Most of the writers I know start writing their works by starting at the beginning and working their way through, page by page, in the order the story will be told. Even if the story jumps around different times and places, they write page 1 before they write page 2, then go on to page 3, 4, 5, and so forth. I have never met anyone who writes the ending first then tries to fill in everything that led to that point. However, putting together the concept for a story can actually work best if we mentally start from the end and try to figure out how we got there. This is called The Third Act story.
To simplify things, a lot of stories are written in three-act structure. The first act introduces our characters, an immediate conflict, and an inciting incident that kicks the story into motion. The second act is the adventure of the character facing and overcoming obstacles that prevent them from achieving their goals, all while raising the stakes of this adventure. This all ends in a big crescendo when the character reaches the make-or-break point. Then they fall right into Act Three - the confrontation, realization, and growth of the character when their goal is reached. This is the culmination of every word preceding it. This is the reason we read through all the rest of the pages - for the big payoff in Act Three. And it better be worth it.Well, if Act Three is so important, maybe when we think about a story, we start not by thinking about the characters, the opening line, the introduction of conflict, etc., but let's think about what the reader should experience in that last act. What message do you want to tell the reader? What is the takeaway feeling? Do you want them to close the book and think about how any struggle is worth it for a just cause? How the ends justify the means (or don't)? How the pursuit of freedom is a neverending journey? Well, whatever that message is, start with that. Figure out that last page (in your head) then work backwards to figure out Act Three.
This means your next step is to figure out what kind of good conflict needs be be resolved in order to express that message. Is it the messenger crossing a war-torn land to deliver information that could end the fighting, and finally overcoming his last obstacles and delivering the goods with his last breath of life? Is it the weaker person finally standing up to his nemesis in a defiant show of courage? Maybe it's as simple as someone having a mind-altering moment of realization. Whatever it is, we try and think about that part next. Get something strong that we can visualize in our head. Then we take it one step further.
What were the factors that the character had to overcome and how is this person different from when the reader first met them. The Act Three character should have a level of growth from when we first introduce them - what do we want the reader to realize? A newfound maturity? A realization about themselves or the world around them? Act Three needs to show a character who has grown, so we need to frame in our mind what this final product is - for better or worse.
At this point, we know how the story is going to end, so the only thing left is for us the start writing page 1, setting up the character, the setting, etc., and finding the path that leads them from that page to Act Three. At that point, the process becomes so much easier. It takes a little practice, but thinking about The Third Act makes the first two acts write themselves.
Some educators use Backward Planning.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I hope it works well for them too.
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