From Scatter Plot to Line Graph

An inside look at keeping your readers interested (and not confused)

PRESENTATION BY: Anastasia Marie, using

Michael Hauge’s

Six Stage Plot Structure

STAGE ONE: Set Up

Introduce the ordinary world so the reader can contrast it with the upcoming New World.

Identity of Hero Empathy creation

- Reader must empathize hero/protagonist

TURNING POINT ONE (TP1)

The hero is presented with an opportunity

Make a difference, leave a legacy

STAGE TWO: New Situation

Hero moves from Old world into New- Who can he trust?- Trials-Glimpse Essence (true self) when confronted with difficult situation

TURNING POINT TWO

Change of plans

Hero must make a plan of action and an ultimate goal

STAGE THREE: Progress

Hero approaches goal(s)

Obstacles

Identity and Essence in state of flux

TURNING POINT THREE

Point of No Return

Midpoint of Story

Hero must continue on, no matter the cost (so do you!)

STAGE FOUR: Complications and Higher Stakes

Things are more difficult Progress into essence Goal becomes important More to lose Acknowledge missing piece

TURNING POINT FOUR

Major Setback

ALL IS LOST

STAGE FIVE: Final Push

Protagonist has earned honor of being a hero

Faces biggest fear

Dark moment (realization)

Retreats into Identity, then Essence fully revealed

TURNING POINT FIVE

Climax

Hero achieves or fails goal

STAGE SIX: Aftermath

How far the hero has come

Return with TREASURE

Fully in essence

THE END

End with a punctuation (!?)

Cliffhanger?

Victory!

Stage I:

SETUPFully inidentity

Stage II:

NEW SITUATION

Glimpses essence

Stage III:

PROGRESSVacillates between

identity and essence

Stage IV:

COMPLICATIONS & HIGHER STAKESMoves steadily into essence

Stage V:

FINAL PUSHRetreats to

identity, then returns fully to

essence

Stage VI:

AFTER- MATH

Transformedexistence

Turning Point #4:

Major SetbackTurning Point #3:

Point of No ReturnTurning Point #2:

Change of PlansTurning Point #1:

OpportunityTurning Point #5:

Climax

Act I Act II Act III

2005 Michael Hauge www.StoryMastery.com (818) 995-4209

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Michael Hauge’s

Six Stage Plot Structure