Editing Coordinating Pause (section)

==Elements of a Story==

In almost all stories, especially dramatic stories, there is some sort of meaning which can be gleaned. Here are some elements to keep in mind when coming up with a story.

===Theme===

The theme is an overriding idea which can be found throughout the entire story. It can be simple, such as “Defend those who cannot defend themselves,” or complex, such as “Life may be finite, but existence is eternal.”

Themes do not need to be obvious to the Players. Rather, it should be something that becomes clearer and clearer to the Players as the story progresses. Start a story with very subtle and obscure hints to it, revealing bigger and bigger clues as the characters delve deeper into the story.

===Setting===

The setting is the time, place, and events in which the story takes place. It serves as a frame of reference for everything from what would be considered appropriate behavior to what information a character should pay attention to.

As explained at the beginning of the manual, the default setting for '''''Pause''''' is a modern-day city. This is so because it makes it easier for both Players and the Coordinator to get right into it. However, the setting can theoretically just about any time or place where events deal between people.

===Mood===

The mood is the general feel of the story. It is the collective emotions and sensations Players experience during the story. Movie genres serve as a good analog to the concept of the mood. For instance, a comedy has a lighthearted mood while film noir espouses a dark and gritty mood.

In '''''Pause''''', the mood would be akin to that of a thriller, but with supernatural elements. There should be suspense, but also a growing sense of understanding as the story unfolds. Like the setting though, the Coordinator is free to use a different setting, if it means creating a great story to share with the Players.

===Plot===

The plot is the actual sequence of events that transpire throughout the story. It is the vehicle for delivering the theme, setting, and mood throughout the structure of the story, via the actions of the characters.

Generally speaking, one event usually leads to another, although there can be multiple events going at once. However, it is best to keep the events organized, each event appropriately moving on to the next, be it gradual or sudden.

===Conflict===

A dramatic story is nothing without conflict. Be it between a character and an antagonist or between opposing ideologies, there is usually something that someone or some group is against.

The ideas posed in '''''Pause''''' present an opportunity for characters to explore conflicts both internal and external, both against a malicious force and against the evils within themselves. These conflicts can be static, such as the case of a villain or mastermind, or they can be fluid, such as one's emotions or other abstract ideas. Conflicts, their participants, and their values may change throughout a story as well.