Perhaps the most volatile dynamic in family drama storylines is the polarizing of children. The "Golden Child" can do no wrong, while the "Scapegoat" is blamed for everything from a broken vase to a failed marriage.

One betrayal triggers a chain reaction:

The damage isn't the secret. It's the path it took.

Write down the surface conflict (e.g., "Who gets the car?"). Then write down the secondary conflict (e.g., "Mom loves you more"). Then write down the primary wound (e.g., "Dad left because you were born"). The storyline must descend through these layers.