Also present from page one of your story, but much less important than weakness and need, is the problem. All good stories begin with a kick: the hero is already in trouble. The problem is the crisis the hero finds himself in from page one. He is very aware of the crisis but doesn’t know how to solve it. The problem is not one of the seven steps, but it’s an aspect of weakness and need, and it is valuable. Crisis defines a character very quickly. It should be an outside manifestation of the hero’s weakness. The crisis highlights that weakness for the audience and gives the story a fast start.
