This week, we continue our conversation about plot, addressing the specifics of Act I and Act III, the connections between them, and the way the climax tends to echo or parallel your story’s opening.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
If you haven’t heard last weeks episode, check it out here!
How should you mirror your Act one and Act three? And why should they be related? What tools does that help you access? Remember your inciting incident doesn’t have to be one climactic moment, but your protagonist must have a choice! How should you develop your character with plot in mind? And what if you are writing a very interior or quiet journey?
What we talked about:
Kathryn’s problem with her Act 1 and Act 3, and making them work together. (1:35)
Alida recommends that your inciting incident and climax must be related. (3:38)
The Inciting Incident doesn’t need to be one thing. (7:07)
The importance of agency, and the protagonist’s choice. (8:38)
How you can use mirror structure to make the protagonist’s choice make sense to your reader. (10:21)
How to develop your protagonist with plot in mind. (13:20)
What about when you have an interior journey? (16:20)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
The Wizard of Oz
Star Wars A New Hope
Harry Potter
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Ordinary People
August Osage County
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 5 Subplots
SWRT 24 Soggy Middle
SWRT 010 Mystery Plots with Sara Rosett
SWRT 023 3D Villians
SWRT 041 Climaxes
SWRT 075 Story Structure
SWRT 077 Story Structure Part 2