The "Therefore, But" Rule of Storytelling
Lesson from Matt Stone & Trey Parker
Don’t let your story feel like a random collection of scenes.
There should be a causal link between everything that happens.
Follow the “Therefore, But” rule from Matt Stone & Trey Parker.
1. Identify The Problem:
Take a look at the beats of your outline— AKA what happens in your story.
If the words “and then” belong between those beats, you’re in trouble.
You don’t want your story to play out like this:
Something happens
And then this happens
And then this happens…
It’s boring.
There’s no causal link between the beats.
You don’t want readers to think, “What was the point of that?”
2. Follow The “Therefore, But” Rule:
Matt Stone and Trey Parker teach that a story’s beats should build off of one another:
“What should happen between every beat is the word therefore or but.”
You want your story to play out like this:
Something happens
Therefore this happens
But this happens
Therefore this happens…
Now things are much more interesting.
There’s a causality between the beats— they’re building off of one another.
Your readers become eager to see how your character will maneuver through the story’s twists and turns.
In summary, don’t tell your story like this:
John goes to the ice cream shop
And then he picks up his dry-cleaning
And then he goes to a friend’s house
Your readers will fall asleep.
Instead, follow the “Therefore, But” rule:
John goes to the ice cream shop
But ice cream drips onto his shirt
Therefore he goes home to change
But he’s lost his house keys
Therefore he goes to a friend’s house
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