It is always best to work on the Subjective Story Throughline last since it describes the growth of the relationship between the Main and Impact Characters, and therefore needs to call on what was determined previously for them.

Imagine for a moment the Main Character is a boxer. As an audience we stand in his shoes, effectively becoming him during the story. We look in the far corner and see our opponent, the Impact Character warming up for the bout. As the fight begins, we pass through changing concerns represented by the Main Character Throughline Type Order. As the fight progresses, the Impact Character lands some telling blows. The Impact Character Type Order describes these.

Outside the ring sit the judges. They do not stand in the shoes of the Main Character, nor are they concerned, fearful, or affected by the Impact Character's attack. Rather, the judges watch two fighters circling the issues--preserving the same relationship between them as opponents, but covering different ground in the ring.

So it is with the Subjective Story Throughline Type Order. As the first round begins, the Main and Impact Characters converge on a particular issue. They argue the issue, each from his own point of view. Once they have thrashed that topic into submission, they move on to another area of friction and continue sparring.

Example:

In this fictitious story example, the Subjective Story Throughline is Manipulation. The Type order selected for the Subjective Story is as follows: Developing A Plan, Conceiving An Idea, Playing A Role, and lastly Changing One's Nature.

Signpost #1

Type 1. Developing A Plan

Developing A Plan means working out a plan, model, belief system, or paradigm. In the Subjective Story, the Main and Impact Characters quickly come into conflict about how to look at the relationship between organized crime and law enforcement. The Main Character argues that law enforcement is like a breakwater, holding back an ocean of anarchy. The Impact Character sees the system more like an ecology, where each kind of activity has its place in an ever-changing environment.

Journey #1

Type 1. Developing A Plan ---------- > Type 2. Conceiving An Idea

As new information about the increasing number of diamond heists builds, both the Main and Impact Characters approach the problem, arguing over how to put the clues into a meaningful pattern. When they discover the international Consortium, the Main Character looks for ways to stop it, while the Impact looks for ways to divert it. Based on his views, the Main Character Conceives of the need to place one of his agents deep within the Consortium as a mole. The Impact Character argues that the Main Character is thinking about it all wrong. They should be working out how to make the heists too difficult and costly a venture so the Consortium will go elsewhere to greener pastures.

Signpost #2

Type 2. Conceiving An Idea

Conceiving An Idea means coming up with an idea or discovering a need. They finally come up with the idea of using the Main Character as the mole in an undercover operation, agreeing that this will be the best way to continue given their two points of view. They both believe that this plan will not only achieve their purposes, but will also make the other see the error of his ways. The Main Character believes he will be able to prove that he can stop the Consortium dead in its tracks, and the Impact Character believes the Main Character will be forced to compromise and change his point of view.

Journey #2

Type 2. Conceiving An Idea ---------- > Type 3. Playing A Role

As the Main and Impact Characters come up with more ideas to help him rise among the Consortium, they realize they are still not agreeing on how to run this operation. The Main Character starts acting more and more impatient with the Impact Character, being more and more like the role he is playing to be in among the sting. The Impact Character starts taking on a different role, that of the Main Character's nagging conscience.

Signpost #3

Type 3. Playing A Role

Playing A Role [Being] means acting a role or playing a part. With the Main Character now within the Consortium, he adopts the role of an up-and-coming organized crime boss. The Impact character is only allowed to see him while playing the role of his longtime friend and priest. Having to meet under the gaze of criminals, their relationship becomes one of playacting.

Journey #3

Type 3. Playing A Role ---------- > Type 4. Changing One's Nature

In their meetings, the Impact Character argues that if the Main Character is to become a mole in the Consortium successfully, the Main Character needs to play the role better than he has been. This will mean acting ruthlessly and letting a few people get hurt. The Main Character argues that he will not cross his personal line, even if that choice blows his cover: If he acted like them, he says he would be no better than they are. The Impact Character points out that if the Main Character doesn't bend his own code a little more, they will both become suspected narcs and probably will be exposed. This comes down to the choice between using crime money to save the children's hospital or shutting down the hospital. The Main Character chooses to save it.

Signpost #4

Type 4. Changing One's Nature

Changing One's Nature [Becoming] means truly transforming one's nature. The Impact Character points out to the Main Character that The Main Character is no longer the self-assured champion of virtue he once was. He points out there was no escaping the change the Main Character made in his personal code to be able to bring the Consortium to some measure of justice. The Main Character says the angst he is suffering is a test of his moral fiber. Those who stand against the pressure and survive Become stronger for it. He throws the Impact Character out of his office yelling that they will never work together again. It is clear the Main Character has seen too much in himself and has become convinced that his moral ethics are no longer as powerful as they used to be.