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mbarker Original Posting April 26, 2019
Transformation. The coda, resonance, final note…What makes this beat? Well, it's transformation! The character has changed in a significant way. They may be a whole new person, or just a stronger person. Go back to the Mirror Moment. "Who am I?" The transformation is into a different person. "I'm going to die!" The transformation is into a stronger person.Now, how do we prove the transformation? If they are a stronger person, often just by surviving and returning to normal life. If it was a fundamental change, though, we need to show it. Maybe they sacrifice themselves or something, maybe they give up the icon that has kept them going. One way or another, show that they are transformed.Now, why do we have this here? Basically, the story needs a character change. And here it is! Show the transformation. Readers want emotional engagement and completion. Give it to them.James suggests as a hint that you can plot starting with the transformation. What feeling do you want readers to have after they read your work? What change in the character does that? How do they go about surviving? What could they give up?Just as a reminder, readers want to worry about the characters. Get them engaged with the character, and then make them worry. Will this character get out alive? How has the experience changed them?So, we have come full circle, all the way through the 14 beats of Super Structure. Once more, quickly?Act I1. Disturbance. Something's happening here...2. Care Package. Hey, he's a nice guy!3. Argument against Transformation. No way am I going to change!4. Trouble brewing. Wow, that's not good!5. Doorway of No Return #1. We're off to see the Wizard!Act II6. Kick in the Shins. Ouch, there's a Final Battle up ahead!7. The Mirror Moment. What, me? No...8. Pet the Dog. I can't just ignore that call for help...9. Doorway of No Return #2. Slamming the lid on the boiler...Act III10. Mounting Forces. Everyone's here!11. Lights Out! And it looks bad for our hero!12. Q Factor. But... there's a ray of hope.13. Final Battle. And it's time to fight!14. Transformation. And here's the payoff...Look at how they tie together, too. Disturbance, Trouble brewing, Kick in the Shins, Mounting Forces... all lead up to the Final Battle. Care Package and Pet the Dog make us like the character. Argument against Transformation, Mirror Moment, Lights Out, Q Factor, and Transformation are all about the character and their change. The two doorways? Those are the transitions between Acts, one-way slides from one set of problems to the next. Cool, right?
Transformation. The coda, resonance, final note…What makes this beat? Well, it's transformation! The character has changed in a significant way. They may be a whole new person, or just a stronger person. Go back to the Mirror Moment. "Who am I?" The transformation is into a different person. "I'm going to die!" The transformation is into a stronger person.Now, how do we prove the transformation? If they are a stronger person, often just by surviving and returning to normal life. If it was a fundamental change, though, we need to show it. Maybe they sacrifice themselves or something, maybe they give up the icon that has kept them going. One way or another, show that they are transformed.Now, why do we have this here? Basically, the story needs a character change. And here it is! Show the transformation. Readers want emotional engagement and completion. Give it to them.James suggests as a hint that you can plot starting with the transformation. What feeling do you want readers to have after they read your work? What change in the character does that? How do they go about surviving? What could they give up?Just as a reminder, readers want to worry about the characters. Get them engaged with the character, and then make them worry. Will this character get out alive? How has the experience changed them?So, we have come full circle, all the way through the 14 beats of Super Structure. Once more, quickly?Act I1. Disturbance. Something's happening here...2. Care Package. Hey, he's a nice guy!3. Argument against Transformation. No way am I going to change!4. Trouble brewing. Wow, that's not good!5. Doorway of No Return #1. We're off to see the Wizard!Act II6. Kick in the Shins. Ouch, there's a Final Battle up ahead!7. The Mirror Moment. What, me? No...8. Pet the Dog. I can't just ignore that call for help...9. Doorway of No Return #2. Slamming the lid on the boiler...Act III10. Mounting Forces. Everyone's here!11. Lights Out! And it looks bad for our hero!12. Q Factor. But... there's a ray of hope.13. Final Battle. And it's time to fight!14. Transformation. And here's the payoff...Look at how they tie together, too. Disturbance, Trouble brewing, Kick in the Shins, Mounting Forces... all lead up to the Final Battle. Care Package and Pet the Dog make us like the character. Argument against Transformation, Mirror Moment, Lights Out, Q Factor, and Transformation are all about the character and their change. The two doorways? Those are the transitions between Acts, one-way slides from one set of problems to the next. Cool, right?
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