Decon said:
I'm useless at this. Is it possible to have a multi plot structure within a 4 act story?
I have a work in progress almost complete that I thought I had plotted with 4 plot points or acts.Or I suppose you could say it has 3 acts and a climax.
When I look at it now, it seems to be split into two halves with the first half having 3 acts and a climax all on its own. Sorry if it's long winded.
These are my original notes, and I've just tried to split them in to acts, but then I 'm not sure how to condence what I've done into acts using terminology.
Overview; Ist half: 18-year-old Clara relives her life in first person for her defense attorney though not stated as such for half the book when they move to a small mid-west town.... Only revealed at the end that it was her version of events to her defense attorney with the true version of events shown with a twist ending.
Act 1: Clara wishes her religious zealot Pa dead. Shown to be controlled by her father who claims everyone outside their household is in league with -the devil - no social contact - home schooled - develops panic attacks if sneaks out of house alone - realization/discovery of what she is missing out on - starts to push back against Pa - ends with her Pa arranging a marriage to an old guy.
Act 2: The fight back to overcome his control and to escape before the marriage. Shows that she has overcome her fear and panic attacks. Plan to escape foiled after brief freedom when he had to go away. Sham marriage goes ahead. 2 young guys who have vied for her affection (conflict) during her freedom call a truce. They help her to a dramatic escape after the home ceremony.
Act 3: Takes sanctuary at church. Husband and Pa come looking for her to take her back at the point of a rifle after she has discovered from the priest the marriage is not legal and that her Pa had committed incest with her as a child. Fights back at church with help of the two young guys, who threaten to kill him, but only after she has revealed her Pa's incest with her in anger in front of a crowd in town during the fight.
Climax: Believes all the town and her two suitors will shun her at the revelation of incest. Decides to leave town alone but needs to return home in the dead of night for her backpack. Ends with sheriff arresting her at the scene of her Pa's murder of which she says that she has no recollection. Covered in her Pa's blood and with a bloodied knife.
2nd half, POV of detective - third person..... .......
Putting it against Save The Cat (below), I'd say you are at the dark night of the soul and just need to bring it home in act 3...
ACT ONE
Opening Image: The first thing seen. This will set the mood and tone of the story. It's the starting point for the protagonist, and this image is often the opposite of the final image. For example, if a character starts out alone with no friends here, the final image will be him surrounded by friends. [The opening scene] and (The Ordinary World)
Theme Stated: Early on, the theme is introduced, often by stating it outright.
Set-Up: The basic introduction of the world and characters and what's wrong in that world and/or character's life. [The opening scene] and (The Ordinary World)
Catalyst: The trigger that starts the plot. This is the thing that is new and changes what the protagonist knows. [The inciting event] and (the Call to Action)
Debate: The protagonist decides whether or not to do whatever it is he needs to do. [Act One Problem] and (The Refusal of the Call)
ACT TWO - A
Just like the other structure formats, the middle is when the protagonist's world gets turned upside down and the bulk of the plot unfolds. Act Two is broken into two parts, ramping up to the midpoint and down to the climax. Within the first half of Act Two, you'll find the following beats:
Break Into Two: The choice to act and move the story forward. [The Act Two Choice] and (Crossing the Threshold)
B Story: Often this is where the love story plot or major subplot comes into play.
Fun and Games: Snyder calls this beat "the promise of the premise." It's where all the fun stuff of the premise occurs as the protagonist tries to solve the problem, but before things get really serious. [First half of Act Two] and (Tests, Allies, and Enemies)
Midpoint: The middle of the book. Stakes goes up and the "fun" is over. Now it's serious. This beat is either a false victory or a false defeat, which will be the opposite of the All is Lost beat. [Midpoint] and (The Ordeal)
ACT TWO - B
After the midpoint, the story heads toward the climax. If the middle was a false victory, the protagonist realizes that he did not win as he thought. A false defeat, he realizes all it not lost. Within the second half of Act Two, you'll find the following beats:
Bad Guys Close In: With rising stakes comes more attacks from the antagonist. This is when things start to fall apart for the protagonist. [Second Half of Act Two] and (The Road Back)
All is Lost: The other false victory or defeat, and the opposite of the midpoint. The low point of the story, where everything is stripped away from the protagonist. [Act Two Disaster]
Dark Night of the Soul: The deep soul searching of the protagonist to find the solution to the problems facing him. [Act Three Plan]
ACT THREE
Act Three is where it all comes together for the protagonist, and he realizes where he belongs and who he is. The final act is the climax and the events leading up to the climax. Within Act Three, you'll find the following beats:
Break Into Three: Plot and character arcs merge and the protagonist knows what he has to do to win. [Act Three Plan]
Finale: The climax, where the protagonist takes all the lessons learned and uses them to defeat the antagonist and solve the problem. The world makes sense again based on the experiences he's undergone in the story. [The Climax] and (The Resurrection)
Final Image: The ending, showing where the protagonist is now. This will be the opposite of the opening image, showing the end of the character journey and how that helped the protagonist. [The Wrap Up] and (The Return With the Elixir)