Comments | fangs_fur_fey: The Three-Act Structure

stacia_kane in fangs_fur_fey

The Three-Act Structure

Jan 29, 2009 14:25

(This is x-posted from my own journal; after I posted it I started thinking how fascinating it would be to hear how the other FFF members handle their pacing/structure issues [and I know a few of you use this structure too], so I thought I'd pop it up here as well ( Read more... )

stacia kane

Comments 46

megancrewe January 29 2009, 15:08:45 UTC

Interesting ( ... )

stacia_kane January 29 2009, 16:32:05 UTC

See, this is really interesting, because you and Diana Peterfreund have both mentioned the four-act structure and have both said you're outliners/plotters. I wonder if thinking of it as four acts works better for plotters?

Thanks a lot, that's a really great way to explain the four-acts structure!

megancrewe January 29 2009, 18:24:02 UTC

It really is still three-act, it's just breaking down the beats within the acts a little more (there's a pretty good explanation of it here, for example. Maybe outliners like to have things broken down more? (I suppose that would make sense...)

THANKS! linda_robertson January 29 2009, 15:16:22 UTC

Stacia-
I knew you were awesome with Personal Demons, then I followed through your SWStrumpet series on your blog/journal and now this. You rock!

I kind of do this anyway, but with a good reminder like this the lightbulb surged a little brighter.

Thanks for sharing!
Linda

Re: THANKS! stacia_kane January 29 2009, 16:33:43 UTC

*blush* Thank you!

I think next week's post is going to be really fun because we'll get into building on all the first-act clues and more into subplots too. So come back and add your ideas! How do you do it? :-)

Re: THANKS! linda_robertson January 29 2009, 20:16:58 UTC

I think about where the main character is in life, where she wants to go/avoid, what 'frienemies' (borrowing your spiffy word) have motives that might help/hinder that, who has a possible subplot to mirror or contrast it (or both), and what things can be completely new to the MC to learn about. I love complicating things for a MC...throwing her a curve ball and see how she deals with it. I make a list of ideas for these things, and usually cross off the first couple things because if its 'obvious' to me I feel it may be predictable to others so I keep pushing to try to find something worse. And then theres the times I start writing and out of nowhere something unplanned or not previously considered just spills out and is too good not to explore further.

I'll definitely be back to see what you have to say!

BTW-love this pic of you! You look like a mischievious fairy!

Re: THANKS! stacia_kane January 30 2009, 21:31:42 UTC

Lol, thank you!

Yep, I think the most fun thing about writing is throwing complications in. It's the evil little sadist in me. Muahaha!

Honor forces me to admit "frenemies" isn't mine, though. I've heard it in a few places. :-)

patricemichelle January 29 2009, 15:33:50 UTC

Great write up! I did a write up about mini story arcs within your 'story's' arc using visual representation a while back on FFF. See HERE. So I think you and I are basically talking about the same thing (great specific examples, which made total sense to me). Apparently I do the "three act" process subconsciously. :)

stacia_kane January 29 2009, 16:24:32 UTC

Yes! I remember that post, Patrice, I was trying to find it to link to in mine but couldn't, doh. I really enjoyed that one. :-) And it made me take more notice of how I handled my chapters, which was basically the same way, so it was really helpful. It's amazing how much of this stuff really is instinctive; and then you think about it and make it conscious.

Thank you!

antonstrout January 29 2009, 15:33:56 UTC

That's vaguely what I do too.

I also start knowing I have about 40 scenes on average in my books, so I set down those numbers, and assign a one line tag as to what I think happens in those scenes. The first ten are set up, the last ten are short and quick, wrapping up the tale, and the middle twenty are really the meat of developing the meat of the tale.

It changes a lot in the process, but that's my general jumping off point, to help keep my sanity in the writing process...

stacia_kane January 29 2009, 16:29:12 UTC

See, that is awesome. But waaay too much planning for me, lol.

I think that's why I prefer thinking of it as three acts; it allows me more room to play, if you know what I mean. Because I don't plot, so this is more of a something-to-keep-in-mind than a must-do. Hmm. :-)

That's really cool, though. I tried "scene planning" once, on note cards, but planning ahead just kills the book for me. I'm so envious of you guys who can do it and make it work so well for you.

antonstrout January 29 2009, 17:08:46 UTC

If I did more than one line per scene, I'd be entering into full on outlining, which kill writing the book for me.

dpeterfreund January 29 2009, 15:36:01 UTC

I'm a four act structure girl, myself. 3-act never made any sense to me until I realized that, like Megan said, it's really four act masquerading as three act. I now give workshops on the topic. You can also read about it in my blog post here.

stacia_kane January 29 2009, 16:40:37 UTC

I wonder if looking at it as four acts works better for planners? Since I can't outline or plan in advance, three acts gives me the freedom I need to not lose interest while still giving me something to keep in mind for pacing purposes.