Write Your Novel
Step by Step


By Melanie Anne Phillips
Creator of StoryWeaver

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For Story

Structure


Story Structure

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Structure



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Writing

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Read the Science Fiction Thriller

From the founder of Storymind

Man Made follows a mysterious force as it sweeps around the globe erasing anything man made - from buildings, vehicles, and technology to medicines, clothing, and dental work.

Governments stagger under the panic, religions are at a loss for an explanation, scientists strive for any means to stop or divert the phenomenon, and the world’s population from families to individuals struggle to prepare for The Event, which will drive humanity back beyond the stone age.

The Event is coming.

Are you prepared?

Copyright Melanie Anne Phillips


Storymind

Free Writing Resources

~ Step 125 ~



Extending Message Issue – Act Two



For this step, remember that the message issue and the counterpoint should each be in every act, but never in the same scene (dramatic moment) or at the same time.


Here in act two, you have the opportunity to change your readers’ assessment of the value of the message issue.  Through additional illustrations, an issue that originally appeared positive may be made to appear highly negative, neutral, or even more positive.


Your readers will "average out" their intuitive determination of the value of the message issue based on the mean average of its individual values in each act.  Later, in act three, you will put the final spin on the message issue to create a final value judgment of that side of the emotional argument.


For now, keep in mind where you are headed so as not to tip the scale so far in act two that you might not be able to bring the final assessment to the level you want to establish by the end of act three.


From the illustrations and scenarios you have already developed in the Exposition Stage, select for act two the instances that will contribute to your message issue and give it additional depth and meaning.