TECH: Super Structure: Doorway of No Return #2 (part 15) (500 words)

[mbarker]

Original posting March 22, 2019

Okay! Act II is closing down, and through this door… Act III! There is no turning back. This is the doorway that leads to the final battle and the resolution.

Let's step back a moment. Act II is where the major action of our story happens. The stakes, according to James Scott Bell, are death, physical, professional, or psychological. The lead, main character, protagonist, our hero has to fight! Act II is "a series of scenes where the character confronts and resists death, and is opposed by counterforces."

Then, The Doorway of No Return #2… And Act III begins! Usually, this doorway involves a major crisis or setback, some kind of a clue, a discovery, a revelation… And it sends us on toward the final battle.

Now, why do we have this? Well, Act II could just keep going, but the Doorway of No Return #2 sets up the final battle. Now, three act structure says that Act III is about one fourth or less of your book. So that's where you find the Doorway of No Return #2.

James gives some hints for plotters and pantsers. Plotters? You may want to leave this until you are well into your outline or even writing. Everything up to this point affects it. The characters, scenes with happy surprises, new events. It all feeds into the Doorway of No Return #2. So leave yourself room to make this great.

Pantsers? Discovery is the name of the game for you. So this one really works. Just keep in mind, and think about it from time to time. If possibilities hit you, go ahead and write them down. Then, when you're ready, pick the best one or a brand-new one and go for it.

James also has a reminder. Don't use coincidence to get your lead out of trouble. A crisis or a setback is more trouble, so that's okay. But, a discovery, a clue, a revelation really needs to be earned. Make the lead work for them, do something to get them.

Act I started off with a disturbance, which led to The Doorway of No Return #1. Then we had a kick in the shins, the mirror moment, and other complications and troubles that led to The Doorway of No Return #2! With The Final Battle looming ahead of us.

Kind of like crossing the United States. First you have to get across the Appalachians, then you can wander around until you hit the Mississippi, and across the great flatlands… And there's the Rocky Mountains looming in the distance!

How do you get this door right? I'd suggest (a) wait a while. Outlining, writing, see what pops up. (b) Brainstorm a list! What sets up the Final Battle? What key step does the lead need to take? What changes that forces them into that final battle? Now, pick the best one.

EXER: A mashup prompt, of sorts?

[mbarker]

Original posting March  27, 2019

Knowing that you might be interested in some kind of writing prompt (did you know we are doing short stories or other fragments? 6x6, but you're welcome to jump in and join in the fun now, if you like! Come on, write a little!)

Anyway, I was riding in the train today, looking around, and saw... a poster advertising a number of musicals, apparently. I guess live musicals are coming back? 

I thought you might be able to do something with this. Just three of the musicals...

The Bodyguard, On the Town, and Man of La Mancha!

Go ahead, let those simmer a little in your brain. A bodyguard... out on the town... and of course, Don Quixote and all the fun bits and pieces of the Man of La Mancha. Mix and match, see what sparks in your brain. Add a few characters, a bit of scenery, some events...

AND WRITE!

TECH: Super Structure: Mounting Forces (part 16) (300 words)

[mbarker]

Original posting April 1, 2019

 All right. The Doorway of No Retreat #2 has slammed behind us. The Final Battle looms ahead. And… "The opposition, knowing the Final Battle is closing in fast, gathers his forces." We are just starting into Act III, the resolution.

So, just like The Kick in the Shins after The Doorway of No Retreat #1, we get a reminder of the trouble all around us.

Why? Well, James says it's logical. Act III is all about relentless momentum. The Final Battle is ahead, and the antagonist knows it. So, he prepares for it. This is that beat.

What about some hints? Well, James suggests that we look back at the list of obstacles that we made for The Kick in the Shins. Remember? Save the worst on the list for Lights Out, the next beat, but pick one of your worse ones for here. Or you can try brainstorming again, maybe another list of possibilities.

And the reminder? Well, your lead is headed for the Final Battle. There's no way out, The Doorway of No Retreat #2 is closed behind us, and we're committed. Now is the time to really put the pressure on, and make your protagonist sweat.

While James does give some examples, this is actually a pretty sketchy section. I think how you fill in this beat depends a great deal on your story, so it's hard to generalize. Step back, look at what you have set up for your antagonist and protagonist, and give them a chance to remind the readers about what the opposition will bring to bear. More trouble! Conflict! Yipes!

I think this is partially a regrouping, by both the protagonist and the antagonist, on the way to The Final Battle. One more time, let's go over our battle plan, make sure we've got everyone together, check our resources. And then… The lights go out.