Troy Lambert
Act 1 – An Overview
Exposition – Introducing the Ordinary World
The Inciting Incident – Disrupting the Ordinary World
Plot Point 1 – Changing Direction in the Story
The Exposition
Introduce the Protagonist and Their Ordinary World
Develop a Three-Dimensional Character with a Unique Personality
Present the Protagonist’s Flawed Thinking or Internal Conflict
(Show Who the Character is and Different Traits They Have)
Set the Scene and Atmosphere in an Interesting Way
What is the Ordinary World?
The Ordinary World is the Protagonist’s Normal Life
Includes Their Setting, Routines, Activities, and Relationships
(Concentrate on those Relationship which will Change as a Result of the Story)
(Does not Include Mundane Stuff – If You Bore Me, You Lose Me)
Example: The Lion King
Simba’s Ordinary World Introduces the Kingdom
We See His World as It Is and Will Be Again at the End of the Story
We’re Introduced to Conflict Immediately
Example: Hunger Games
Katniss’s Ordinary World Introduces Her Strengths
We See Her Society as It Is
We’re Introduced to Conflict Immediately
Aside: Answers to Questions
If Possible, Start In Media Res – In the Middle of the Story, Normally a Hook, Not the Inciting Incident
In You Have an A and B Story, the A is the Main Story, the B is a Subplot
The Inciting Incident
Introduce a Dramatic Event that Disrupts the Protagonist’s Life/World
Indicate How this Event Impacts the Protagonist and Why They Must Solve the Problem
Consider How This Event Collides with the Protagonist’s Flawed Thinking or Inner Conflict
Amplifications
Start Early to Introduce Theme
Ordinary World can be Second Scene with the Hook Beginning the Story
With Many Beginning Writers, Often Toss Out First Two Chapters in their First Draft
Must Start with Protagonist’s Flawed Understanding – OK to Deceive Reader at this Point
Must Show Why Protagonist must Solve Problem (Can be Wrong, but Must Think So)
Whatever is Inciting must Result in Change (Not Necessarily “Exciting” in Reader’s Eyes)
Can be Change in Atmosphere/Attitude
What is a Dramatic Event?
A Dramatic Event Results in Change and that Change Results in Conflict
A Dramatic Event Must not Only be Disruptive, It Must also be Interesting
A Dramatic Event Creates Empathy for the Protagonist
Amplifications
Conflict Makes It Interesting
Must Cause Change in Protagonist
Needs to Create Stakes for the Reader - Keep the Reader Reading
This is the First Turning Point
Must Show the Type of Story the Reader will Care About
This Must be Genre Specific – That’s Why the Reader Bought This Book
Don’t Produce a Dead Body on the Floor for a Romance Story
Setting is as Important as When It Happens
What Makes an Event Interesting?
What Happens (Interesting Thing)
Where it Happens (Interesting Place)
The Character’s Reaction (Interesting Person)
Interesting Requires Goal, Motivation and Conflict
Amplification
Can also Affect the Antagonist at the Same Time
Must Create Immediate Conflict – Internal/External/Both
Internal and External Goals can Change over Course of Story
Protagonist Must be Compelled to take Action to Attain Goal(s)
People in the Story are Key – Readers Care about People, not Events
Creating Empathy for the Character
Reader Needs to Connect with the Character’s Human Emotions and How They Feel They Need to Act
We See Hoe the Character’s Flawed Thinking Influences Their Decision Making
Examples of Empathy
We Sympathize with Simba when His Ordinary World is Shattered
We Sympathize with Katniss when Her Family is Introduced
The Impact with the Dramatic Event
The Dramatic Event Causes Us to Care about the Character
Therefore, It Causes Us to Care about the Outcome of the Story
Amplification
Goal is External, Motivation is Internal Reason to Go for Goal, It is the Driver
Call to Action is Normally Just after Inciting Incident – Where Character Must take Action
Plot Point 1
Create a Gripping Event that Pulls the Protagonist into the Story
The Event Must Create a Challenge for the Character
Have the Protagonist Take Up the Challenge – Willingly or Begrudgingly –
And Break into a New World
Protagonist has No Choice but To Go
What is the New World?
The New World is the New Setting and/or circumstances the Protagonist is Now In
The New World Must be Interesting In a New Way
Can be old world but in a new setting/stakes … things SEEM different, even if only emotionally
Must Bring Conflict
Examples of the New World
The Lion King: Simba is Exiled into the Desert
Hunger Games: Katniss is Forced into a New Setting
The Central Theme or Question
What is the Point of Your Story?
Why Would Readers Care How It Comes Out in the End?
Caring about Theme and Characters is Why Readers Keep Reading
Meeting the Mentor
The Mentor Equips the Protagonist for Their Quest
The Mentor can (and Often Should) be Flawed
The Mentor is Usually Connected to the Character’s Motivation
The Mentor Doesn’t Have to be a Person
Example: The Lion King
Simba’s Mentors are Timon and Pumba
They Help Him Adapt to the New World
They Motivate His Return to the Ordinary World
Example: Hunger Games
Katniss’ Mentor is Haymitsh
Haymitch Helps Katniss Understand the New World
He Helps Katniss to Embrace the New World
Key Takeaways
The Exposition Introduces the New World in an Interesting Way
The Inciting Incident Launches the Story
Plot Point #1 is the First Major Change in the Story
Mentor(s) Help the Protagonist Achieve Their Goal(s)