Source: King (2004)
Why-Why and How-How diagrams are essentially the same type of tool, but you would ask different questions as you move through the exercise, namely why and how, of course. These diagrams can help writers identify root causes of problems of plots, characters or decisions that need to be made within the story. One of the greatest strengths of these exercises is the way that they can be used to determine cause and effect of actions within your story.
Use Why-Why or How-How diagrams when you need to:
- identify problems that you might be having with plot or characters
- identify possible causes of key plot outcomes
- investigate plot problems and find a fix
- identify potential new subplots and opportunities for character development
- define specific tasks for a goal (either your own or your characters)
- visualize all aspects of a problem or goal
Why-Why and How-How diagrams both have the same basic structure. Take a piece of paper and on one side of the sheet, write your story question. It could be any sort of question, starting with why or with how. For example:
Why does Sandra, who is adopted, feel like she HAS to find her birth mother?
How does Mark cover up the murder of his girlfriend?
At this point, try to come up with at least two answers (but possibly more) to the question. Now, take those individual answers and ask why again, and again, recording multiple results. Continue to ask why (or how) to each result until you feel that you have enough information. Note the diagram below…each branch answers the question WHY? to the previous answer, thus expanding the ideas further and further. Using HOW? in place of WHY? can help a writer discover other interesting, more active, possibilities.
(Original page by Mary Frangie)
