tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post2732538425313735754..comments2023-11-30T07:21:38.040-08:00Comments on Writers in Residence: From Screen to Page, Part 3 by Miko JohnstonBonnieShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12642142065722406733noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-73234841546266908202016-01-26T19:33:40.461-08:002016-01-26T19:33:40.461-08:00Like Gayle, I have used the Three Act Structure, g...Like Gayle, I have used the Three Act Structure, gleaned the hard way from years working in films and TV. But you did such a great job, explaining it so well - and giving us a clear route to take. Then all of the other wisdom you shared was an added bonus. Good job Thanks, Miriam Rosemary Lordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-53608742386286908522016-01-21T15:34:16.800-08:002016-01-21T15:34:16.800-08:00Good answers! You and Kate Thornton (and Gayle) c...Good answers! You and Kate Thornton (and Gayle) can come up with ideas just like that (snap fingers)! For me visuals alway work better.<br />Jackie Houchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753758587434594531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-11917912664733316602016-01-21T10:56:25.201-08:002016-01-21T10:56:25.201-08:00Thanks, Miko. I'll try to fit the form to diff...Thanks, Miko. I'll try to fit the form to different familiar plots to see which ones have that structure.Ann Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-4164605745138253242016-01-21T09:57:43.400-08:002016-01-21T09:57:43.400-08:00Thanks, Mad. Thanks, Mad. Miko Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877203657513631557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-30231939160123989892016-01-21T09:56:34.075-08:002016-01-21T09:56:34.075-08:00Sure, Ann.
Let's say your idea is to write a...Sure, Ann. <br /><br />Let's say your idea is to write about a young girl who decides to leave home. Not a fully formed idea, but it can be fleshed out with logic: a young girl decides to leave home, and she does (otherwise there's no story). So leaving home can either be the inciting incident, or the climax.<br /><br />An example of the former would be The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy wants to leave home, and she does, but then all she can think of is returning. She tries by going to Oz, but fails (midpoint crisis), then tries again by fetching the Wicked Witch's broom (climax) before she succeeds in returning to Kansas.<br /><br />If her departure is the story's climax, then something drastic has to happen in Act One to make her want to leave. That becomes the inciting incident and the story is about how she tries to get away, fails, keeps trying and finally leaves. Although the heroine is not pro-active in her quest, you could say Cinderella fits the storyline. <br /><br />Hope that helps.Miko Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877203657513631557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-31219971937922816092016-01-21T08:25:52.652-08:002016-01-21T08:25:52.652-08:00Miko, could you give us an example of the structur...Miko, could you give us an example of the structure in a plot we all know or one you make up? Ann Adamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-72695545665079679302016-01-21T08:07:52.880-08:002016-01-21T08:07:52.880-08:00Excellent information, Miko!Excellent information, Miko!M.M. Gornellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05610211516010193111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-30432161386384271852016-01-21T07:13:18.559-08:002016-01-21T07:13:18.559-08:00I learned that trick at a writers conference years...I learned that trick at a writers conference years ago. It's a great exercise for studying structure and helpful when writing a synopsis of your novel.Miko Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877203657513631557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-68299885678124258572016-01-21T07:09:50.580-08:002016-01-21T07:09:50.580-08:00I didn't know what I was doing (in more ways t...I didn't know what I was doing (in more ways than one) when I wrote my first novel. Later I discovered it followed the three act structure, but at the time I felt it had a good rhythm. I guess using the structure is instinctive in some of us.Miko Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877203657513631557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-49205607780756379842016-01-21T07:06:36.061-08:002016-01-21T07:06:36.061-08:00Ideas often float around in our brains, but fully ...Ideas often float around in our brains, but fully formed ideas are rare. When they're placed on the structure, they usually launch or climax the story. Knowing that makes them more useful.Miko Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877203657513631557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-67713899043783441232016-01-20T18:47:45.552-08:002016-01-20T18:47:45.552-08:00Great post, Miko--as always, very helpful. I love ...Great post, Miko--as always, very helpful. I love your "crease box exercise"--a great visual aid for analyzing where the story needs work. Thanks for sharing!!BonnieShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12642142065722406733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-8483044702175021772016-01-20T18:03:15.413-08:002016-01-20T18:03:15.413-08:00I have been using the Three Act Structure even bef...I have been using the Three Act Structure even before I knew there was one. What it let me understand was where I could build up a scene or pare it down. It works for a short story as well as a novel. Nice to see it laid out in a clear and concise way. Your refresher course has been fun.GBPoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190573764848658894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1628814011025215047.post-76169149761701599182016-01-20T17:03:25.699-08:002016-01-20T17:03:25.699-08:00I like your advice about taking an idea that doesn...I like your advice about taking an idea that doesn't seem to fit anywhere and placing into the structure. Wow...that could really work. Jackie Houchinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753758587434594531noreply@blogger.com