Please read first Writing Lesson #6A
Act IIA -Descent: 6-8 (special world)
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies
New
rules
Welcome to the
Special World where both your romantic
protagonists embark on a journey in which they will never return the same.
Your Hero and Heroine have decided to jump into their adventure, leaving their ordinary world behind them. They need
to learn new rules and a new way of life. Your protagonists might pretend to be engage or married to avoid family
criticism or get a promotion at work. They might need to learn to live together
while taking care of a baby. They might get stuck on an island trying to
survive together. This is a good stage in the story to test your protagonists, get on their nerves, use
enemies to emphasize what is at stake for the protagonists, and send them some allies to soothe their
nerves. Think about the biblical
book of Job – what challenges God
threw at Job to test his loyalty to
him. At this stage your protagonists
hope that what they have agreed on would work despite all the flaws and
problems in their initial plan.
They are hoping to have the cake and eat it too.
Pretty Woman – Once agreed to spend the
week together, both Edward and Vivian faced different challenges. Edward needed to spend time shopping
for clothes with Vivian, explain who
she was to his suspicious lawyer, and deal with Vivian’s emotions. Vivian had
to deal with different people who did not appreciate her presence in their
ritzy environment; she learned to finesse her appearance, manners, and behavior
so she would look like a lady instead of a street hooker. Despite facing
different problems, both Edward and Vivian hoped that they would be able continue with their
arrangement for the week.
7. Approach To The Inmost Cave
2nd
Threshold. Belly of the whale. Breakthrough. No exit. Obstacles. Warning, Courtship.
Romance.
Fools’ idyll is
meant to shatter and it happens here. Create an event that will trigger a crisis that will threaten to end the
arrangement of your romantic
protagonists. Make it painful, hurtful. A moment where one of your romantic protagonists decides that
he/she has had enough and no longer interested in the existing format of their
relationship. This 2nd Threshold serves several
purposes: A. It forces both protagonists to admit that they need
more from their relationship, more than they have admitted initially. B. Facing the possibility that they
might lose the other person and acknowledging their need of this relationship,
both protagonists are motivated to
grow and make changes to make it work. This is a good time in the story to have a romantic scene or
engage your protagonists in make-up
sex.
Pretty
Woman – During the polo game Vivian was hurt by the fact that Edward told Stuckey that she was a hooker. When Edward
refused to understand how his behavior caused her pain, Vivian decided to leave. She did not touch the money that Edward threw dismissively on the bed. When Edward noticed she left the money, he
went out after her and apologized. Then they went back to his hotel penthouse and
had an intimate talk in bed.
8. The Ordeal
Test of death. Death of the ego. Facing
shadows
After crossing
the 2nd Threshold, both protagonists have to let their ego die
and face their fears in order to maintain their romantic relationship. Make your protagonists do something that they have never done before,
something that will show the other protagonist
that they care about them and cherish their presence in their life. Let them
show each other a side in their personality that they have never shared with
anyone before.
Pretty Woman – The day after the reconciliation,
Edward left the office early and
took Vivian to the Opera in San Francisco.
Encouraged by Vivian, Edward took the next day off for the
first time in his career. Vivian
turned off his cell phone and they spent the rest of the day leisurely.
Act IIB – Initiation: 9-10 (special world)
9. Reward
Celebration,
Self realization. Taking possession. Elixir theft
At this point in
the story, both your protagonists are
changed people from the people they were at the beginning of it. Some have new
understandings about themselves; some decide to change something in their life.
Create an event or a conversation that brings this understanding to the
surface. To make the story more interesting, have an event or a person that
threatens to sabotage your protagonist’s
resolution. For example if the man decides to propose, have his ex show up in
his place and ask to give them a second chance. A woman with fear of commitment is ready to tell the man that
she loves him, is stuck in traffic while his flight is leaving any minute.
Pretty Woman – By the morning of their
last day together, both Edward and Vivian knew that they really liked each
other. Edward told her that he would like to continue seeing her. He offered
Vivian to become his mistress. Vivian rejected his offer. The
relationship with Edward had changed
her and she wanted more in life. In response to her response Edward mumbled “Impossible
relationship”. At the moment, that was the best he could offer her.
10. The Road Back
3rd
Threshold. Turning point. Heroes dedicate themselves to the quest. Motivation.
Protagonists cross the 3rd threshold in the story
and make something out of their character that shows that they have changed. They want to lead a different life from
what they had before, a more happy and satisfying life.
Pretty Woman – Influenced by Vivian’s
outlook on life, Edward decided to
help Mr. Morse to save his company
instead of his initial plan to take it over and sell it in parts.
Act III – Return: 11-12 (ordinary world)
11. Resurrection
Choice.
Show down. Death & rebirth. Climax. Catharsis.
If you have a
fighting scene, or life or death situation, I hope you kept it for this
moment. Just before the final closing
scene of declaration of love, give your readers some action. Create an event
that will make them stop breathing and hold their hand to their mouth while
worrying about the safety of the protagonists.
This is a great time to show heroism and how committed the protagonists are to their new cause in life and their relationship.
Pretty Woman - Stuckey, angry with Edward
for changing his business plan, went to the hotel and tried to rape Vivian. Edward showed up at the right moment to save her. He confronted Stuckey and kicked him out of the
penthouse.
12. Return with The Elixir
Proof.
Sacrifice. Change. Declaration of love.
The end of the
romantic journey. Protagonists know
and feel differently from what they did at the beginning of the story. They
reach for each other and declare their love.
Pretty Woman – By the end of the week Vivian was back in her apartment, and she was ready to make some
changes in her life. The next
morning Edward was ready to go back
to NY. Feeling the empty space that Vivian
had left in his life, he decided to change his plans and go to her. Despite his
fear of heights, Edward climbed up
the emergency ladder to reach Vivian.
Now go start working on your romantic story. Make it good!
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