This post contains 6 glittery term(s): bitchy, damn, fucked up, half-assedly, shit, stupid-head.
Four-Act Structure – #AtoZChallenge
Most writers use a three-act structure.
This makes the most sense. It is quite logical.
- Beginning – Middle – End.
- Birth – Life – Death.
- Introduction – Content – Conclusion.
- Bake – Eat – Poop.
Everything we do follows this structure. It works. And there is nothing wrong with it. I am not criticizing it in any way whatsoever, because it is quite accurate.
But did you notice what all those things have in common?
Answer: The middle item in each list is the longest in terms of length and time. In most cases, it encompasses the cumulative length of the other two items. This is certainly true when plotting novels.
The only exception might be the last example, wherein taking a shit generally takes less time than munching, which in turn generally takes less time than the whole food prep.
The three-act structure only half-assedly takes this into account.
The second act is almost always split in half – magically – right at the midpoint. So what you’re left with is this:
- Act 1
- Act 2a, or Act 2.1
- Act 2b, or Act 2.2
- Act 3
I understand what is going on there. But the whole thing is stupid. Like, majorly fucked up, you guys.
I prefer the four-act structure.
For the purposes of breaking shit down into smaller chunks, and using good maths plus logic, I do this instead:
- Act 1
- Act 2
- Act 3
- Act 4
Now tell me something:
Isn’t that much less complicated? Love me some four-act structure!
“What goes into each act, Mrs. Smarty-kins?”
Answer:
The things that go into each act of the four-act structure are the same things that were going into the acts anyway. I didn’t change the contents, merely the title, stupid-head.
You want the contents?
*le sigh*
It’s just that I already answered that question HERE.
But that was a big scary honking paper filled with index cards and no explanations, so I can see why you might be confused.
Act 1
Composing approximately 20% of the novel, Act 1 contains the THESIS of the story – the set-up in which all the main characters and the world in which they live are introduced. This is the “Before” shot {page 1} of the “Before and After” images.
In THE WIZARD OF OZ, Dorothy walks around the farm yacking with everyone. The land is dreary and she doesn’t fit in and everyone is too busy to pay her any attention and boo-hoo.
By halfway through this act, we should also see a problem arise or a question posed; this becomes the theme {5k} of the story.
Dorothy sings “Somewhere over the Rainbow” and wishes for a place where she can’t get into trouble. Love this bit!
An inciting incident {12k} occurs which serves as an introduction to the main conflict – a call to adventure, perhaps.
The bitchy neighbor, Mrs. Gulch, takes away Dorothy’s dog, Toto, so Dorothy runs away and meets a traveling quack, and we breathe a collective sigh of relief that dude is not a total pedo.
While the main character may fight it, eventually s/he is thrust through Doorway #1 into Act 2 {25k}. This is the point of no return.
The twister picks up Dorothy’s house and drops it in the colorful Land of Oz . Meep!
Act 2
Composing approximately 30% of the novel, Act 2 serves as the ANTITHESIS of the story – a fun-house reflection of all the characters introduced in Act 1. {THE WIZARD OF OZ does this quite literally.} This is the part of the story during which the main character struggles to overcome opposition, so there are usually a lot of fight scenes and chase sequences.
We are also introduced to all the secondary characters {30k} here – all the main character’s allies, any mentor, and several evil minions.
By now we have already seen Dorothy’s “mentor”, the enigmatic and less than helpful Glinda.
Dorothy also meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. They’re aight.
She is accosted by smaller “bad guys” like misdirection, abusive apple-throwing trees, and a scary forest.
Navigating through this upside-down world, by the Midpoint {55k} the main character experiences a Mirror Moment in which s/he faces inner demons and decides who s/he really is.
A reversal of sorts occurs, as up till this moment, s/he was merely reacting to events, but at some point the main character takes the journey by the reigns and experiences a False Victory.
Dorothy and team make it through the wilderness {poppies!} and reach the Emerald City, where they are not only granted access, but are also given super-spa treatment!
Act 3
Act 3 composes approximately 40% of the novel – which is why I think it gets its own number, as opposed to merely being “the second half of Act 2”. This is the largest portion of the entire damn story! This is where the stakes are raised and we reach the climax. The bad guys close in and the team implodes, along with a variety of other major setbacks.
The main character experiences a Dark Night of the Soul – a False Defeat {75k} wherein it seems as though All is Lost. The mentor departs or even dies. It seems the end is nigh and capture is imminent.
The Wizard won’t grant their wishes unless Dorothy and team face off with the witch and bring back her broom. Booo!
The witch captures Dorothy and the team is torn asunder by the flying monkeys. Booo!
The Cowardly Lion wants to run away. Booo!
The rescue goes awry and the team gets caught, too. Booo!
The witch sets the Scarecrow on fire! Booo!
Thankfully, the main character experiences an epiphany of some nature, during which a talisman, clue, or piece of information suddenly comes into play. At this point, all the story lines begin to merge, and the main character actively runs through Doorway #2 into Act 4 {85k}.
There is no rainbow without rain – and Mrs. Gulch was carrying an umbrella at the beginning of the movie. When Dorothy tries to put out the Scarecrow’s fire, she ends up throwing water on the witch, who then melts before their eyes.
The team is rewarded with the witch’s broom. They eagerly set off back toward the Wizard.
Feel the w00t!
Act 4
Composing approximately 10% of the novel, Act 4 serves as the SYNTHESIS of the story – both the old world and the new come together, the main character’s questions are answered, and there is both confirmation and reinforcement that the character has grown.
First, there is the “plan to storm the castle”.
Dorothy and team give the broom to the Wizard and demand answers to their questions. Yeah!
Next, the main character must “enter the bad guys’ fort”.
The Wizard starts handing out prizes. Dorothy can tell the gifts are kind of skeevy, but her friends are happy to have their egos stroked and their self-doubts soothed. It’ll be okay, right? Uh-oh…
“It’s a trap!”
Oh, no.
When the Wizard gets to Dorothy, there’s no prize.
The Wizard decides to return Dorothy home via hot air balloon – but then it floats away without her.
Bummer.
They engage in the Final Battle, wherein a New Plan {100k} is made.
Glinda arrives and explains about the ruby slippers. Dorothy had the power within her to return home at any time. Narf.
Everything gets wrapped up during the Denouement.
Dorothy says goodbye to her friends and finally returns home. Again with the w00t!
And we have reached the Final Image – the “After” shot {110k} of the “Before and After” images:
Dorothy is happy to see her boring life restored to normal, and tells her aunt, “There’s no place like home!” thus proving she is changed by her experience, and for the better.
I’ll be coming back to this.
Frequently. And filling in my own story in place of L. Frank Baum’s and Paramount’s.
The items underlined and in red are specific beats. As in, we gots ’em. The numbers following the items are approximate word counts, so I have an idea of about where I should be at any given moment.
This isn’t an exact science, but having a guide helps me stay on track, and keeps me excited.
Right now? I am VERY excited, you guys.
Visit to see who I’m making time for this month.
Or stop by my post The Great and Powerful AtoZ Challenge Theme Reveal to see a list of all my AtoZ entries for 2014.
