Comments on: The Missing Link in Three-Act Structure

By: Cathy Cade

Cathy Cade — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:30:01 +0000

Thanks for that breakdown. With the reasoning employed, it is easier to remember than the usual multi-act breakdown (often broken down to more than four). I might even manage to apply some structure to my planning (what planning?)
🙂

By: Adele Park

Adele Park — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:10:39 +0000

Fantastic advice, thank you

By: MINDY ALYSE WEISS

MINDY ALYSE WEISS — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 01:19:18 +0000

Thanks for this helpful post, Lisa. So many people wonder why the middle of their novel sags…and this shows how to overcome that issue.

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:35:27 +0000

In reply to Donald Jay. What I love most about it that it's so clearly high tide in the shift from reaction and deconstruction to action and reconstruction—one of those spots where you can draw the character arc drawstring just a little snugger. Thanks for commenting, Donald!

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:12:51 +0000

In reply to Abigail. Glad to hear from another member of the Four-Act Club. Welcome!

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:12:04 +0000

In reply to ANGELA ACKERMAN. Regularly spaced turning points keep the character happening to the story instead of the story happening to the character.

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 01:10:14 +0000

In reply to Kay DiBianca. It makes so much more sense, doesn't it? So easy to keep the story well-paced with regular infusions of character agency and decision-making!

By: ANGELA ACKERMAN

ANGELA ACKERMAN — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 18:13:54 +0000

Great post Lisa. Many plot structures address this but like you, I think seeing/thiniking of it as 4 acts instead of 3 makes it more concrete in a writer’s mind how important this Midpoint is and what must happen to keep everything moving. It’s like removing a bit of unnecessary confusion.

By: Kay DiBianca

Kay DiBianca — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 16:00:19 +0000

Excellent article, Lisa. I’m familiar with the midpoint transformation, but I’ve never seen the story structure described as four acts. It’s a good visual to use.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:06:22 +0000

Any good explanation of 3-act structure will include a description of the Midpoint. That said, it never made sense to me not to have 4 equal quarters! I appreciate your illustration.

By: Lisa Poisso

Lisa Poisso — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:48:01 +0000

In reply to BECCA PUGLISI. It's easy to forget that structure and form are what give meaning and direction to the story. Thanks for sharing this!

By: BECCA PUGLISI

BECCA PUGLISI — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 12:54:25 +0000

This is a great explanation of why we need turning points. Thanks for clarifying this!