3T Writing Tidbit

Back to Basics--a quick reminder that'll save your story.

Whether you pants or plot, if you write a story you're writing where something happens. Hopefully enough something and interesting enough something that other folks will read it.

Like the perfect face, there are a lot of variants, but the most attractive will have the same basic structure. Plotters will figure them out beforehand, pantsers will chisel the story into them after, but they will be present. (Note: Longer stories will have more plot points but these basic five are still the major peaks.)

CATALYST (also Inciting Incident or Opportunity)
BIG EVENT (also First Test or Change of Plans)
PINCH (also Crunch or Reversal or Point of No Return)
CRISIS (also Major Setback)
CLIMAX

1. Peter, though his grandfather warns him of the wolf, opened the gate and went into the meadow. "Boys like me aren't afraid of wolves."
2. He was skipping along with his friends the bird and the duck when the wolf appeared.
3. The wolf eats the duck.
4. Peter climbs into a tree. He tells the bird to twitter the heck out of the wolf to distract him. Peter makes a rope into a noose and lowers it stealthily.
5. Peter lassos the wolf. Hunters help him parade the wolf to the zoo.





Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.