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| Caryl McAdoo |
~ Dawn
The
Three Acts of Life – and Your Stories
by
Caryl McAdoo
Every story unavoidably has three parts: the beginning, the
middle, and the end. Even our lives comply to this philosophy. We were born and
reared – our beginning. We live our life – our middle. We grow old and die –
our end. So it is with every story without exception if it is to be a
successful one. We know it’s paramount to hook reader in the beginning, and
keep them turning pages through the middle, but if no satisfactory conclusion
is offered, it’d be like inviting friends to party, showing the beautiful cake,
but never giving them a piece.
Act One calls your heroine to her journey with a decision
that leads to a crisis or a crisis that leads to a decision. Introduce all your
players (heroine, romance, sidekick, mentor, and villain) in this Act, even if
they don’t reappear until the end, and lay the foundation for your character
arc, her growth. Its end comes with how your heroine intends to solve her main
dilemma. If you’re writing a thirty chapter book this insight usually comes
around Chapter Ten; maybe Eight or Twelve, but around the first third of your
story.
Act Two escalates her problems and sees her overcome every
one. Continually throw rocks at her; one thing after another; when it rains, it
pours, doesn’t it? Isn’t that life? However many trials and tribulations you
hurl at your leading lady determines your book’s length. Your readers learn
about your cast, and the players more about themselves here. This middle is
similar in length to Act One or longer, depending on your novel’s desired
length. Use this Act to turn a seventy thousand word story into ninety-five thousand
word one. The more tribulation and solutions, the longer the middle of your
story grows.
Act Three is every bit as important as your first chapter.
Have you ever read or watched a story that ended with no satisfactory
conclusion? Maybe the author rushed through to the end just to get finished?
Feel cheated? While those content to see that party cake without ever tasting
it, the majority want to have their cake and eat it, too!
Wrap up every loose end. Catch every rabbit chased. If you
introduced a blue suitcase or shown a gun on the mantle, then let your reader
know why before Act Three is over. And after she defeats her villain, let her
return to her normal life victoriously. Think of Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama. She goes to the beach
in the storm, reclaims her true love, then takes him back to the reception they
never had, and all is right in her world.
Most reading this is living out their own Act Two. Rest
assured the Greatest Storyteller ever has His plans in place for each of us to
end as the victor. Rejoice and give praise for every trial and tribulation for
He will bring you through the overcomer. Our God is completely trust worthy and
faithful to keep us in His everlasting love and tender mercies until The End!
Tweetables:
Every story
unavoidably has three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. Even our
lives comply to this philosophy. Click to tweet.
If no
satisfactory conclusion is offered to a story, it’s like inviting friends to
party, showing the beautiful cake, but never giving them a piece. Click to tweet.
When writing a
story, remember to wrap up every loose end. Catch every rabbit chased. Click to tweet.
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| Lady Luck's a Loser |
Wealthy
widower ready for a new lady in his life determines not to go through the
dating scene. He hits on an idea and hires eight very different women to come
live at his B&B! Then he devises games for Lady Luck to send one home each
month hoping Mrs. Right will remain. But will his scheme backfire and spoil any
chance for happiness?
FIVE
STAR REVIEW from Affaire de Coeur magazine: “Splendid… Caryl McAdoo concocted a
storyline brimming with originality, Christian values, and humor. …easy
reading, delightful book!
Caryl McAdoo
co-authored two non-fiction, three mid-grade chapter books, and four novels
from four small publishers before VOW UNBROKEN debuted this past March from
Simon and Schuster’s Howard Books. The historical Christian romance will be
followed in September with HEART STOLEN. And a mature inspirational romance
that previously earned a five star review from Affaire de Couer magazine is being re-released this month as LADY
LUCK’S A LOSER. For every blessing, Caryl gives God glory. She lives a Red
River County country-life with her high school sweetheart husband of forty-six
years and two grandsons in northeast Texas.
To learn more and connect with Caryl, please visit:
Website - http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo
