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)