CNYRW Presents Maggie Shayne: The Three-Act Structure

We at the CNY Romance Writers are fortunate to have NY Times Bestselling author Maggie Shayne as a member. Maggie is a font of knowledge about the writing industry, as well as publishing, having started her own imprint, Thunderfoot Publishing.

Today, Maggie offered us a look at the Three-Act Structure, which is how popular films are formatted.  How is this helpful to writers?  Well, we often look to the film industry for tips on structuring the perfect read, because let's face it: those blockbuster movie makers must be on to something.

The Three-Act Structure

The Three-Act Structure is nothing new.  Imagine a movie or book divided into four equal parts, called One, Two A, Two B, and Three.  Part One is 25% of your book and involves the stages of story setup.  Parts Two A and Two B are 50%, essentially the "middle chunk" of your book, and involve the characters' struggles and major turning points.  This middle ends in your black moment, when all is lost for your characters.  Part Three is the final 25%, involving the final push and overall climax of your book, when your characters triumph over the odds.  It also wraps it up neatly by showing your characters with their rewards in the changed world of the story.

Each "part" of the book has its own separate climactic moments, when something big changes for your characters.  Maggie recommended Alexandra Sokoloff's book "Screenwriting Tricks for Authors" as a guide to this structure, tailored to those of us who write rather than navigate showbiz.

Examples

We love to use movies as examples for how to structure a book, too, because they're such a wonderful shorthand, and many of us have watched the movies in question.  For romance writers, what better movie could be suited to the purpose than "Romancing the Stone?"  Maggie illustrated how beautifully this movie conforms to the Three-Act Structure, including the climactic twists and turns that lead the characters through their adventures.  You can actually time the acts at the correct points in the film!  If you are a romance writer and haven't seen this movie, you really should (and it's hilarious, too!).  Even if you don't write romance, watch it for a great example of this type of structure.

While I was familiar with the Three-Act Structure, it was wonderful to see it presented clearly and enthusiastically by Maggie Shayne.  Maggie loves her craft, and it shows.  I came home with fresh perspectives on my current WIP, and I hope you've learned something from my post here.  Happy writing! 

Break Time

Since finishing FIRE, I've had a remarkably quiet summer - at least where writing is concerned. Only lately have I been dabbling in my new project. As a result, I've spent most of the season "refilling the well," a writer's term for not writing in order to recharge his or her batteries. It has been exquisite! Not only am I doing other artsy things (painting, gardening, cooking/baking, etc.) but I am gathering scenes and ideas in the back of my head for my new book. I had forgotten how much good it does a writer's soul to step back from her project and just be. I've given myself until the official start of fall to take my break (even though the stores have already begun doling out pumpkin everything). After fall begins, it's back to business.

Here's to relaxing and recharging!

Take a Walk!

Today, I did something I haven't done in quite some time: took a walk behind my mother's house, around the lake and into the woods.  It was amazing.  I had forgotten how beautiful and peaceful it can be.  Just the smell of the woods alone is worth the walk!

Before I started out, I found an enormous black dragonfly on the driveway.  He must have been sunning himself!  He didn't even seem to mind me sticking my face in at him to take a photo.  He was almost as big as my hand!

This is what "refilling the well" is all about.  How I missed those trees!  It was a long walk, but I feel refreshed, and I'm fairly certain I'm going to sleep like a rock tonight.  *deep sigh*

Cool Cars

For someone who isn't crazy about driving, I have a bit of a thing for old cars.  Summer in Central NY is awesome for classic cars, because every summer, we have the Syracuse Nationals, which is the biggest car show in the Northeastern U.S.  Every summer, we are set upon by amazing rides from all over the country.  Our hotels and motels are filled up, and even if you don't go to the Nationals, you're gonna see a car show at every parking lot, gas station, and ice cream stand in Central New York.

And every summer, I look for my favorite, which is the '63 split-window Corvette Stingray.  Now, that car is beauty on wheels.  And I know you car aficionados will gasp with horror when I say it, but if I could drop a newer, more fuel-efficient transmission into one of those babies, you bet your butt I'd do it, and drive it loud and proud.  They just don't make cars as pretty as that anymore.

This one's not a '63, but I definitely wouldn't turn up my nose at it if someone handed one to me.  Would you?

 

There was also a pretty awesome old fire engine there, which I thought was cool.  I love anything from the 20's up to the 60's.  After that, while I might think it's a pretty car, I lose interest.  I also have a thing for European styles:

 

This is an Austin Healey 3000 Mark III, and I totally need to make friends with someone who has a car like this so I can ride around in it, just once, and feel like an international super-spy.

Maybe one of my favorite things about old cars is that they put a story in my head.  For instance, there was this one, a 1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.  The owner had helpfully added all the accessories that made it an instant story for me.  Can you imagine a character who'd drive one of these, complete with surfboard, cooler, and picnic basket for a day at the beach?  Fell in love instantly, and started forming storylines.

I often look at the cars made today, and wonder which of them have lines iconic enough to become future classics.  Which do you like?

The New NickiGreenwood.com!

Well, it's been quite the learning curve, but I'm thrilled to say I now have an brand-new, mobile-friendly website for viewing on all devices! I've been hand-coding my own website for a while now, and I know enough to be dangerous ... but responsive web design was something new for me, and at first it was rather frustrating to try to get it right. Now that I think I have the kinks worked out, you can see my new site in all its resizable glory:

http://www.nickigreenwood.com

Responsive websites are just that: they respond accordingly for optimal display, no matter what device you use to view them. Test it out by viewing my website on your desktop, tablet, or phone, and you'll find that it's comfortably readable at any size. You can even change your browser window's size or go from portrait to landscape orientation on your handheld, and the site will re-flow for the best view. It's really quite impressive how far web design has come in just the past few years. Who knows where it'll go next?

Book Signing Saturday 7/25/15 at Lewis County Fair!

I'm thrilled to be going to a book signing on Saturday, July 25th at the Lewis County Fair in Lowville, NY.  Love books (especially romance)?  This is your chance to meet me and my fellow romance author, Regina Edwards-Drumm, and get a book personally autographed!  I'll be there from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and I hope to meet you there!

In addition to some wonderful romance reads, we'll be offering raffle prizes!  Regina is donating a "Night of Romance" gift basket, and I am donating "The Elementals Jewelry Set," a one-of-a-kind, handmade necklace and earring set, pictured above.  Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Lowville Free Library.  These terrific prizes are only available by raffle at the Lewis County Fair, so we hope you'll come and see what it's all about!

The Lewis County Fair offers a day of fun for the whole family. Sound like an awesome time?  Click here for directions!