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Sherlock Holmes (2009) dir. Guy Ritchie

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. 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓲𝓽𝓽𝔂 

[ a new personal painting ] 

instagram: @winterofherdiscontent 

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Coast Scene, 1845, William Turner

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im going to have a stroke

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Adam Driver in the ad for Burberry Hero (HQ)

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photos under my "dream home" board in pinterest.

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The 8 Point Story Arc

1. Stasis

This is the status quo, what life is like for your character before the story really begins. This could last several chapters, or be implied rather than shown if your story begins in media res. Example: Harry Potter’s life with the Dursleys. 

2. Trigger

Synonymous with the inciting incident, this is something that happens to the character that kick starts their journey. The trigger could be bad or good, which could affect the nature of the Quest. Example: Percy Jackson is attacked by a monster on a school field trip, and he finds out that he’s a demi-god. 

3. Quest

The protagonist has a quest, and sets out on it. This takes up the middle portion of the story. I think the best example is any of the Percy Jackson books, in which Percy Jackson literally goes on a “Quest” starting about 25% into the book. 

4. Surprise

This could be interpreted two ways, either as multiple events that happen throughout the course of middle section, or one event that changes the hero’s quest, or both. In the first interpretation, this would be either good or bad turns of fortune, conflicts, obstacles, and revelations that move the middle portion along. In the second interpretation, this could be something big that clarifies the true nature of the conflict, or lifts a veil for the protagonist, which would likely happen about halfway or two thirds into the novel. You can, of course, have both. 

5. Critical Choice

The protagonist’s true character is revealed when they are given a choice. This a monumental moment in a character arc. Their decision reflects the growth that they have made along the journey; they wouldn’t have made the same decision during the stasis. This is often between a good but hard choice, and a bad but easy choice. For instance, the choice between betraying a friend to be one of the cool kids, and the choice to stand up for a friend against terrifying bullies. 

6. Climax

The result of the critical choice, and the highest point of tension in the story. Think, Harry Potter facing Voldemort for the final time at the end of the Deathly Hallows. Who will win? Who will lose? 

7. Reversal

Things begin to change in the protagonist’s favour and they defeat the final obstacle. Example: Cinderella putting on the glass slipper and proving that she was the girl at the ball. A new status is achieved.

8. Resolution

The ending of the story, in which a new stasis is achieved. This could be several chapters or a few pages in the case of a cliff hanger. Loose plot threads are tied up, and a readers are given a sense of closure. 

How to use the 8 Point Story Arc

This story structure has its pros and cons. One pro is that you have a lot of wiggle room with these story beats, and it is a time honoured story structure. The issue, on the other hand, is that they’re also quite vague, which you may not want. Everyone interprets these points differently. 

In many ways this story structure works best for short stories, because short stories don’t have a long middle, and the two beats ‘Quest’ and ‘Surprise,’ may be all that you need. But in a novel, ‘Quest’ and ‘Surprise’ may seem rather insubstantial for the middle portion of the novel, which most people struggle the most with anyway. 

You can also use this structure on multiple levels, using it to plan your entire book, but also using it to plan chapters and scenes within your book. 

If you’d like to read more about the 8-Point Story Arc, read about it in Nigel Watts’ book, Writing a Novel and Getting Published.

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‪I’m working on trying to accept where I am. I want to be further ahead. I want to live a life of my own. I want to be healed from all the damage my journey and mission has caused me. But I’m realizing I have to just be here now. I need to make peace with today.‬

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#daily dose of the child grogu (з´⌣`ε)

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boy, you’re going to carry that weight carry that weight a long time

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faces

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It’s that time of the year again :)

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i cannot believe y’all are sleeping on the live acoustic version of sunlight. i mean, yeah, I adore from eden, but c’mon. this is next level. 

dl-link if anyone is so inclined

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Eddie Brock - full body shots