Short Story Organization Part 2 Characters Place Decision

Characters Appear in all scenes with one or more of the supporting and minor motivating characters to produce the conflict action

Characters Viewpoint's inner conflict determines which characters

Characters Equalize negative and positive decisions to establish a balance for the crisis to upset

Characters Problem situation scene should have the two supporting characters

Characters Character who appears in the complication scene with the Viewpoint works to get the balance between the negative and positive facets of the Viewpoint's trait

Characters Same characters with who appeared with Viewpoint in the critical scenes appear in the crisis

Characters Climax requires only Viewpoint and positive supporting character for a happy ending

Action 3 types of conflict action between characters produces a scene – Mental - reasoning, arguing, giving information – Physical - slapping, walking away while the other person is talking, forcing, yelling – Emotional - beg, plead, persuade, influence

Action One character becomes the aggressor – Reasons, threatens persuades the other character to take action

Action Amount of conflict depends on – Scene location – Viewpoint's trait or problem – Importance of the opposing character

Action Opening scene uses mental conflict and one of the other two types of conflict – Never use more than two types

Action Complication scene uses any two of the three types

Action Crisis uses all 3 types

Action Climax scene gives information and ties up loose ends

Decision Scene ends when Viewpoint sums up choices for action and chooses one as a way to solve the problem

Decision Using thoughts or dialog share with the reader how the decision is reached

Decision Choice of action leads to the next difficulty which feeds the problem of the next scene

Decision Show the Viewpoint as happy with the decision and ignoring the consequences thus leading Viewpoint to a worse situation

Decision In complication scenes Viewpoint takes action which results in a balance between the negative and positive decisions

Decision Crisis scene provides Viewpoint with a moment of revelation where h/s sees the situation in focus and changes

Decision Imply h/s may lose everything in the problem situation

Decision h/s shows change and gets unexpected reward