In the beginning you setup your hero (or heroine) and his story, then you throw something at him that is a great source of conflict and takes him into a whole heap of trouble. He/she has solved a murder and will never be quite the same.To Structure Or Not To Structure? That Is The Question.Įvery story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Finally, the sleuth can return to his/her Ordinary World, but now he/she is the MASTER OF TWO WORLDS. RETURNING WITH THE ELIXIR, in a mystery, is justice. ![]() ![]() The sleuth ultimately discovers the truth. RESURRECTION This is the CLIMAX, which is the confrontation with the killer.The sleuth manages to get to the right answer (or defeat the killer) during the The problem is, either a red herring has led the sleuth astray, or the sleuth/hero is in danger at this point so may not be able to return with the knowledge. THE ROAD BACK The sleuth is ready to return to his/her ordinary world having solved the case.CENTRAL ORDEAL The hero (sleuth) think the whodunnit is solved.This could be a second murder, the sleuth in danger, or some other test/trial that threatens the sleuth’s ability to continue the investigation. APPROACH TO THE INMOST CAVE Something happens to threaten the sleuth’s forward progress.This is the bulk of the Second Act in the Three-Act Structure. THE ROAD OF TRIALS and TESTS, ALLIES, and ENEMIES = LIES, DECEPTION, CLUES, RED HERRINGS, all laid out by the villain (the murderer) and the false leads the sleuth follows.There’s no turning back because he/she (or loved ones) may well be in danger. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD in a mystery means the hero (sleuth) takes the case and/or becomes an active investigator.This person can be the person the sleuth is determined to save or prove innocent. MEETING THE MENTOR The mentor is whatever character (for good or for nefarious reasons) convinces the sleuth to get involved. ![]() Often, the refusal of the call is not the decision of the hero. If the hero is a detective, the REFUSAL OF THE CALL occurs when he/she doesn’t want the case, or, in the case of my first book, Living the Vida Lola, Lola fears she won’t be given the case.
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