Comments on: Deconstructing Avatar – The Second Half of the First Act http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act Novel Writing Tips & Fundamentals - Storyfix.com Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:15:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Abby http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2945 Abby Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:08:42 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2945 thanks for your answer! i appreciate it! thanks for your answer! i appreciate it!

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2926 Larry Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:00:38 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2926 @Abby - great question, a real learning opportunity for all of us (me included). Here's the thing to remember -- a story can deliver as many plot twists and complication as it wants, without limitation. But there is only one Plot Point One (inciding incident), and it is defined by two things: how it launches the true story of the book, either by introducing something new into the hero's life, or by complicating it to a degree is launches a quest (which means, the FPP can be the first major complication... or not)... and, WHERE it appears. If a complication appears too early in Part 1, then it's not the FPP. If if appears after, then it's also not the FPP... but in both cases it can be a major complication. In the movie "Collateral," for example, Jamie's life is turned upside smack in the middle of Part 1 (but it's not the FPP, it's too early) when a body falls onto his car and he's suddenly being held captive by a hired killer. Certainly a major complication. But not a plot point, because it doesn't define or launch the story-specific journey Fox is about to undergo, which takes place in the taxi ten minutes later, just a conversation, which IS the FPP by virtue of where it happens (after the full set-up of Part 1) and what it accomplishes (launching the hero's journey, even if that spins a previously-launched journey in a new direction, or gives it deeper meaning that defines the hero's stakes, which it absolutely does in this case). In those examples you cite, including Avatar, they are certainly major complications, but don't confuse that with a Plot Point. They are different things, with different definitions and applications. Both are great tools... but the FPP is an essential one. Hope this helps. L. @Abby – great question, a real learning opportunity for all of us (me included). Here’s the thing to remember — a story can deliver as many plot twists and complication as it wants, without limitation. But there is only one Plot Point One (inciding incident), and it is defined by two things: how it launches the true story of the book, either by introducing something new into the hero’s life, or by complicating it to a degree is launches a quest (which means, the FPP can be the first major complication… or not)… and, WHERE it appears.

If a complication appears too early in Part 1, then it’s not the FPP. If if appears after, then it’s also not the FPP… but in both cases it can be a major complication. In the movie “Collateral,” for example, Jamie’s life is turned upside smack in the middle of Part 1 (but it’s not the FPP, it’s too early) when a body falls onto his car and he’s suddenly being held captive by a hired killer. Certainly a major complication. But not a plot point, because it doesn’t define or launch the story-specific journey Fox is about to undergo, which takes place in the taxi ten minutes later, just a conversation, which IS the FPP by virtue of where it happens (after the full set-up of Part 1) and what it accomplishes (launching the hero’s journey, even if that spins a previously-launched journey in a new direction, or gives it deeper meaning that defines the hero’s stakes, which it absolutely does in this case).

In those examples you cite, including Avatar, they are certainly major complications, but don’t confuse that with a Plot Point. They are different things, with different definitions and applications. Both are great tools… but the FPP is an essential one.

Hope this helps. L.

]]> By: Abby http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2924 Abby Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:23:30 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2924 I like this idea. But I find myself questioning the difference between plot point one and the first big complication in act two. Wouldn't you consider him discovering he's the chosen one a complication to the plot? He already has a mission that immerses him into the new world - to get intel on the tribe. Seems like goals are established. But then WHAM - he's the chosen one. It doesn't give him a new goal or move the story in a new direction. But it IS a huge complication. I'm trying to figure out if the following story beats are plot point one or the first big complication... Legally Blonde - the moment Elle discovers Warren is ENGAGED - would you consider that plot point one or a complication? It doesn't exactly change her mission on bring her into a new world, but it DOES complicate her mission and put her in direct conflict with bad guy (dirty brunette in this case). In Dave, Dave gets into the new world as the president's double - BUT THEN the President has a stroke! Is this plot point one or a complication? Part of my confusion is that if these beats are Plot Point One (which I suspect they are), then they all take place after hero is in new world and has faced allies/enemies. Seems like these are events that should happen in act two. I'd be interested in your thoughts. I like this idea. But I find myself questioning the difference between plot point one and the first big complication in act two.
Wouldn’t you consider him discovering he’s the chosen one a complication to the plot? He already has a mission that immerses him into the new world – to get intel on the tribe. Seems like goals are established. But then WHAM – he’s the chosen one. It doesn’t give him a new goal or move the story in a new direction. But it IS a huge complication.
I’m trying to figure out if the following story beats are plot point one or the first big complication…
Legally Blonde – the moment Elle discovers Warren is ENGAGED – would you consider that plot point one or a complication? It doesn’t exactly change her mission on bring her into a new world, but it DOES complicate her mission and put her in direct conflict with bad guy (dirty brunette in this case).
In Dave, Dave gets into the new world as the president’s double – BUT THEN the President has a stroke! Is this plot point one or a complication?
Part of my confusion is that if these beats are Plot Point One (which I suspect they are), then they all take place after hero is in new world and has faced allies/enemies. Seems like these are events that should happen in act two.
I’d be interested in your thoughts.

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2625 Larry Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:13:02 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2625 @Dharma -- sounds like a perfect plot point, and it sounds like you get this. Congrats, that's huge... now go write us a bestseller! Let me know if I can help you further. L. @Dharma — sounds like a perfect plot point, and it sounds like you get this. Congrats, that’s huge… now go write us a bestseller! Let me know if I can help you further. L.

]]> By: Dharma Kelleher http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2624 Dharma Kelleher Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:11:13 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2624 Thanks, Larry. That does clarify things. Your book is helping me understand which of the major scenes of my current novel-in-progress needs to be the First Plot Point (in my case, it's where the villain kidnaps the hero's young nephew, so that the hero must change direction and go after the villain), as well as where it needs to be (roughly the 20,000-word mark of my 80,000 word story). Thanks, Larry. That does clarify things. Your book is helping me understand which of the major scenes of my current novel-in-progress needs to be the First Plot Point (in my case, it’s where the villain kidnaps the hero’s young nephew, so that the hero must change direction and go after the villain), as well as where it needs to be (roughly the 20,000-word mark of my 80,000 word story).

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2623 Larry Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:57:30 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2623 @Dharma -- sorry for the confusion, it's really an issue of context, I should have been more clear. It has to do with the objective of the plot twist. In part one, what seems like a plot twist (and it may well twist the plot at that point... then again, the real plot hasn't even started yet, because we are pre-plot point one) is really a continuing part of the set-up. It's prefectly fine to throw in the unexpected, and to show how things are changing... but those changes are leading toward something, setting up something? What? The first plot point. Because of that, they are different in terms of mission and intention from plot twists that occur after the first plot point... they're part of the set-up. See the film "Collateral" (Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox) to help you see this in action; there's a huge plot twist smack in the middle of Part One (the body falling onto the taxi), and it looks and smells exactly like a plot point. But it's not. Not only is it too early in the story (we're still in the middle of Part One), it doesn't fulfill the criteria for Plot Point One (it doesn't define the hero's next phase of the journey in context to the larger mission of the story)... it's still part of the set-up. Hope this clarifies. You pose a great question, and when you wrap your head around the answer, you'll be equipped to deliver a killer Part One in your stories. L. @Dharma — sorry for the confusion, it’s really an issue of context, I should have been more clear. It has to do with the objective of the plot twist. In part one, what seems like a plot twist (and it may well twist the plot at that point… then again, the real plot hasn’t even started yet, because we are pre-plot point one) is really a continuing part of the set-up. It’s prefectly fine to throw in the unexpected, and to show how things are changing… but those changes are leading toward something, setting up something? What? The first plot point. Because of that, they are different in terms of mission and intention from plot twists that occur after the first plot point… they’re part of the set-up. See the film “Collateral” (Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox) to help you see this in action; there’s a huge plot twist smack in the middle of Part One (the body falling onto the taxi), and it looks and smells exactly like a plot point. But it’s not. Not only is it too early in the story (we’re still in the middle of Part One), it doesn’t fulfill the criteria for Plot Point One (it doesn’t define the hero’s next phase of the journey in context to the larger mission of the story)… it’s still part of the set-up.

Hope this clarifies. You pose a great question, and when you wrap your head around the answer, you’ll be equipped to deliver a killer Part One in your stories. L.

]]> By: Dharma Kelleher http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2622 Dharma Kelleher Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:37:30 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2622 In "Story Structure...Demystified" (I'm reading the Kindle version on my iPod), you say the writer shouldn't throw plot twists in Part 1. But here, you say that you can have as many plot twists in Part 1 as you'd like. I'm confused. In “Story Structure…Demystified” (I’m reading the Kindle version on my iPod), you say the writer shouldn’t throw plot twists in Part 1. But here, you say that you can have as many plot twists in Part 1 as you’d like. I’m confused.

]]> By: Gwen Hernandez http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2347 Gwen Hernandez Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:38:19 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2347 I'm loving this so far. Thanks! I’m loving this so far. Thanks!

]]> By: Monica http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2343 Monica Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:49:03 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2343 I feel like all your 'lessons' are falling into place - in my brain, that is. Perhaps it's because I've seen this movie, so I can see the connection better than with one I haven't. Keep it coming, Larry! I feel like all your ‘lessons’ are falling into place – in my brain, that is. Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen this movie, so I can see the connection better than with one I haven’t. Keep it coming, Larry!

]]> By: Luisa Perkins http://storyfix.com/deconstructing-avatar-%e2%80%93-the-second-half-of-the-first-act/comment-page-1#comment-2342 Luisa Perkins Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:42:30 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=2099#comment-2342 Oh, good: we're right in sync. Keep it coming! This is so great. Oh, good: we’re right in sync. Keep it coming! This is so great.

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