"I describe my plots as follows; A character is walking down the street when all of a sudden a piano falls on them. They spend the rest of the story digging out from under that piano. How they dig, how long and how well, this all depends entirely on the character"

This quote by Sarah Zettel is an excellent example of how a story can be built around a single occasion. The character in the story is strolling down the street when a piano unexpectedly falls on them. This event sets the tone for the remainder of the story, as the character must now find out how to dig themselves out from under the piano. The character's success in this job will depend on their own individual characteristics and abilities. The story will check out how the character handles the scenario, for how long it takes them to dig out, and how well they manage to do it. This quote is a terrific reminder that a single occasion can be the basis for an entire story, which the character's actions and decisions will identify the outcome.