimes during the Process depending on its speed. A good Cause within a full Beginning to the story is important so that we can see how the story End illustrates the details of the Impact. Can the character keep a semblance of their old life as they are now? Do they want to? What new life do they pursue? What is an average day like now? Can they achieve something they could not before? I love this portion, and it too often is never explored.

I'm a big fan of all three, but if I had to pick a favorite it would probably be Cause. What is your favorite?