Exercises: The Three-Second Story

Difficulty Guide: - ⭐ Foundational (5-10 min each) - ⭐⭐ Intermediate (15-30 min each) - ⭐⭐⭐ Challenging (30-60 min each) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Advanced/Research (60+ min each)

Part A: Micro-Arc Fundamentals ⭐-⭐⭐

A.1. Define "micro-arc" and explain its three components. Why is the complication (middle) essential — what happens to a video that has setup and resolution but no complication?

A.2. Take any 30-second video from your For You page or feed. Identify the setup, development, and resolution. If you can't find all three components, explain which is missing and how the video would improve with it.

A.3. Write the story spine (Once upon a time... / Until one day... / Until finally...) for three video concepts in your niche. Keep each spine to three sentences maximum.

A.4. The chapter describes Zara's outfit video transformation from "display" to "story." Take one of your own video concepts that currently lacks a micro-arc and redesign it using the same approach: add a problem, tension, and resolution. Write out the revised structure with timing annotations.

A.5. Using the 30-second micro-arc timing template (Setup: 2-5s / Development: 15-20s / Resolution: 3-5s), plan a complete micro-arc for each of the following: - A cooking video - A fitness demonstration - A room tour - A product review

Part B: Freytag and Structure ⭐⭐

B.1. Draw the compressed Freytag Pyramid for a 60-second video. Label each phase with its duration range and purpose. Then apply your pyramid to a specific video concept — annotate what happens at each second.

B.2. The chapter describes three Freytag variants for short-form: Peak, Double Peak, and Inverted. Find one example of each variant in your feed. For each, note the video's length, where the climax occurs (as a percentage), and whether the 70% rule holds.

B.3. Marcus moved his "aha!" moment from early in the video to the 70% mark. Take one of your own explanatory or tutorial videos and identify where the "aha!" moment currently falls. Redesign the structure to place it at 70%. Write out both versions with timing annotations.

B.4. The 70% rule suggests placing the climax at approximately 70% of total video duration. But is this always correct? Analyze 5 viral short-form videos and record where the climax falls as a percentage. What's the average? Does it support or challenge the 70% rule?

Part C: Setup-Punchline and Non-Linear ⭐⭐-⭐⭐⭐

C.1. The chapter argues that setup-punchline works beyond comedy. Write a setup-punchline structure for each of the following non-comedy genres: - Educational / explainer - Personal story / storytime - Tutorial / how-to - Transformation / before-after

For each, identify the expectation you're establishing and the violation that creates the "punchline."

C.2. Using the rule of threes, write a 30-second video script that establishes a pattern with the first two items and violates it with the third. Choose any topic. Read it aloud and time it — does it fit within 30 seconds?

C.3. Take a linear video concept (one that progresses chronologically from beginning to end) and rewrite it using each of the five non-linear techniques from section 13.5: a) In medias res b) Cold open c) Flash-forward d) Frame story e) Parallel cut

Which version creates the strongest hook? Why?

C.4. Luna found that cold-opening with the finished painting before showing the process increased completion rates. Design a similar "result-first" cold open for three different content types: a cooking video, a DIY project, and a skill demonstration. For each, write the exact first 3 seconds.

C.5. Find a video in your feed that uses non-linear storytelling. Identify which technique is used. Then mentally reconstruct the chronological version. Which version is more engaging? Why?

Part D: Template Application ⭐⭐-⭐⭐⭐

D.1. From the 50 templates in section 13.6, select 5 templates from different categories. For each, write a complete video concept in your niche using the template structure. Include: - The template name and number - Your specific content idea - The full script or shot-by-shot plan - Which narrative mechanism the template uses

D.2. Choose one template and create two completely different video concepts from it. This exercise demonstrates that templates are flexible structures, not fixed formulas. How does the same template produce different content?

D.3. Combine two templates into a single video. For example, combine Template 5 (The Test) with Template 22 (The Letter) — "Dear past me, I'm about to test the advice you always followed." How does template combination create something new?

D.4. Design your own story template (Template 51). Define the structure, provide an example application, and identify the narrative mechanism. Your template should be applicable to at least 3 different content genres.

D.5. The chapter provides 50 templates across 5 categories. Which category (Discovery, Conflict, Emotion, Teaching, Format) would work best for YOUR niche? Explain why, selecting 3 templates from that category and describing how you'd apply each.

Part E: Analysis and Creation ⭐⭐⭐-⭐⭐⭐⭐

E.1. Analyze 10 videos from a single creator you admire. For each video, identify: - The story structure (micro-arc? Freytag variant? Setup-punchline?) - Whether it uses linear or non-linear storytelling - Which template(s) from section 13.6 it most closely resembles

After analyzing all 10: does the creator have a dominant story structure? Do they vary their structure, or do they use the same one repeatedly?

E.2. The chapter claims that "story-structured content outperforms information-delivery content on every engagement metric." Design an experiment to test this: take one content idea and create two versions — one as pure information delivery, one structured as a micro-arc. Post both (on different days) and compare completion rates, shares, and saves. What do you predict?

E.3. The chapter discusses narrative transportation — the measurable state where viewers become absorbed in a story. Record yourself watching 5 short-form videos and note which ones you felt "transported" by (lost sense of time, forgot you were scrolling). Analyze: what story elements were present in the transporting videos that were absent in the others?

E.4. Create a "Story Structure Library" for your niche. Analyze 20 viral videos in your niche and categorize each by: - Story structure type (micro-arc, setup-punchline, non-linear, template match) - Climax placement (as a percentage) - Whether it's linear or non-linear - Primary narrative mechanism

After analysis: what are the dominant story structures in your niche? Are there structures that are underused and could provide freshness?

Solutions

Selected solutions available in appendices/answers-to-selected.md