Baby Lawyer

consistency : this is applicable to all your characters but becomes specifically important while writing one that might not appeal to the audience because of certain traits. you should know when to balance out their grumpiness to other behaviours– being a grinch cannot make up their entire personality!

body language : their irritability can be expressed not just through dialogues and expressions, body language plays an important role as well. a descriptive narration of acts such as crossed arms, huffs, a perpetual scowl or the good old eye-roll could create a similar effect without annoying and the reader as much.

internal thoughts and beliefs : it is very often noticed how a grumpy character's inner ideals are on a comparatively 'softer' and vulnerable side, which allows room for the reader to sympathize with them. maybe this side could be shown to a particular character while it remains hidden to others. if you're thinking about luke and lorelai, congratulations because so am i.

humor : their grumpy behaviour can always be used to provide hilarity in otherwise tense scenarios. give them some witty comebacks, a fair amount of sarcasm or some self-deprecating humor and watch the audience fall in love with them.

contrast : establish scenes that provide a contrast between their gruff nature and hidden benevolent traits. interactions with characters that they feel safe around, acts of kindness and a demonstration of their protective instincts shows a caring side behind the grumpy facade.

reasons : although this isn't necessary, it can be used according to your will and pleasure. find a (realistic) reason behind your character's irritable behaviour– maybe certain events trigger it more often, a backstory, out of spite from certain other characters, personal struggles etc.

A Brief Recap of the Five-Act Structure

You probably remember Freytag's pyramid from school. That little graph did not explain the 5-act structure to me well at all. Prologue, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, denouement. Yes, great, but... what do those things mean in that context?

I'm going to break this down quickly and in a way that makes sense to me.

5 Acts in 5 Minutes

ACT I: EXPOSITION -> WHO ARE THESE CHARACTERS, HOW DO THEY BEHAVE, WHAT'S THE CONFLICT GOING TO BE, AND WHY DO WE CARE?

[INSERT INCITING INCIDENT HERE]

ACT II: RISING ACTION -> EVERYONE'S TRYING REALLY HARD TO GET WHAT THEY WANT AND SOLVE THE MAIN PROBLEM; FAILURES AND SETBACKS INCREASE TENSIONS UNTIL...

ACT III: CLIMAX -> BOOM! THE TENSION BREAKS AND KNOCKS EVERYONE ON THEIR ASS; SOMETHING ENTERS OR LEAVES THE NARRATIVE, MAKING IT A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME; THE STAKES HAVE BEEN RAISED

ACT IV: FALLING ACTION -> NOTHING IS CERTAIN ANYMORE, ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN (EVEN, AND ESPECIALLY, LOSING); THE RAISED STAKES ARE PAINFULLY FELT BUT IF THEY CAN MAKE IT TO THE FINAL ROUND, THEY STILL HAVE A CHANCE...

ACT V: DENOUEMENT -> THE CULMINATION OF EFFORTS AND ACTIONS LEADS THE CHARACTERS TO THE END; WIN OR LOSE, IT'S OVER; THE CONFLICT HAS ITS VICTORS. THE LOOSE ENDS ARE TIED UP, THE DUST SETTLES, AND IT'S TIME FOR SOME NARRATIVE CLOSURE.

a note on the names of these acts: they can be pretty misleading, at least to me. So here are names that may add some clarity...

Act I: Introduction

Act II: Initial Efforts (Round 1 of trying to reach the goal)

Act III: Midpoint

Act IV: All is Lost (Round 2 of trying to reach the goal)

Act V: Finale (Last round of trying + the final outcome)

Cool. How do I use an act structure?

Any way you want. Use it like a map, use it like a revision guide after you've outlined, use it as the mousepad you barely look at.

An act structure is less about strict division and more about a specific way to look at your plot. A lens that focuses on parts of a whole, each part with a purpose.

How I use the 5-act structure

My brain is story- and character-oriented. Channeling that into a cohesive plot, let alone a satisfying plot, is not intuitive to me. The 5-act structure lets me lay out what I have and get a visual for which parts of the plot need more attention.

I rely on the framework so I can take the story I already have and make it into the most effective, compelling plot possible.

You don't need a traditional plot or anything resembling acts. But for me, for my screenwriting especially, I prefer structure. I only have 120 or so pages to say what I'm trying to say. I need to be efficient and know what to prioritize.

This doesn't mean I view story structure as a mold to shove everything into. The 5-act structure is a beaten path I can wander on and off of, knowing it will keep me on track when I get lost.

As always, take what's helpful and leave the rest.

[Call it Good] Writing

Too many novels to finish, so little time. ⏳