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Monday, April 6, 2015

Energetic Markers Are The Key To A Great Story

I’m skipping right to E as I’ve failed miserably with B-D.

I know that is the point of the whole A-Z challenge, but I haven’t felt like blogging about my life and I tend to want to write about what’s going on with me.

Someone I was close with a long time ago died this week. My first thought beyond shock and sadness was should I write about this for “D” – death? The thing is I don’t want to. Not today. Maybe not ever. So I’m going to take a step back from emotional dumping and write about writing.

I want to give credit here to Plot Whisperer, Martha Anderson and Literary Agent Jill Corcoran for their great advice and formula for breaking down any story using Energetic Markers. You can find their PlotWriMo videos at http://apathtopublishing.com

Seriously, their method teaches you how to dissect a story in such a way that you can easily see why some stories succeed while others fail. I can analyze any genre, any vehicle; book, movie, or play, it doesn’t matter. If the Energetic Markers don’t play out, the story doesn’t work – it’s that simple.

Below is a very brief introduction to their method, but since it’s not my idea you’ll have to go to their websites for more information.  

EM# 1
At the first ¼ of the story the character enters a whole new world – they may do it physically like move to another state, or emotionally, perhaps someone dies – but something major has changed in their world and from here on in it’s all new territory.
EM #2
At the second quarter of the story the protagonist recommits to whatever their goal is after entering their new world or reality.  Whether it be saving the universe, getting the girl or robbing the bank – they are in for the long haul.
EM #3
The third quarter of the story is the crisis – everything that can go wrong will and has gone wrong. The protagonist is in the dumps–their world is about to implode, the girl has found someone else, the bank is on to them – they are at their lowest point.
EM # 4
The fourth quarter is the climax – maybe they can’t save the world but they can save the human race, or the girl they’ve been pining after comes to her senses, or maybe they don’t need to rob the bank because they realize what they really want is a job in law enforcement catching criminals like themselves after all.


I know my examples are ridiculous and much better explained by Martha and Jill so check out their sites like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKthkVeu7B4 and let me know what you think!

8 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry for your loss. And the heck with B to D--they had to take a back seat to something far more important.

    I appreciate the introduction to the "Energetic Markers." Very interesting. And I enjoyed your examples, too! Looking forward to more posts.

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  2. I thought your examples made perfect sense. I'll check out the link as I'm going through this exact thing right now on my new book. Story structure is such a killer for me, I can always use tips like this.

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  3. Good for you for trying to stick with the challenge, and for a very useful post :)

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  4. J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge - where I am part of the A to Z Ambassador Team! (I'm a minion/volunteer under Arlee.)
    Great post. I'm looking forward to more. Let me know if I can help you in any blogging way this month.
    -J @JLenniDorner

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  5. J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge - where I am part of the A to Z Ambassador Team! (I'm a minion/volunteer under Arlee.)
    Great post. I'm looking forward to more. Let me know if I can help you in any blogging way this month.
    -J @JLenniDorner

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  6. Hi, your examples ain't ridiculous. They are understandable... Great pointers. Can weave a good story from these points. Thanks for sharing this.
    Have a nice day.

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  7. We all do the best we can and E is a great letter... (my last name begins with e) Some years it just does not work ....
    #Blogging from A-Z 2015 this year two themes Movies and What’s in a name
    4covert2overt ~ A PLACE IN THE SPOTLIGHT http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/
    DEFINING WAYS http://mariacatalinaegan.com/
    ⋱ ⋮ ⋰.,;***;,.⋱ ⋮ ⋰
    ⋯¤♥¤⋯.(^_^)⋯¤♥¤⋯
    ⋰ ⋮ ⋱..._/l\_...⋰ ⋮ ⋱
    ♫ ƤҼƌҪҼ ƌƝƊ ĻƠṼҼ ॐ βԼƐֆֆїɳɠֆ ƌƝƊ βԼїֆֆ ♫

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  8. Sorry you couldn't keep up with the A to Z Challenge this year. Maybe another try in 2016? Good luck to you.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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