Story terms: the words story tools use
Each page defines one term as the tools use it and points to the readings that show it. As of 2026-09-25.
Definitions follow the tools' own usage where it is consistent.
Where tools use a word differently, the page says so.
1On this board
- Beat — Beat, as AI story tools use it: a beat is one step in a story's movement, a turn or a decision
- Episode outline — Episode outline, as AI story tools use it: an episode outline sets out what happens in one episode of a series, scene by scene.
- Hook, payoff and call to action — Hook, payoff and call to action, as AI story tools use it: the hook is the opening line meant to stop a viewer scrolling.
- Premise and logline — Premise and logline, as AI story tools use it: a premise is the situation a story grows from: who wants what, and what stands in the way.
- Previz — Previz, as AI story tools use it: Previz, short for previsualization, is a rough moving version of a scene made before the real thing.
- Scenario — Scenario, as AI story tools use it: In animation tools, a scenario is the written plan of a short piece
- Screenplay format — Screenplay format, as AI story tools use it: Screenplay format is the page layout of film and television scripts
- Shot list — Shot list, as AI story tools use it: a shot list breaks a script into the individual shots to be made, each with its framing, action and often its length.
- Story bible — Story bible, as AI story tools use it: a story bible records what must stay the same across a series
- Story template — Story template, as AI story tools use it: a story template gives a draft a structure before it is written
- Two-column script — In AI story tools, a two-column script puts what is seen on one side and what is heard, dialogue, voiceover and sound, on the other.
2How far one pipeline writes
Writing help like “Story terms” continues into shots in SceneMixer; its guides say:
Paste a scene or a short script and SceneMixer gives you a storyboard — numbered shots with framing and seconds — and then a moving version of each segment, which you can join into a rough cut of the scene.
SceneMixer, Using SceneMixer for Previs and Animatics Before a Live-Action Shoot (read 2026-10-13)
Episode 1 opens on the conflict within 5 seconds, establishes the lead's situation and what she wants, and ends on an identity hook.
SceneMixer, Vertical Short Drama Script Format (2026): Episode Length, Word Counts, Hook Structure and AI-Generation Constraints — “What has to happen in the first three episodes?” (read 2026-10-13)