Part 3 of my collection of templates and questions about plot.
-------- Plot Template #7
Define How this Scene Forwards Story Objective:
The scene must forward the overall desire or objective. If not, change or cut the scene.
Character’s Objective or Desire:
Describe the character's goal or desire attempted over the course this scene. State the objective in terms of an action verb. Be very specific.
Distancing:
What specific distancing events or oppositions occur over the course of the scene.
Denial:
What brick wall appears to prevent attainment of the character's objective. The character may even consider giving up or just see no way of proceeding.
Overall Devastation or Desire Obtainment:
The character ends up worse off than at the scene's outset, or has specter of doing so. Describe how the goal is reached or completely denied.
Subtexting (when appropriate):
The characters don't need to or don't want to say their meaning while talking. What inferred thought, inflection, movement, or expression doesn't match spoken word.
Emotive Actions (finishing touch):
Display the outward manifestations (rhythm) of the character's inner conflicts. Interview character moment by moment throughout scene about feelings and reactions.
Notes:
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-------- Plot Template #8
Create three levels of conflict that interact
well together and whose affects intersect creating the plot.
Inner Conflict:
What inner conflict exists? (The main character fears aging, isolation, heights, failure, etc.)
Personal Conflict:
What inter-personal conflict exists? (The main character resents his father, idolizes someone that doesn't care he exists, etc. Avoid cliche love interests.)
External Conflict:
What threatens the world of the character? (An antagonist like the great white whale or Lex Luthor, man vs nature, financial hardship, etc.)
Notes:
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-------- Plot Template #9
Define the major plot elements as if in a three-act play.
The longer the story, the shorter percentage of story Act I and III should be.
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First quarter of story engages readers
Introduce the Ordinary World
What is the hero's normal life and background like?
Call to Adventure (the disturbance)
What external or internal conflict creates the need for the hero to leave the ordinary world? (Note: Finish the "call" quickly, or the reader will get bored.)
Refusal (or Obstacle) to the Call to Adventure
What prevents the hero from embarking on his call to adventure?
Thrust across the Threshold
What thrusts the hero into the main conflict?
What prevents him from walking away?
Why can't the hero avoid the conflict?
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Middle half of the story containing the main conflict
Meeting the Mentor (person, book, memory, ... etc.)
How does the hero encounter his mentor?
What wisdom, training, or equipment does the mentor give the hero?
Sorting out Allies and Enemies
How does the hero find and sort out his enemies and allies?
Preparing for the Ordeal
What journey or obstacle must the hero and his allies overcome to reach the hero's ordeal?
(Describe both internal and external obstacles and confrontations.)
The Hero's Ordeal
What ultimate fear or doom must the hero confront and overcome?
Reward Obtained
What opposition threatens the hero's newly won prize?
What is the literal or figurative reward the hero wins?
Returning to Ordinary World
What urgent need drives the hero to return to the ordinary world?
What information, setback, or success forces the final crisis or battle?
Why is the final battle unavoidable?
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Last quarter of story with the conclusive battle
Final Battle and Hero's Rebirth
What is the hero's final purifying life-and-death sacrifice he must complete?
How is the outcome positive or negative?
Return to altered Normalcy
What changes to the ordinary world occur because of the hero's adventure?
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-------- Plot Template #10
Massage the plot into something fresh.
Big Idea
Describe the hook that will get the reader interested in this story.
Grab Attention
Write copy that raises the readers' interest level beyond that of the original hook.
Eliminate
Identify (and remove) elements of the story that could prevent its sale.
Story uniqueness:
Describe the elements of this story that make it different from other stories with similar theme or plot. Describe what no one has seen before.
Scope:
Describe how this story will catch the interest of a large audience.
Twists:
Describe the twists that enliven the story.
Re-write:
Pick the least engaging scene and rework it until it is the most engaging scene (or delete it entirely). Repeat as necessary.
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Note: I am archiving this post from an old blog that will disappear forever this year.
