By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/5/2007
Think of the CRISIS, which generally occurs around 3/4 into the entire project, as the ANTAGONIST'S CLIMAX, or where the antagonists prevail.
OR
The CRISIS is the PROTAGONIST'S moment of truth, where afterwards nothing is ever the same.
OR
In the CRISIS, the PROTAGONIST has a breakdown that leads to a break through.
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 12/1/2007
Thanksgiving came quickly. Not much advance planning except in brief contemplation when I plotted out vague ideas of food and events. Tradition dictated lunch and Thanksgiving dinner at home. Old family friends to join us for dessert. Next day, leftovers at the beach. Fingers crossed that once again Northern California would offer up one of the best beach days of the year.
Decisions made for who brings what, where and when.... Pre-plotting gives me a feeling of control over that which I know is uncontrollable. As much as I can plot out the events, the dishes, grocery lists, and sleeping arrangement, I know from experience that with the characters involved, disaster loomed.
The End of the Beginning arrives the Monday before Thanksgiving as the first family members trickle in.
Old friends invited say yes. Wednesday spent pre-cooking with Sister One, Mother, and Niece One. The doorbell rings. Niece Two beams at my look of surprise. Niece Three arrives. More sleeping arrangement plotted out. Grocery lists grow longer.
The big day arrives. Antagonists and allies align. Yes, predictably, the fun and surprises led to a Crisis, but this year there was also a personally satisfying Climax at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk on a glorious ride on the Big Dipper, the oldest wooden roller coaster in America.
One of the benefits of working with writers about plot is knowing the Universal Story form inside and out. As weird as it sounds, I live plot. That means I, as the protagonist of my own life, have the power to create Climax after Climax of my own liking.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? The challenge is to stay conscious of my own Character Emotional Development. If I get too caught up in the Dramatic Action of others in the moment, I lose clarity.
Martha,
I appreciate your tips. I have an idea of where I want to go with my next story--you give me a path to follow. You bring clarity to the murky muddle in my head. .:)
Thank you,
Jana McBurney-Lin
Author, My Half of the Sky
Martha,
I have never been clear in my writing about the power of crisis to to be the result of a buildup of tension. Three-fourths of the way into the project gives me a benchmark that will allow me to stop rushing into it too soon and making the rest of the manuscript a steady downhill decline! Thank you, it's back to the drawing board. Your tips are invaluable!
Luisa Adams
Author, Woven of Water
Wow, Martha, you have just solved my dilemma with your concise way of
teaching and re-teaching. When an author can't figure out what the CRISIS
is for her protagonist, the author herself gets into CRISIS mode. As you
know, this second novel has been such a struggle for me. I've been making
myself sick not knowing which event ought to be the CRISIS. Your posting
opened my eyes. You've done it again! I thank you from the bottom of my
heart, and that's no pun. Your humble student, Teresa LeYung Ryan, author
of Love Made of Heart www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com
View the crisis as the antagonist climax? Great tip. I've just been working on the story plan for my second book. Concetrating on building the character of the antagonist is one of the things I want to do better this time round.
Another piece of timely advice I heard yesterday, is that the protagonist is only as good as the antagonist.
Thanks for the tips.
Peter
MervynBright.co.uk
Thanks for this. Really helpful. Need all the help I can get. I appreciate the tips.
Not sure I'm 100% clear about the crisis, but these ideas certainly do help.
Gratefully yours,
I live to write
It is very hard to be fair to the antagonist when it is based on someone you have encountered in your life. Your blog will make it easier for me to develop the life of the antagonist now that I understand the impact on the protagonist.
The different descriptions had a cumulative effect of me finally getting it. Mucho gracias.
Martha, thanks for this. The crisis description is exactly what I needed to read and digest for the big crisis scene in my script. the solstice message was a good and comforting one. Before I took your workshop I had a folder full of notes written on post its and paper napkins. After the workshop I started writing the script, which has evolved over time, with frequent changes, into a finished script (sort of -is it ever finished?)in which my characters have come to life for me and I want them to have a good and happy conclusion to their various relatable dilemas.
Keep up your wonderful work. I'll pass on your tips to my two writer sons.
Love and blessings,
Rita