Think of the CRISIS, which generally occurs around 3/4 into the entire project, as the ANTAGONIST’S CLIMAX, or where the antagonists prevail.
OR
The CRISIS is the PROTAGONIST’S moment of truth, where afterwards nothing is ever the same.
OR
In the CRISIS, the PROTAGONIST has a breakdown that leads to a break through.
Martha,
I appreciate your tips. I have an idea of where I want to go with my next story–you give me a path to follow. You bring clarity to the murky muddle in my head. .:)
Thank you,
Jana McBurney-Lin
Author, My Half of the Sky
Martha,
I have never been clear in my writing about the power of crisis to to be the result of a buildup of tension. Three-fourths of the way into the project gives me a benchmark that will allow me to stop rushing into it too soon and making the rest of the manuscript a steady downhill decline! Thank you, it’s back to the drawing board. Your tips are invaluable!
Luisa Adams
Author, Woven of Water
Wow, Martha, you have just solved my dilemma with your concise way of
teaching and re-teaching. When an author can’t figure out what the CRISIS
is for her protagonist, the author herself gets into CRISIS mode. As you
know, this second novel has been such a struggle for me. I’ve been making
myself sick not knowing which event ought to be the CRISIS. Your posting
opened my eyes. You’ve done it again! I thank you from the bottom of my
heart, and that’s no pun. Your humble student, Teresa LeYung Ryan, author
of Love Made of Heart http://www.LoveMadeOfHeart.com
View the crisis as the antagonist climax? Great tip. I’ve just been working on the story plan for my second book. Concetrating on building the character of the antagonist is one of the things I want to do better this time round.
Another piece of timely advice I heard yesterday, is that the protagonist is only as good as the antagonist.
Thanks for the tips.
Peter
MervynBright.co.uk
Thanks for this. Really helpful. Need all the help I can get. I appreciate the tips.
Not sure I’m 100% clear about the crisis, but these ideas certainly do help.
Gratefully yours,
I live to write
It is very hard to be fair to the antagonist when it is based on someone you have encountered in your life. Your blog will make it easier for me to develop the life of the antagonist now that I understand the impact on the protagonist.
The different descriptions had a cumulative effect of me finally getting it. Mucho gracias.
Martha, thanks for this. The crisis description is exactly what I needed to read and digest for the big crisis scene in my script. the solstice message was a good and comforting one. Before I took your workshop I had a folder full of notes written on post its and paper napkins. After the workshop I started writing the script, which has evolved over time, with frequent changes, into a finished script (sort of -is it ever finished?)in which my characters have come to life for me and I want them to have a good and happy conclusion to their various relatable dilemas.
Keep up your wonderful work. I’ll pass on your tips to my two writer sons.
Love and blessings,
Rita