Kindle Notes & Highlights
story is moving forward.
The easiest way way to create progress is to show change.
When creating Act II you need to think
like a game designer.
So for a traditional arc to work, a character’s flaw must show itself, cause problems, and force the character to embrace change. They then have to actively try to change.
“ticking bomb.” It
The countdown can work for any big event related to the Big Want. Instead of Christmas maybe things are counting down to a big court date for a child custody hearing? Or maybe instead of counting days, the countdown is tied to supplies and the estimated day people in a spaceship or on a lost island will run out of food? A countdown can be used in any genre.
The secret to making this work is simply to start from scratch and show the thing being built bit by bit.
If you are
trying to tell a story about a journey, give the end point of the journey and show the characters getting closer and closer to that end point.
genre. Giving the characters, or even the reader, a bit of mystery and slowly dangling out clues will make the story feel like it is moving forward.
Act III is everything a story builds towards.
If unsure about what promises you made, go back and look at your opening hook at the start of Act I. If
action sequence,
• Epiphany Moment • Empowered
Climax • Temptation Moment • Epilogue
Depending on the arc you are doing, this is the moment where they will grow, fail to grow, or fall.
Once the epiphany moment happens your POV character will fix the relationships and the facets of their lives that they destroyed when hitting rock bottom.
This is the big hurrah and everything your story has been moving towards.
it. In the temptation moment the character is offered an easy way out, a chance to fall victim to their flaw.
In the epilogue, the storyline of the supporting cast and any subplots will be wrapped up, and the final scenes usually tie back to the theme of your story.
- Hook:
Meet the Protagonists:
The Status Quo:
Catalyst Moment:
Deal with Catalyst:
The Big Picture:
New Status Quo:
- Big Want Step 1 Attempt:
Big Want Step 1 Fail or Success:
- Status Quo Growth:
Big Want Step 2 Attempt:
Big Want Step 2 Fail or Success:
Status Quo Growth:
Big Want Step 3 Attempt:
Big Want Step 3 Fail or Success:
Status Quo Growth:
Big Want Step 4 Attempt:
Big Want Step 4 Fail or Success:
Status Quo Growth:
Big Want Final Step:
Rock Bottom:
Epiphany Moment:
Empowered:
Climax:
Temptation Moment:
Epilogue:
Hook:
Meet the Protagonist:
The Status Quo:
