tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3931828245802910248..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Plot Your Novel With Mini ArcsJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67853597603205962612020-04-08T10:31:13.347-04:002020-04-08T10:31:13.347-04:00I like! Nice way to merge different approaches int...I like! Nice way to merge different approaches into something that works for your style. So happy for you!<br /><br />Stay safe and healthy yourselfJanice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56735701748813686412020-04-08T09:30:01.117-04:002020-04-08T09:30:01.117-04:00Update: This approach to thinking through Acts (I ...Update: This approach to thinking through Acts (I am trying 4), small sets of chapters/scenes and scenes themselves has been profound for me. Here's how I set up the Acts for going forward:<br /><br />Discovery/Dilemma/Choice<br />Response/Dilemma/Choice<br />Attack/Dilemma/Choice<br />Resolve/Dilemma/Choice<br /><br />I throw SaveTheCat across this and it's really working well for restructuring my first draft, and also planning out the next idea (which I'm having fun using your Idea to Novel Workshop).<br /><br />Thanks so much for being a continued inspiration.<br /><br />Stay safe, stay healthy, stay generous...<br /><br />JohnJJ Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288344012655785464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60366933728010494872020-03-27T08:00:14.540-04:002020-03-27T08:00:14.540-04:00Glad I could help :) Glad I could help :) Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-12907188065314287592020-03-27T07:59:43.568-04:002020-03-27T07:59:43.568-04:00Yes, though the goal might not be knocked sideways...Yes, though the goal might not be knocked sideways (that's more the middle). Act One typically ends with the protagonist being faced with the first real big problem of the core conflict, and they make a decision to "solve" it. They get onboard with whatever the issue is. It can be a subtle thing--it doesn't have to be a big dramatic moment. <br /><br />For example, in Armageddon, Bruce Willis has to decide if he's going to help NASA train the astronauts to drill. "Will you help us save the world?" is the choice he has to make, and his answer is "Yes, but...(we need to go, too)" and that launches Act Two. <br /><br />Protagonists make choices all through the book (that's what drives the plot), but some choices happen at critical pinch points or turning points in the plot.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-13610708568906285782020-03-26T17:25:35.115-04:002020-03-26T17:25:35.115-04:00Quick follow up question Janice. This bullet:
&qu...Quick follow up question Janice. This bullet:<br /><br />"What is the choice the protagonist makes to drive the story forward?"<br /><br />I assume this choice is after contemplating the conflict/result after their goal is knocked sideways, whether at the scene level or Act level. Correct? I know these questions are all in order, but I'm a bit thrown by placement of the conflict question that follows it. Thanks.<br />JJ Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288344012655785464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-51736315171435624462020-03-26T08:54:36.485-04:002020-03-26T08:54:36.485-04:00Yes. And as I reread the three chapters for the ot...Yes. And as I reread the three chapters for the other character in the First Act, I suspect they are info dumps, a vehicle to inform the reader. Thanks for the catch.JJ Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288344012655785464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31989267360045706382020-03-26T08:00:18.316-04:002020-03-26T08:00:18.316-04:00Oops missed a piece...
If your non-protagonist ch...Oops missed a piece...<br /><br />If your non-protagonist character only has three chapters, and there's no plot arc for them, that's actually a red flag they're not doing anything to drive the plot. They ought to have an arc of some type, because they're doing something.<br /><br />Depending on your POV, their arc might be tied to the larger story and be part of the main story arc. For example, if the main story is "stop the asteroid," and you have three chapters that follow an astronomer trying to alert people of the danger, that might be part of the inciting event arc for the protagonist. It's outside their POV, but the "learns an asteroid is headed for Earth" plot point is still part of their general story arc. So the astronomer is part of the larger story arc, because their actions help create the situation the protagonist is in later.<br /><br />Just be wary of those chapters being nothing but infodumps. If all they do is explain things the protagonist isn't witness to, it might be a problem. <br /><br />Does that make sense? Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-43365874279235960172020-03-26T07:52:40.758-04:002020-03-26T07:52:40.758-04:00You can arc in one chapter if you really wanted to...You can arc in one chapter if you really wanted to, so three chapters is fine. An arc is just a story piece that spans three points--beginning, middle, ending. <br /><br />So if you have a character attempting a particular goal, and that resolves in three chapters, you can arc it. It might only be the first step to a larger problem, but as long as it has that goal--attempt to resolve--result arc, you're good. <br /><br />To clarify: Beginning (the goal), middle (the attempt to resolve that goal), ending (the resolution of that goal). <br /><br />If you'e plotting in mini arcs, the resolution would lead to the next arc. <br /><br />The other way mini arcs are useful is for short "story" arcs within the larger plot. For example, a small subplot, or a character side story. These arcs might span the whole book, but only have a few steps in the arc because they're not the main plot. But it's useful to see how that story or plot arc unfolds. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-11938746141060908492020-03-25T18:50:36.578-04:002020-03-25T18:50:36.578-04:00Good evening Janice. I like this approach as I'...Good evening Janice. I like this approach as I'm revising/replotting after my first draft. In each of the 4 major plot arcs (Larry Brooks), I have several point of view characters.<br /><br />Should I be considering the mini arcs for these characters as well, independent of the protagonist? In my first act, for example, I have the protagonist in 9 chapters, and 3 separate chapters for another character. Seems a bit challenging to arc across only 3 chapters. Thoughts on this?JJ Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288344012655785464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-3155489524303642682015-11-24T13:17:29.455-05:002015-11-24T13:17:29.455-05:00Right now I am trying to figure out a series arc a...Right now I am trying to figure out a series arc and then the shorter book arcs, so I am working back and forth from big to smaller and back again. Thanks for the extra advice on arcs. Merrie day,Rainbowhandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02742057461572523420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16568168377245317982014-12-13T08:30:02.270-05:002014-12-13T08:30:02.270-05:00That doesn't surprise me. With the shorter for...That doesn't surprise me. With the shorter formats and serial nature, they always have to have several things going on. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19438671516112170692014-12-11T11:55:52.054-05:002014-12-11T11:55:52.054-05:00Animes and Mangas are full of those mini arcs (exc...Animes and Mangas are full of those mini arcs (except Death Note?)Abdulaziz A. askernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18244835047725599482014-09-16T05:48:27.330-04:002014-09-16T05:48:27.330-04:00Elizabeth above shared this and I had to come over...Elizabeth above shared this and I had to come over and read the article. Good post and thanks, Elizabeth!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-25415212327640558932014-09-16T04:30:57.564-04:002014-09-16T04:30:57.564-04:00Great post as always. I'm bookmarking this and...Great post as always. I'm bookmarking this and sharing it. Thanks for such good, crisp explanations of helpful information.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56284863757310182672014-09-15T18:40:14.327-04:002014-09-15T18:40:14.327-04:00Great post, Janice, that I'll share with my cl...Great post, Janice, that I'll share with my class. As I'm getting ready to start the 4th draft of my book, I may just try this as I tackle each Act (using Save the Cat). I need a roadmap and breaking it into bits and pieces helps me feel less overwhelmed!Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59779503777770540832014-09-15T16:19:04.865-04:002014-09-15T16:19:04.865-04:00With my WIP, I looked at the manuscript as a whole...With my WIP, I looked at the manuscript as a whole initially, however, I am going to try this mini arc concept and see what happens. (Once I start writing again that is.)marti parhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16619874032864736750noreply@blogger.com