Six Stage Plot Structure for a Positive Change Memoir

THE BLAKE SNYDER BEAT SHEET (aka BS2) • Opening Image – A visual that represents the struggle & tone of the story. A snapshot of your problem, before the adventure begins. • Set-up – Expand on the “before” snapshot. Present the main character’s world as it is, and what is missing in their life. • Theme Stated (happens during the Set-up) – What your story is about; the message, the truth. Usually, it is spoken to the main character or in their presence, but they don’t understand the truth…not until they have some personal experience and context to support it. • Catalyst – The moment where life as it is changes. It is the telegram, the act of catching your loved-one cheating, allowing a monster onboard the ship, meeting the true love of your life, etc. The “before” world is no more, change is underway. • Debate – But change is scary and for a moment, or a brief number of moments, the main character doubts the journey they must take. Can I face this challenge? Do I have what it takes? Should I go at all? It is the last chance for the hero to chicken out. • Break Into Two (Choosing Act Two) – The main character makes a choice and the journey begins. We leave the “Thesis” world and enter the upside-down, opposite world of Act Two. • B Story – This is when there’s a discussion about the Theme – the nugget of truth. Usually, this discussion is between the main character and the love interest. So, the B Story is usually called the “love story”. • The Promise of the Premise – This is when Craig Thompson’s relationship with Raina blooms, when Indiana Jones tries to beat the Nazis to the Lost Ark, when the detective finds the most clues and dodges the most bullets. This is when the main character explores the new world and the audience is entertained by the premise they have been promised. • Midpoint – Dependent upon the story, this moment is when everything is “great” or everything is “awful”. The main character either gets everything they think they want (“great”) or doesn’t get what they think they want at all (“awful”). But not everything we think we want is what we actually need in the end. • Bad Guys Close In – Doubt, jealousy, fear, foes both physical and emotional regroup to defeat the main character’s goal, and the main character’s “great”/“awful” situation disintegrates. • All is Lost – The opposite moment from the Midpoint: “awful”/“great”. The moment that the main character realizes they’ve lost everything they gained, or everything they now have has no meaning. The initial goal now looks even more impossible than before. And here, something or someone dies. It can be physical or emotional, but the death of something old makes way for something new to be born. • Dark Night of the Soul – The main character hits bottom, and wallows in hopelessness. The Why hast thou forsaken me, Lord? moment. Mourning the loss of what has “died” – the dream, the goal, the mentor character, the love of your life, etc. But, you must fall completely before you can pick yourself back up and try again. • Break Into Three (Choosing Act Three) – Thanks to a fresh idea, new inspiration, or last-minute Thematic advice from the B Story (usually the love interest), the main character chooses to try again. • Finale – This time around, the main character incorporates the Theme – the nugget of truth that now makes sense to them – into their fight for the goal because they have experience from the A Story and context from the B Story. Act Three is about Synthesis! • Final Image – opposite of Opening Image, proving, visually, that a change has occurred within the character.

Up until this point I’ve been looking at my story through the basic 3 act story structure discussed by KM Weiland, but today I was looking at an example of Michael Hauge’s Six Stage Plot Structure (also 3 acts) on the One Stop for Writers website, so I decided to see how what they’ve outlined could be adapted for writing a memoir.

They discussed Michael’s six stage structure and overlaid the different types of story arcs, but because I’m using a POSITIVE CHANGE ARC, that’s the example I’ve focused on below. (Although there is overlap between the different arcs, if you plan on writing a Negative Change Arc or a Static/Flat Arc memoir, your plot points will differ.)

What I’ve created as a checkpoint list of the different stages throughout the three acts, so when you look at your outline you can use it to make sure your story isn’t missing any critical elements that will weaken your plot.

ACT I: STAGE ONE

Act I has two stages, and includes two Turning Points.

THE SET UP

At the beginning of our story our readers don’t know us.
We need to focus on introducing ourselves and giving the readers a glimpse of our every world.
This part of the memoir is when we show readers we’re worth caring about.
We need to SHOW the behaviors and personality traits that make you likable, such as a sense of humor, tenacity, or patience.
Reveal an admirable talent, skill or belief.
Create an undeserved situation or event that makes a reader empathize with you, so that you create a bond with the reader.
Your misfortune will not ensure that readers will root for you, it’s your strengths, attitudes, or actions that get your readers to become emotionally vested in the outcome of your story.

Your Arc:

You’re made up of flaws, negative behaviors, and skewed beliefs, and this is who you identify yourself as
Your view of yourself is the protective armor you wear to get through life.
In your memoir you have to break free of your identity that is stopping you from feeling complete.
As your memoir progresses you will grow and change and move away from this false view of yourself.

TURNING POINT #1: OPPORTUNITY

Happens at the 10% mark
An event occurs that creates a crisis, challenge or opportunity.
Your world is shaken.
Your reality is shaken and you have to adjust how you move forward.
You can accept your new circumstances or give in to it.
You might have mixed feelings or fears about what the future holds.
Your emotional wounds or your resistance to change could be clouding your acceptance the new normal.

ACT I: STAGE TWO

NEW SITUATION

You’re trying to come to terms with how your life has changed.
You’re adjusting and learning.
You’re adapting to your new role.
You don’t fully grasp how difficult your journey will be, or what you’ll have to sacrifice to reach your goal.

Your Arc:

You’re on a learning curve.
Clashing with others and making mistakes.
You’re frustrated.
You may be blaming external sources (e.g. other people, or the external situation)
You don’t yet realize that it’s your flaws and fears that are getting in your way.

TURNING POINT #2: CHANGE OF PLANS

Happens at the 25% mark
A new complication or problem occurs.
You’re on a mission.
The emotional stakes have increased because you’re more motivated.
Your readers need to root for you to succeed.

Your Arc:

You realize what you have to do – you know you have to take some kind of action to obtain your goal.
Strong emotions have been awakened. and these will lay the groundwork for further change and facing your fears.

ACT 2: STAGE THREE

Act II has two stages, and includes two Turning Points.

PROGRESS

You create a plan for what needs to get done.
You may work to grow your knowledge or skills to overcome obstacles, pitfalls or opposition.
You haven’t been truly tested.
The worst is yet to come.

Your Arc:

You’re fully conscious of your goal.
You’re self-aware but don’t grasp the internal change that needs to happen.

TURNING POINT #3: POINT OF NO RETURN

Happens at the 50% mark. (midpoint)
Your circumstances have become more difficult than you could ever have anticipated.
The goal is harder to achieve.

Your Arc:

You have a brush with death (think of this in finality terms not literally).
From a psychological standpoint – you question what kind of person you’ve become and who you really want to be? you wonder if you’re even capable of change?
From a professional standpoint – will I face professional ruin if I continue, will I lose everything I’ve worked for?

ACT 2: STAGE FOUR

COMPLICATIONS AND HIGHER STAKES

Events speed up and complications hammer you.
You have more to juggle and deal with.
You’re holding your own.
The stakes have never been higher or more personal.
This could mean that others have to pay the price of your failure.
There is not alternative.
It’s all or nothing.

Your Arc:

You embrace internal change.
Your attitude shifts and you shed your flaws.
You understand that losing what you really want means your fears will come true.
Achieving the goal becomes more important.

TURNING POINT #4: MAJOR SETBACK

Happens at the 75% mark.
A devastating setback or failure is thrown at you.
It feels and seems like all is lost.
There is now way to recover.

Your Arc:

There’s a huge internal struggle where the fear of emotional pain or death (not literal) is in intense conflict with the desire to obtain your goal.
You pulled apart by the conflict to satisfy your needs.

ACT 3: STAGE FIVE

Act III has two stages, and includes one Turning Points.

FINAL PUSH

You put everything you have into the fight.
You’re willing to risk it all.
You prove you have changed by living through the choices you faced, and the actions you took.

Your Arc:

There’s not holding back or giving in.
You put everything you have on the line to achieve the goal.

TURNING POINT 5: CLIMAX

Happens at the 90-99% point.
You’ll even win or lose.
This is the resolution to your story.
Winning often requires sacrifice, but it’s one you willing to make.

Your Arc:

You face the final and biggest challenge or obstacle to your goal.

ACT 3: STAGE SIX

AFTERMATH

You show yourself living your new life.
Your behaviors and actions have evolved.
You’ve proved that seeking inner fulfillment was the right choice.

Your Arc:

You are balanced and complete.
You’re content with your new reality.
You know that facing your fears and acknowledging your vulnerability was worth it.

Next Steps:

I’m going to use the template from One Stop for Writers (which is based on the framework above) to create what they refer to as a Story Map.
If I get stuck I’ll use Michael’s website to do further research about the 5 Key Points for Successful Screenplays to complete the map.
View my first draft here.

What I’m Reading

Nothing at the moment my head is bursting and full of ideas, so I need to regroup before I dive into another book.

Theme	Characters	Plot

Six Stage Plot Structure for a Positive Change Memoir