Act 1: 25% in +/- 5%

1. The Disturbance (Call to Adventure) – Disturbance to Lead’s Ordinary World

Must have Conflict to Interest Reader – to Make Reader Care

Must cause Ripples in the Ordinary World

A Change or Challenge to Lead & Uncertainty Pending

Best on Page 1, Best First Paragraph, First Sentence – Alternate at End of First Paragraph

Agents was Dialog in First Page because Dialog Indicates a Scene – not Exposition

Must Grab Reader Immediately

2. Care Package – a Bonding Agent

         Want to Like or Admire – Humanizes Them

         Want a Strong Emotional Bond to Another Character to Point out Helping Another

         Create a Relationship Before Story Begins

Best when Placed Just After or Within Opening Disturbance

3. Trouble Brewing

         Real Trouble on the Way

4. Argument Against Transformation

         Connected to Theme and Meaning

         Character Argues Against the Theme – A Life Lesson Learned

         Plants in Readers Mind what the Arc of the Character will Be

                 Leads to Reader Satisfaction When Character Finally Changes

         Have a Meaning for the Ending

5. First Doorway of No Return - (Inciting Incident)

         Gets to Essence – Death Stakes are on Other Side of Door

         Once Through – Can’t Go Back to Ordinary World

         Lead would Rather Rest Comfortably in Ordinary World and Avoid Death Stakes

Altogether

         Something Must Happen to Force Lead Through the Door and Slam it Shut Behind Them

         We Must have Strong Emotional Impact to Lead

Act 2: 25-75% +/-5% each side

The Confrontation or Arena of Conflict

Act II is a Series of Attempts by the Lead Character to Overcome Challenges

Steps Forward and Setbacks with Things Progressively Getting Worse

The Readers know They are in the Heart of the Story

Overarching Story Question – Will the Lead Win or Lose? Gain the Objective or Not?

The Lead can Take a Moment to Take Stock, Get Acclimated, Analyze, Wonder

6. A Kick in the Shins –

         Hurts More than Act I – First Volley in Act II Battle

         Gets Fully Grounded in Confrontation

         Don’t Let Things Stay Trouble-Free for Long – That’s what A Kick in the Shins is For

         Two Sides are Defined – The Battle is Clear

7. The Mirror Moment

          Smack Dab in Middle of Novel – Most Helpful Signpost of All

          The Character’s Come to Jesus Moment – Who am I? What have I Become

          Metaphorically He’s Looking at Himself in the Mirror and Doesn’t Like What He Sees

    1.   The Question for the Rest of the Book – Who will the Lead Be

    Character Confronts Themselves, Who Will I Be

 - or -

    2.   There No Way I can Do This, I’m Going to Die

        I Don’t Have the Resources to Do This, I’m Probably Going to Die

        Its not about the Scene – It’s a Moment Within the Scene - Its about the Character

        This is the Point the Decision to Change is Made

             The Rest of the Book is about Answering Those Questions

        The Most Common Mirror Moment is in the Middle of a Character Arc from Negative to     

              Positive

         Or Because the Character Becomes Stronger/More Resilient

8. Pet the Dog – Just Before or After the Mirror Moment

    Hero Takes a Moment to Help another Character Weaker then Themselves or Scraggily Dog   

    In Trouble

A Kindness that the Character does not Have to Show, But when Does, Bonds even Closer to

    Lead

          Difference between Care Package and Pet the Dog

                    The Care is a Relationship Before the Story Begins

                    The Dog Happens in the Middle of the Trouble

9. The Second Doorway of No Return - 75% or a Little Further

          Something Happens which Makes the Resolution Inevitable – The Final Battle is the Only   

               Way Forward

          One of Four Things Happen to Change the World:

                    A Major Crisis

                    A Major Setback

                    A Major Discovery

                    A Major Clue

          The Path Forward is Now Clear

Act III: 80% +/-5% each side

The Confrontation or Arena of Conflict

10. Mounting Forces

          Refers to Opposition Gathers Forces Forward for the Final Battle

11. Lights Out

          Things are Darkest for Lead - Looks Like can Never Win

          Things Go from Bad to Worse

          Has Dilemma: Two Bad Choices, Yet the Lead must Choose

12. The Q-Factor

          Lead Needs a Final Jolt of Courage to Face the Final Battle/Ultimate Challenge

    Must Summon that Extra Courage for Final Battle

    Usually Right Before or After the Lights Out

          A Physical Object that Reminds Character of Something Important

          Recalling Words of Trusted friend or Mentor

          Rebuke from Someone with Moral Authority

    Often the Q-Factor is Connected to the Care Package from Act I

13. Final Battle

          A Physical Battle Outside the Character, an Emotional Battle Within, or Both

          Story Question is Answered, Leads Objective has been Realized, Failed, or Hanging    

               Unanswered

14. Transformation

          Have to Prove the Transformation – Must Demonstrate a Difference

          If Possible, Do It with a Symbol – Creates a Wonderful Feeling in the Reader as it Makes    

              A Subliminal Connection

Last Moment of Book

          A Moment of Resonance

          The Last Moment When the Reader Knows Transformation has Happened

          A Symbol that Transformation is Complete

          The Last Line Resonance has Something to Do with the Inner Life of the Character(s)

          Transformation – a Gaining of Strength