How to Write The MIDDLE of Your Story (ACT 2)
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- In today's video we're exploring ACT 2 of the 3-act story structure and how to use powerful storytelling principles to avoid the “mushy middle” and write a story that readers cannot put down.
GRAB THE 3-ACT STORY STRUCTURE TEMPLATE: eepurl.com/gFYD8z
🎥PREVIOUS VIDEOS IN THIS SERIES:
STORY BEAT #1: THE HOOK → • How to Write a Hook Fo...
STORY BEAT #2: THE INCITING INCIDENT → • How to Write an INCITI...
BONUS: INCITING INCIDENT CASE STUDY → • INCITING INCIDENTS: Di...
STORY BEAT #3: THE 1ST PLOT POINT → • How to Write the First...
STORY BEAT #4: THE 1ST PINCH POINT → • How to Write a PINCH P...
________________________________
0:00 Introduction
1:17 The Pre-Midpoint Reactionary Hero
6:01 Case Study: Divergent
9:31 Case Study: The Greatest Showman
13:00 Recap
________________________________
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MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:
→ PLOT DRIVEN VS CHARACTER DRIVEN STORIES
• Plot Driven VS Charact...
→ SHOWING VS TELLING INTERNAL CONFLICT
• How To SHOW and Not TE...
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• WRITING POWERFUL SIDE ...
→ HOW TO WRITE THEME INTO YOUR STORY
• How to Write THEME Int...
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✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
Story isn’t about “what happens” - it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel - and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!
✨C R E D I T S ✨
All movie clips and soundtracks used for educational purposes under the Fair Use law. Divergent (2014) copyright Red Wagon Entertainment, Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate. The Greatest Showman (2017) copyright Laurence Mark Productions, Chernin Entertainment, TSG Entertainment, 20th Century Fox.
Me to my protagonist: "I love your plan except that it sucks..."
Same lol. I'm like, "You do that. You will eventually succeed-but it's gonna cost you a lot more than you think-and you chose that. Alright!"
"Careful what you wish for" in a nutshell.
"Have fun being on a sinking troop carrier! Hope you have something to float on, because deer mice quickly succumb to hyperthermia."
@@qwertykeyboard5901 Now I really wanna read just what kind of story you're writing that lands a deer mouse on a sinking troop carrier!
@@autobotyscorner6404 It'll be on AO3.
How am I only discovering you now? I did a three year writing degree and you’re better than most of my lecturers! Keep up the great work
Oh my gosh I was in the middle of outlining my act 2. This is just absolutely perfect timing! Thank you!
Me too :) isn't it great how she gets the timing right??
@@Hanedie1 omg me too!
Abbie, I literally just had a revelation into my own life based on watching this series. There's a really big change looming in the distance in my family's life, and I just realized I have been putting it off. I thought I was just waiting for the next step to come up, but no! I'm literally the MC in the story of my life (duh), but I just NOW realized I'm putting off taking the next step because of my misbelief and trying to avoid my fears! Oh my gosh. Thank you thank you thank you for these videos. Not only are they helping me to shape my novel, but they are helping me to figure out my life! ❤
Just last night I was talking to my husband about how I've noticed the middle of my stories sag and meander too much and that I have no idea how to fix it. Then you upload this today. Do you have my house bugged? Lol. *searches thoroughly through home*
In all seriousness though, thank you for this, Abbie. Can't wait for the next one on the midpoint.
Do you feel Tris's character would've been stronger if she was told she was weak all of her life: not able to defend herself when she couldn't win fights, not distinctive talents thus worry her parents won't think she's special. She joins Dautless first b/c she wants to hide the fact she isn't physically strong. She's different, which is something she was teased and terrorized about when she was little. When she loses a fight, it only makes her remember the harsh reality is she's not fit to be this type of person. She wants to fit in because she doesn't want to feel like a burden to her parents, to society, to herself but by her own standards. Theme: I don't have hide what I truly am because I don't fit the bill. Lie: if I don't fit in, I'm worthless and a burden, a nobody.
Yeah I think that would have made the story much better.
You gave her internal conflict, which was what he character lacked. Good job!
@@dawnt9779 thanks!
@@noonebossesthegarnet2890 thanks!
I’m taking that theme.
I'm trying to analyze the film It's a Wonderful Life by Frank Capra. George Bailey's misbelief is that relationships with family and community is the cause of suffering and pain. His dad, the elder Mr. Bailey, worked hard to help the community but ended up dying young of a stroke and left his family very little money. The inciting incident after he was voted to run the building and loan bank. He reluctantly agreed to work there for four years while waiting for his brother Harry to come back from college to take over the position. The first plot point occured when Harry came back and George learned that Harry had gotten married and was offered a great job in another town. George decided it was less painful for him to stay working at the bank than to have his brother who he loves give up a great opportunity. I am trying to figure out where in this story is the beginning of Act 2, the middle plot. Thanks so much for this video. I'm learning so much from you Abbie!
“Your skin is made of stardust
Your eyes are like the cosmos
there’s constellations in the freckles on your face
Your hair is like a halo
You angel girl-“
Abbie Emmons
Mirror girl.
:') 💛🙏
I do hope u continue to use Divergent and The Greatest Showman as examples of the 3 Act structure story videos!
This is kinda perfect timing since I just got to this point in my story and have been feeling kinda stuck...this is great :)
I'm currently dying in finals and I was like "lemme pause on this 20 page paper on intelligent design and just stare at abbie's face for a sec." self care i say. Can't wait to get back to writing, but no lie. I might need to stare at a wall for a few days before i willing look at a computer screen
How did u do on the finals?
You know what's funny? I KNOW all this information and you've repeated this over and over again and still, every time I watch you break down the story structure it's like I'm hearing it for the first time. I just realized I forgot some major character arc points by watching this video. I completely lost the essence or main theme of the story. No wonder it felt flat. But while taking notes during this video I figured it out! Thank you so much for the constant reminder! I swear you can never repeat INNER CONFLICT and MISBELIEF enough haha. (those were the missing links in my act 2).
Hey, just thought I'd ask around to see if someone responds. I'm watching this for how to write my act II but I found once I made my character's misbelief (that they stick to their way of doing things: i.e. rushing in head first without a plan) I made it so that way they're not planning, but it's very specific in this video that they need to plan based on their misbelief.
So now I'm confused on how to continue with this. Any advice you may be able to give?
I posted this answer in another comment for a similar question, and don't know if it answers your question. But maybe it will help..?
i'm a novice writer, but my unqualified writer's brain thinks maybe your protagonist perhaps finds her new "plan" based on the struggles of her impulses and 'lack of plan'... does that make sense? As an example; my protagonist has tried to handle the struggles she facing by keeping certain key secrets from other characters she's close to. In doing so, she's put herself in a dangerous "hole". When one bad choice finally shows her that she cannot go it alone, no matter how much she thinks she's protecting others, she must make a "new plan" - tell the truth, allow others to help, get herself - and everyone else - out of danger. This leads into my final act - the climactic final few chapters.
I dunno... does that help at all? lol! I realize you posted this question months ago and have probably already solved your issue.
BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!!
You have made me view storytelling in such a different way, from characters to plot to story structure... You've honestly inspired me to become a better writer every day, and I can't thank you enough for that. I'm so happy that you uploaded this video on my birthday!
Happy birthday!🎉
abbie you're gonna be the first person on my acknowledgement list
I spend Wednesdays refreshing youtube every 10 minutes until you upload! I'm so happy you're continuing this series 😊
Yay! Thank you!
Can I just say that the slogan of your channel is fantastic? It's so refreshing to have a place where writing is treated like the important thing it is.
I printed out the template, and I'm taking notes on there too, actually.
Your videos are amazing. You present an idea and I am like, " I have my entire book in my head, but I have no idea how I would write something like what you are describing!"
Then, as you talk, I work through the difficulties and the plot develops. Ideas come to mind, on a book that I have had in my head for 10 years. These tips are developing my book and cranking up the suspense.😂❤
Just found your video while searching for advice on how to avoid the sagging middle. Very well explained. Loved the video. I will be watching the rest. Thank you
I'm making comic script now and actually your videos really help a lot. this is can be use for story as whole, not just a novel. Thank you!!
This is exactly what I wanted right now! Thank you so much Abbie 💛
Super helpful vid! Been binging your vids as I’ve just found your channel. I’ve got to say I really enjoy this latest format of having the explanation and then visual examples WITH the story beats asked and answered as we view the scenes. (Or not answered if it’s a bad example.) Its just soo super helpful! Thank you!!
Thank you so much for being the great person that you are! I've been stuck for months and months not able to write, and I've been binging your videos for 3 days now.. Best decision I've ever taken! Keep going please I'm already a hard core fan
Abbie - you are a wonderful teacher! i wish you all the success!!
Abbie, you have helped me so much. This series is helping me truly find my story vs the regular hero's journey I used for years. Also your sarcasm gets me everytime 🤣
So informative!!! Thanks Abbie, I’ve become a huge fan and devotee of your channel. You’re inspiring me to get back to writing ✍️ so grateful 🙏🏼
It's so weird, I watched all of these videos when I was still in drafting stages of one of my first WIPs and none of the information resonated with me. Now that I'm in the editing phase of the WIP I'm going to publish, this information is gold. I'm loving rewatching these videos!
I had made my mind to comment for you to upload the next video of this series soon, but you already did it. Thank you, this whole series is helping newbie writers like me a lot.
P.s.: Kind of miss your old book self.
So glad you uploaded this video. I'm writing my first draft and I'm about to be on act II.
AAAAH I love this series so much! I wish I was from the future😂 You are awesome Abbie!✨💚
Have been following your channel for almost 2 years now, and it really makes me happy that you are getting recognized by a larger audience. Keep going Abbie! :)
Thank you so much! 😀
Thank you Abbie ! You made our life easier 😍🌧
I love your videos. Not only because they have valuable information, but also because only you explain it in an understandable and intelligent way, and although my focus is the writing of screenplay, you have still helped and inspired me a lot, thank you very much!! Keep going!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! They mean so much to me, and I am thrilled that the content I make encourages you to chase your dreams and make your story MATTER!
You have a great way of delivering this! Thank you lots!
Oh man, rooting the action in the character's misbelief, love this!
I'm really looking forward to the next (act 3) video and your analysis of the last part of the Greatest Showman.
Love the examples - it really underlines your points and gives me "aha-moments".
Thank you so much. Your channel has been so helpful, and I really look forward to your videos.
I'm so glad you're doing a series on this, bc it's really nice to have the story beats completely broken down and throughly explained. Could you do more case studies to compare too?
Thank you so much! Definitely more case studies to come
Finally revealed, the point of a plan based on misbelief. (And not just events which manifest it) -- The reader gets to anticipate!
That's bite. Thanks for giving the idea teeth.
Yay I've been waiting for this to continue 😁
I've been waiting for this!!! 🤩🤩
Can you do a walk through on how to write a slice of life story using this framework?
Hello Abbie,
I've been binge watching a lot of your videos and I've come to love your channel!!! I really love your case studies. They are the best. I don't know if this is too early, but would you be interested in doing one big case study that would dive into the details of how to successfully incorporate the three act structure to a novel/story.
Love ya! ❤😊
Just joined your Patreon. I've learned so much watching your videos, just wanted to pay it forward. Have a blessed year.
You're the best - thank you! 🙏💛
This is so incredibly helpful! Thank you for doing these!! 🤩
You're so welcome!
I am so grateful that you exist ❤️
Thank you again! Have been waiting for ur new video
I really love your videos! I wish you had a romance novel writing series too🥺🥺🥺 thank you so much
This video was super helpful! Thanks for making it! Have a great day!
Glad it was helpful!
I loved this video 😍😍 thank you so much for this
You always impress. Thank you.
Thank you Abbie!!! 💙👍
Binge watching these. Keep thinking Abbie looks very familiar and then it occurrs to me that Nancy Wheeler from Stranger Things was telling me about story beats. :)
Ty a lot, big hug!
This was exactly what I needed thanks
Really cool video Abbie 👍
THANKS A LOT
Thank you so much! Your videos are so unique and helpful. I love how you dive into the psychology behind everything, instead of giving random tips.
I have a question. You talk a lot about knowing your protagonist’s desire, fear, and misbelief. Can they have more than one of each, or is it better to focus on one for each category?
I have the same question because my character has two fears but I don't how to pull it off perfectly in the story :(
They can definitely have more than one - and more than one character can also have the same misbelief. I think you would get a lot out of the new episode of the podcast: ua-cam.com/video/B_-deYQzuxk/v-deo.html
Your hair looks amazing
This is a perfect explination
Can I just say that your eyebrow is super amazing.
Abbie you are my favourite mentor on the earth ❤
:') Thank you so much for your kind words! They mean so much to me, and I am thrilled that the content I make encourages you to chase your dreams and make your story MATTER!
Perfect video. Love it ❤️❤️😁😁
Yay! Thank you!
Awesome video helped a lot ☺️✌🏻
Glad it helped!
"It does work, but is he happy? NO, because with Barnham its-"
Cuts to somg nevr enough.
Me laughing with intensity as my bones and organs scream at me to stop 😂😂
I've been following along with this series and putting it against my own story to see if mine tracks 😂
Mine isn't written out, but it's be incubating in my mind since 2007 (aka, freshman/sophomore year in high school) I know the key points of my story, granted, my protag isn't human, she's actually a cow, the whole story follows her struggles within her herd as she deals with the abuse from her herd leader.
So far? My story tracks 😅 so I have to do the hard part and actually write it
OMG OMG CLICKED SO FAST!
do you think its confusing to introduce a character and change their name later on in the book? (to be clear not abruptly but in dialog announce one character was renamed by another character)
The Bible does it severally. Only it carries some importance like announcing their destiny or change in internal identity.
Speaking of which trans people too. So it can be done tastefully
I actually felt really disappointed with the protagonist at the end of the Greatest Showman because I didn’t feel that his fault was fully addressed. I saw his diverse crew who he had exploited and excluded forgive him after his low point that involved no apology or improvement in regard to what I saw as his big flaw (using people’s differences and disabilities for profit). He showed change, but he didn’t show the change I wanted to see. While a story doesn’t have to address every fault in a character, I really thought that a film masquerading as a statement about diversity would have a character whose misunderstanding was about diversity, but it wasn’t, it was all about his own image.
Perfect timing as I’m plotting act two right now!! Thank youuu
Hi! Im really curious as to where you published.
I don't understand the whole pressure or super importance on the misbelief thing. Divergent is a great movie. Love it. The series as a whole. I don't see anything wrong with not having a misbelief and having the plot drive the character. I do like your advise, but I don't really agree on that as you say it. Like a story isnt good pretty much without a misbelief.
I really hope Abbie reads these newer comments (and doesn’t just pay attention to what her Patreons ask for 😜), because this is one of the most restrictive parts of her writing advice that can quickly feel like a corset. Abbie’s tips have propelled me 260,000 words into a novel I only started working on one year ago. But the more it takes form, the more I feel like I’d have to shoehorn things in if I really wanted to make it go along with Abbie’s template.
Importantly, Abbie’s guidelines fail to account for some of the most successful stories out there. What’s Luke Skywalker’s misbelief? What’s Harry Potter’s misbelief? What’s Katniss Everdeen’s misbelief? If your template can’t answer that, that’s a serious weakness of the “scientific model” you’re proposing.
First of all, I think the misbelief concept only works with characters who are “free to do what they want” - so that only their own shortcomings can be the cause of their failure (such as a misbelief and/or fear). Characters in dystopian settings, however, are usually *not* free to do what they want: Katniss lives under the rule of the Capitol; Luke Skywalker lives under the rule of the Empire. Hence, they’re more prone to becoming punching bags for the plot by design. Harry Potter isn’t free to do what he wants, because he’s a child, and he’s living with foster parents who treat him poorly.
Abbie’s framework can make it look like all of these characters had fallen into a victim mindset (being “punching bags” for the plot). But there’s still a huge difference between reluctant heroes (remember the “Refusal of the Call” stage) and passive damsels in distress turned protagonist, such as Bella from Twilight or Anastasia from 50 Shades of Grey.
Second, there are other forms of internal conflict than desire vs. fear. A much more common and timeless one is desire vs. duty. In that case, you can’t simply dismiss the alternative to “what I want” as a misbelief: There’s actually a point to the other side, and there are no good outcomes - only trade-offs. There are no answers, only choices.
The fact that Abbie considers a misbelief essential to creating internal conflict suggests she hasn’t thought a lot about desire vs. duty yet. Which may be indicative of her “entrepreneurial mindset”: As far as we can tell from the outside, she seems to be doing exactly what she wants for a living. I don’t know how often she even experiences the “desire vs. duty” conflict herself. 😁 Of course, I know what it feels like to not have the energy to make a video sometimes, even though you have an idea for one and know you should make one. But then again, for me UA-cam isn’t a source of income. If something is your main job, it’s a different story.
I'm outlining a new novel right now and I've finished my act one. I've been dying for the rest of act two and act three videos because I swear I can't continue on without your guidance! Please upload soon my Kween
What i realised is that your story structure really resembles 'Save the cat' by Blake, have you guys read it? And omg, thank the holy God's about your videos! They saved my life
Also you inspired me to make a channel and I currently have a video up and am posting my second one today
Can you please do a video about realistic characters injuries??
Hi Abbie, I don’t have a Facebook account but I have a AskAbbie question. Do you have any advice for writers writing retellings? Like fairytales, myths, etc? Thanks!
I'm spending the middle convincing the reader that a main character is dead, but she's not!!! Her fake death is a breakthrough that will give her a new power.
I know that I'm super late to this but, although Tris doesn't have her internal conflict show immediately, it does show. She goes through her fear landscape and you get to see that she essentially has a fear of confinement, a fear of being on the outside/not being accepted, etc. If you watch all movies or read all the books you can see the overall picture a lot more clearly and how all of her decisions actually were a result of her misbelief which was that the world was dead beyond the wall, and that the factions were meant to be a good thing. So I wanna know, is this structure the same for series? Because a standalone is going to need a lot more information essentially right at the beginning to be able to hook readers and to ensure that the writer gets every facet of information in the 1 book. A series is different though, it doesn't need to release all info in a specific timeframe, right? I'm just learning so maybe I'm completely wrong.
A little late and I'm also not an expert. I've also not read the books so I'm speaking solely on the movie. To compare the hunger games and Divergent movies alone, the differences are glaring. Note: I have only watched the first movie for both, not the books and not the other installments so I'm speaking only based on the first movie for both characters which is fairly equal grounds.
Despite also being a series, in hunger games, the internal conflict is shown to us. Katniss's role as a motherly figure in her sister's life. This makes us understand why she volunteers for her sister. Because we've been given an insight into who she is, we understand that she couldn't have made any other choice. It also makes us have an emotional reaction when she has to leave her sister alone to go and potentially die. Her telling Gale to take care of her sister makes sense and feels emotional. Also, Katniss's personality, who she was, and what was important to her, continually kept playing into the plot. She had to survive because she had to come back for her sister. She protected Rue because of course Rue was as young as her sister was and Katniss's instinct is to protect rather than harm. This is also why she makes the decision to couple with Peeta even though she could have easily killed him. Her instinct is to protect rather than harm. Because we understand all these essential truths about her, all or most of her decisions made sense.
To contrast this, in Divergent, Tris is a complete cardboard character. This may sound harsh but note, I'm criticizing only the movie Tris and not the book Tris. Because I have no idea who she is, or what's important to her, I can't tell you conclusively why she chose Dauntless. From her tests, she was Abnegation-Erudite-Dauntless. So why not Erudite. Why Dauntless? I really couldn't tell you why? Even from that point on, we are still not told or shown who she is. Like Abbie said, the fear of being factionless cut across all the recruits. And honestly, when I recently rewatched this movie last month, I kept wondering why Tris's friend (Christa?) wasn't the main character. Because we could replace Tris with her, really with anyone and the story wouldn't change a bit. Yes, we saw the fears of confinement, blah blah but once again, it was through a simulation that everyone else went through. Nothing special. Tris was truly a character that literally just moved wherever the plot carried her. At least in the movie. She was literally entirely replaceable because we knew nothing about her that we didn't also know about the other characters.
These are two movies (that are part of a larger series) that are approached very differently. In a series, you may not want to reveal every detail about your characters, yes but the minimum, the very bare minimum is who the main character is because otherwise, why the heck should we care about book 1 not to mention 2 and 3.
Sorry, I tend to be long-winded but hope this helps.
Hi!! Do you think it matters how much percentage of the story is Act 1/2/3? I feel like I’m going to have MOST of my chapters in Act 2 and I don’t feel like I had enough chapters for Act 1 (I only have 5 chapters for it rn and I’m planning on writing roughly a 40-50 chapter novel) 🥺🥺
Great breakdown of why Divergent falls flat and misses a lot of potential. Makes me wonder- why, then, is it so popular and successful? If it doesn’t utilize many, if any, of these brain based story techniques, why the hype/film adaptation/etc?
Genuinely curious if anyone wants to discuss. Would love to hear from other writers/readers. :)
My story is such that the protagonist has a proper plan- until the midpoint. That just throws her into a whole confusion, and then she has the world's stupidest plan ever and that basically made her be the cause of the whole disaster that happens in act 3... Also, is it okay if the whole of act one is backstory (my story is such that the whole of the first act is backstory, and then she has this second plot point before act 2 and then the whole pre midpoint reactionary hero happens)??
Ok, I've got a question. I'm writing a story and am just planning The Pre-Midpoint Reactionary Hero moment. My problem is, I have two main characters. One of them has a goal that they think will bring them true happiness, but the other one was kind of sucked into the action and plans to find a way to get their life back to normal as soon as possible. Is it alright if this is their only goal? To get life back to normal, which only became their goal because they were sucked out of their comfort zone. (They never end up getting their life back to normal, of course)
Actually, I've got it worked out. I'm adding in a scene in act one that will fix it. Just in the planning/writing stage. Love these video. The help be a lot.
Hi! I know you've already solved the issue, but just to give an input, maybe there could be some backstory explaining why he wanted his life like that, so when it's taken away from him, the readers can empathize. Just like Marlin wanting Nemo back, you know? Ultimately, there's gotta be some change, tho.
Thank you so much!
My brain after this video: “NEVER ENOUGH! NEVER EENOOUUGH! NEVER ENOUGH! NEVER EENOOUUGH!”
Help it’s stuck in my head. Two words over and over. ;-;
Hi Abbue, what you think about Nomadland? were apparently nothing change in the protagonist
No I wanna be first
Second
I was second
I have a probably obvious question for you as I am a new writing enthusiast. Lol. Ok is the 3act story structure the same thing as the hero’s journey? Or do they fit into each other? Or by using one are you automatically using the other? Your explanation of this would help a lot, thank you.
She mentions the hero's journey in her Enneagram video, near the end, I think. The three act story structure helps flesh out the Hero's Journey: why it matters to the protagonist to be the hero outside of "it's the right thing to do" and, unless I'm overthinking it, "I can't do it because I'm not that important."
Luke: *the stupid plan - aka fighting Vader before graduation - leads to him losing a hand (and finding out Vader is his father)*
Anakin: *stupid plan - aka charging at Count Dooku - leads to him losing an arm*
Like father, like son, they always say...
Obi Wan-Kenobi stupid plan: "I teach a Skywalker to be a Jedi" - Leads to "kill" the first and sacrifice for the second.
Does this also work for werewolf stories as well?
I ALWAYS get stuck on act 2 of my story. I get the first and ending parts done but then the middle is just AHHHH--idk how to continue the middle part!! it's the hardest & most overwhelming :(((
Would have been cool if Tris's desire was to fit in, fear was not finding where she fit in, and misbelief was that she could only fit in if she found which one faction she "belonged" to.
Guys I need a little help. My protagonist's fear is abandonment bc her parents died when she was young and she had to leave her bestfriend. I can't for the life of me figur out what her misbelief is. I've thought about it for days and got no where. Any suggestions?🙏
What was it about being abandoned that made your character feel afraid?
An example could be that your character felt she could trust people but when they die or s/he has to leave a friend behind, like your characters' supportive people, the lie/misconception could be that your character feels there isn't a point to having company b/c she can't count on anyone.
Piggy backing off what Abbie was saying, being abandoned b/c it sucks isn't deep enough. Anyone can feel that. Some ppl take abandonment as "I'm worthless"-low self-esteem or "ppl will always let me down"-distrust.
What do you want her to realize at the end of the book? You can start with that and flip it to get the misbelief. Abbie actually has multiple videos (or at least one vid that I've watched multiple times lol) that advises doing this!
I love that you are making these types of videos but I'm always left more confused every time. I want more information but that's only possible if I'm in the patreon facebook group and I don't have the finances. I tried contacting you through email and Facebook to get more information but I haven't gotten any response. I really need some help on this or else I'm gonna be stuck stressing over this instead of just writing. 😭😭😭
the issue for me is not knowing where to go.
I have the begining
i have the goal and the end result
but not the middle...like where to go
I’m here because unfortunately my act 2 is shorter than both my act 1 and act 3 😬
what if my character deep down wants to be loved, but his fear is also of love/connection?
Try this…perhaps Triss’s misbelief is that she believes she belongs in dauntless…but IN FACT, she is divergent.
And her fear would be, she made a mistake or she’s not strong enough….or that she made a mistake because she’s not strong enough.
every abbie video must say word check list: punching bag. lol
My charecters plan be like, do this big thing, disconnect myself from everyone as much as I can, win. And big surprise it dosn't work
I'm really having trouble with this one. I think I've created a problem for myself.
I watched the video about misbelief and did what you said by flipping the main theme into the main character's belief. In doing so I wound up with the misbelief being that they stick to their way of doing things being they don't plan things and sort of impulsively rushing in head first.
My problem is if I write it that way how can my character have a "plan" based on that misbelief is their misblief is that they can just act impulsively without much a plan for anything? I'm really stuck someone please help.
i'm a novice writer, but my unqualified writer's brain thinks maybe your protagonist perhaps finds her new "plan" based on the struggles of her impulses and 'lack of plan'... does that make sense? As an example; my protagonist has tried to handle the struggles she facing by keeping certain key secrets from other characters she's close to. In doing so, she's put herself in a dangerous "hole". When one bad choice finally shows her that she cannot go it alone, no matter how much she thinks she's protecting others, she must make a "new plan" - tell the truth, allow others to help, get herself - and everyone else - out of danger. This leads into my final act - the climactic final few chapters.
I dunno... does that help at all? lol! I realize you posted this question months ago and have probably already solved your issue.
@@beckymccray4582 Yes that's helpful thanks a lot.
All movies are Predictable and its all because of the midpoint. The all hope is lost moment. I know whatever the hero wants will appear to be lost in the middle of the film. In pixar its always 2 character fight then seperate then 5 minutes later they come back together. They should get rid of the midpoint.