ACT ONE: separation (30 to 35K)

the jump start → the first scene in the story where a protagonist with limited knowledge of a problem is drop-kicked into action on page one as conflict begins.

• what is the opening image that will stick in the reader’s mind?
  • being surrounded by fire
• what is the opening mood?
  • grim, sinister
• what is the opening tone?
  • pompous + melodramatic (because i can't write any differently)
• what is the opening conflict?
  • man against nature (dustin is fighting his way through the fire to rescue the victim) + man against evil demons from hell (who started the fire)
• what is the protagonist’s outer desire?
  • to wake up → (die in the dream)
  • to make his sister proud → save the man + be okay w/ dying even if it terrifies him
• what is the protagonist’s hidden need that will filled at the end of the book or series?
  • his definition of normal → get family back, not have nightmares
• how does the protagonist demonstrate that he doesn’t really understand the problem?
  • believes dad just left him
  • believes his mom's crazy
  • thinks they're just nightmares
• what is the central theme of the book and how does it relate to the opening scene?
  • a person often overlooks what is in front of them when it isn't something that fits into their world view
  • the protag ignores the facts: he's never seen this building, the dream is incredibly vivid, he has marks when he wakes up, because it isn't normal
• who is the antagonist?
  • samael + unnamed demon force
• how is the antag introduced or foreshadowed?
  • intro → demon grabs his ankle + drags him through the wreckage
  • later → chase warns him about demons (that he's in danger)
• if the antag is only foreshadowed, is there a main minion who appears?
  • yes: samael + lilith
• is this main minion a recurring character central to the overall plot?
  • yes: they're the only villains we know for the most part
• prior to the opening, what internal and external forces have been at work to make the protag suffer?
  • internal → desire to be normal, pretending he doesn't care about dad and sis while still trying to make them proud, fear of insanity, overwhelming crush + attraction to samael, lack of friends
  • external → dying, nightmares, demons kidnapping his family + trying to get him
• how are these tied to the protag’s hidden need?
  • he is internally trying to pretend the external problems don't exist + the demons are causing these external conflicts that keep him from being normal

introducing trouble (aka the call to action) → rightly or wrongly, the protagonist makes an action-based plan and takes the first steps to cope with the trouble.

• how is the protagonist called or propelled into action and moved out of her usual world?
• why is the situation urgent?
• what are the overall consequences if she refuses to act?
• what is the potential overall payoff if she accepts the call to action?
• how does the call to action conflict with what she wants?
• why does she believe she is unwilling to change the status quo?
• how does this conflict what she needs?
• what does she personally stand to lose?
• what could she gain and how does this relate to her hidden need?
• how does she demonstrate a slight, new awareness of her needs?
• have both of the following important characters been introduced:
• love interest/main mentor?
• antagonist’s main minion?
• foil?
• how does the protagonist actively demonstrate her reluctance to change the status quo?
• what action does the protag take in an attempt to evade or compromise?

first threshold (aka trouble gets worse) → something happens to thwart the protagonist’s plan, the stakes get higher, and the protagonist does something she wouldn’t have done or been able to do at the beginning.

• how do the protag’s attempts to refuse change make the immediate trouble worse?
• what happens to overcome her reluctance to accept the call to action and commit to change?
• how does she get over the first threshold and demonstrate she is already changing?
• is there a threshold guardian? Who is it and how does it bar her way?
• how does crossing the first threshold thwart the protagonist’s immediate wants?
• how does that push her toward what she really needs?
• how does it increase the overall stakes?
• what is the overall story problem as it has now been introduced?
• what is the theme of the story?
• what should the reader hope for the protagonist?
• what should the reader fear on her behalf?

source: how to create a book that will keep readers reading