Moana & the Importance of the B-Story Character

Come for the songs, stay for the B-story

If you’re a story structure nerd like I am, then you might’ve spent far more time analyzing story structure than you have spent actually writing. I’m here to tell you that’s okay, but after you read this newsletter, set your timer for a writing sprint or two and get to work. You’ll feel better, I promise.

---

For much of my early writing life, I considered the B-story a companion to the A-story. A break from the action, perhaps a palate cleanser or a chance for the protagonist (and the reader) to rest before the next big conflict. And it can definitely be those things. But the B-story is also much more than that. It represents your protagonist’s internal story arc and helps them to transform into who they need to be to achieve the story’s main goal.

Much of what I’m about to say I learned from Jessica Brody’s SAVE THE CAT WRITES A NOVEL. It’s my favorite book on writing structure because it’s so straightforward and leaves room for interpretation within the story beats. Yes, there is a formula, but there are miles of space within that formula to make a story your own.

Since I’ll be discussing this topic in the simplest of terms, I recommend you read Jessica’s book for a much more detailed analysis.

---

Your Protagonist

In the planning stages of your book, you might’ve spent some time developing your characters. You’ve given your protagonist flaws and problems and conflicts, and hopefully, there are one or two issues that really have them stuck. In STC-speak, that’s their “shard of glass.”

The A-Story

The A-story is your main plot, representing your protagonist’s external need. You’ve given them all these flaws and problems and this annoying shard of glass in their foot, and achieving their goal in the A-story is what they think will yank it out. They think, “If I can figure out who murdered John Doe, I’ll be fine!”

Unfortunately, they’re wrong, leading them to try to solve the murder and fix their problems in all the wrong ways, probably causing even more problems in the process.

The B-Story

The B-story represents your protagonist’s inner need, usually defined by whatever their “shard of glass” is. It represents what they really need to rid themselves of that painful shard so they can get on with the business of finishing the A-story.

But usually, they can’t do this alone. Enter your B-story character.

The B-Story Character

This character will be by your protagonist’s side through at least part of the story. They can be a mentor, a frenemy, a family member, or whatever you want, but who they are will ideally serve the A-story by helping your protagonist travel their internal arc, enabling them to (hopefully) achieve transformation, and ultimately, the main plot goal.

The B-story character is usually introduced early in the second act of your book. They may or may not have their own story arc and their own shard of glass, which the protagonist will help them remove through the journey they take in the second act. Sometimes, that journey will be literal (but it doesn’t have to be), as in the case of “Moana.”

---

Introducing Maui and the Power of the B-Story

Whenever I try to explain the concept of the B-story and the B-story character, I turn to the Disney movie “Moana,” because the story is simple and the relationship between Moana and Maui, her B-story character, is such a great example of the symbiotic relationship between a protagonist and their B-story character. I love the movie on its own, but it’s also good for instructional purposes on structure.

The first act sets up Moana’s character, her flaws and problems, what she cares about, and what kind of world she lives in. She has a loving family and responsibilities at home, but she longs to explore the world and see what it offers. Unfortunately, she gets that chance when Maui’s curse threatens her beloved island (A-story).

But wait, you might ask. If Maui’s curse is the problem that needs solving, wouldn’t he be the story’s antagonist and not the B-story character? Yes and no. He’s certainly a thorn in Moana’s side (as opposed to a shard of glass. Oh, so many cliches!) And though he caused the original problem, its solution might require far more than he’s able to give. She needs him to help her navigate the scary new world she’s entered and help her see she’s got what it takes (B-story) to achieve her goal (A-story), and he needs her to help him retrieve his magical fishhook (Maui’s A-story). At least, that’s what Maui thinks he needs. What he really craves is the love and acceptance of humans (Maui’s B-story).

Their quest will reveal Maui’s vulnerabilities, and when he’s not strong enough to continue, Moana must decide if she can finish the task at hand—to restore the heart of the goddess Te Fiti so that her island will be saved—all by herself. Luckily, her relationship with Maui and their experiences together convince her to give it a try.

Does this help you see how the protagonist and their B-story character work together to bring about transformation? As I said earlier, “Moana” is a simple example of this relationship—once you start analyzing more complex films and novels, it might not be as obvious, but when it’s done well, it makes for a truly satisfying reading/viewing experience.

One final note: The B-story character doesn’t have to be a character. It can almost be anything, as long as its main function is to help your protagonist achieve the transformation they need in order to get the story’s job done.

What other good examples of the B-story/B-story character can you suggest?