Structure – everybody uses it. So I ask: Why is it such a dirty word?
I’ve been a long time proponent of the four act structure since reading Syd Field. What, you say? Yeah, ever since I saw that first diagram with the first act plot point — the mid-point — the second act plot point I thought to myself: That’s four equal parts, not two small acts with a big chunk in the middle. I never looked back.
Lately I’ve been playing around with sequences. I’m almost a convert. Today I went to my local coffee shop and came up with this little diddy:
Four Act – Twelve Sequence Structure
Act I – Orphan / Loaner
Sequence #1 – Ordinary World – Setup,Theme Stated:
Sequence #2 – Catalyst / Debate:
Sequence #3 – Leaves Ordinary World:
Act II – Wanderer / Explorer – Transformation
Sequence #4 – Learning the New World:
Sequence #5 – Acquiring New Skills:
Sequence #6 – False: Victory / Defeat / Goal:
Act III – Warrior / Activist – On The Run
Sequence #7 – A Ticking Clock Starts:
Sequence #8 – Bad Guys Closing In:
Sequence #9 – Dark Night of the Soul:
Act IV – Martyr / Death – Hero’s flaw dead,buried
Sequence # 10 – Light Bulb Moment:
Sequence #11 – True Victory:
Sequence #12 – Resolution:
Feel free to use, abuse, modify, revamp, or ignore. All I ask is that you
Keep Writing.
