- What's up my friend, Abbie here, and welcome back to
WritersLife Wednesdays, where we come together to help
you make your story matter and make your author dreams come true. Today we are once again, continuing with the Three-Act-Story-Structure
Story Beat, Breakdown series. You may have thought it
was over, but it's not. We still have to talk about
the climax of your story. Last week, we talked about
the most important part of your story, which is the aha moment. Check that out, if you
didn't see that video, and also check out all the other videos, if you haven't seen them. They are linked in the
Description box below. I'm excited to talk about the climax, or the climactic confrontation,
as it's described, in the three-act-story-structure
templates, but before we get into that, I want to show you an alternative
and super compelling way to have your character
arrive at their aha moment. This is something that I've
actually never talked about on the channel, so I'm super excited to unpack this story beat. Roll that intro, and let's get started. Why does your story matter? Good question. What if I told you that there's a science behind every great story? I don't just teach you how to write. I teach you how to change
the world with your story, and make your author dreams come true. Before we get started,
I just want to eat erase all of your previous conceptions about what the temptation moment is. Because I've heard this
word loosely thrown around among other story structures, including "The Hero's Journey," and not all moments of
temptation are alike. In "The Hero's Journey,"
moments of temptation tend to be used as tests
of the hero's strength, and morality, usually appearing soon after the first plot point, but
we're not talking about "The Hero's Journey." This is the three-act-story-structure, and right here, right now,
we are going to replace the disaster and dark moment plot point, with a moment of temptation, okay, Which is going to lead your
character to their aha moment. Let's read the description from the three-act-story-structure, which I actually just added to my three-act-story-structure template. So if you downloaded a
previous version of it, if you have an old version of it, I just sent the updated
version to your email. If you don't have it already, you can download the updated version in the Description box below this video. Okay, temptation, the alternative to a disaster and dark moment. Instead of everything going
wrong for your protagonist, everything goes right. They are given the opportunity to finally have the thing
they've always wanted, the misbelief-based goal, they've been chasing this whole time, but now they turn it down. Because after going on this
transformative journey, they realize they don't want it anymore. They have found something so much better. They have found true happiness. Prompt, ask yourself,
"What is the specific misbelief-based goal, that my protagonist has been chasing this whole time? How is my protagonist offered the chance to finally have this thing
they've always wanted? How will my protagonist
prove their transformation by turning down this offer?" To be honest, I love the temptation to aha moment plot device, just as much as the disaster,
dark moment, aha moment, because both can be amazing
if they're written well, but you have to decide which
one is best for your story. I think you most often see
the temptation story beat in like lighthearted and comedic stories, but it can work just as well in a story with a more serious tone. I love having options like this, because it keeps your
story fresh and engaging, unpredictable, but still following that clear path of cause and effect. And sometimes it's way more
satisfying for the reader to give your character
a moment of temptation, rather than giving them a
disaster that crushes them. Because we, the readers, have been inside this character's mind, feeling their desires and
conflict at every turn. We know exactly what this
character wants so desperately, and now when they finally
get the chance to have it, we're like, oh my God, this is it. The moment has finally come. They finally accomplished their goal, but we, like the protagonist, are now feeling a little bit
differently about this goal, now that it's finally been accomplished. After watching this character go on this transformative journey,
we see that this is not what's gonna bring them true happiness. And that's when the aha moment shows up, and the sun came out when I said that. That seems way too convenient. (laughs) At last, their eyes are
opened and they realize, I don't want this thing anymore. Why? Because they have transformed as a result of their journey, and that is what makes
your story satisfying. Not an exciting plot, not
beautiful literary writing, not a unique fantasy
world, unlike any other. What makes your story riveting,
enjoyable, and memorable, what makes your story matter is your character's transformation, and the temptation story
beat is a perfect way to showcase your
protagonist transformation, because we all think we know how the protagonist is gonna respond to being offered the thing
that they've always wanted, the thing that they've been
chasing down this whole time. We think they're going
to seize the opportunity with both hands, right, but they don't. It's actually actually
not super surprising to us because we've had a front row seat to this character's
transformative journey. We know what has led
them to this decision. It's so satisfying. In fact, it would be really dissatisfying if the protagonist got
this temptation moment and then they're like,
oh wow, perfect, awesome. That's the thing I've always wanted. Now I'm successful. We'd be over here, like, (book bangs) (sighs) because the character didn't change. Okay, so I know that all of these concepts are so much easier to
wrap your head around when we have story
examples, to case studies. So, let's look at some stories that pull off the temptation
to aha moment really well. First up, one of my all time, favorite to classic
films, "Roman Holiday." In case you've missed out on this gem, "Roman Holiday" tells the
story of European Princess Ann, who is fed up with her
tightly scheduled life, and longs for freedom. When Ann runs away from
her country's embassy and winds up lost on the
street, she meets Joe Bradley, an ambitious journalist, who gives her a place to spend the night, not realizing who this girl is
until the following morning, when he discovers that she
is the missing Princess Ann. - Is This the Princess? - Yes, Mr. Bradley, that is the princess. It isn't Annie Oakley, Dorothy Lamour, or Madame Chiang Kai-shek. - [Abbie] It's the windfall of a lifetime. And Joe immediately capitalizes on it, betting $500 that he can get
an exclusive story about Ann, which we spend the rest of the film, watching him pull off, all
the time, letting Ann think he's just being a nice guy, hanging out with her all day, while she makes a fool of herself. - I spent the whole day doing things I've always wanted to. Why? - I don't know, seemed the thing to do. - [Abbie] But throughout
the course of the day, Joe's character changes. He begins to fall for Ann, and by the time they part
ways, feels deeply conflicted about exploiting her for his own benefit. This is the moment of temptation. Joe has the opportunity
to sell his $5,000 story, and win the $500 bet with his boss. But after getting to know Ann, he just can't bring himself to do it. That idea of success doesn't
look so attractive anymore, because he's transformed
as a result of his journey. - It's all there is to
it, there is no story. - [Abbie] When he shows up
at the Royal press conference the next day, Ann is freaked out. As she realizes he's a reporter, and has been aware of
her identity all along, but Joe makes it clear to the Princess that he won't be exploiting
her in the press, and although the story doesn't have your typical fairytale
ending, it's satisfying, because of that thing
I talked about earlier. The only thing that makes
your story satisfying, character transformation. Another great example of this can be found in the film, "Baby Boom." J.C. Wiatt, also known as the Tiger Lady, is a driven business
woman getting after it, in 1980s Manhattan, but her career plans are quickly turned upside down when a distant relative dies, and leaves J.C. a very
random inheritance, a baby. - Are you joking? - This is an ideal inciting incident, as it pushes J.C. way
outside her comfort zone. For a while, she tries
to juggle being a mom and a career woman, but
eventually her life falls apart, and her hopes of becoming a partner in the company are dashed. - I thought that I was gonna be a partner. - Ah, swallow your pride J.C. - [Abbie] That's when J.C.
decides to ditch the rat race, pack up everything and move to Vermont, which comes with a whole
host of other problems. Despite the odds, J.C. manages
to get back on her feet, by starting her own
business selling baby food. Eventually, word of
her success gets around to her former boss in New
York, who invites J.C. back, and offers to buy her
company for millions. This is the moment of temptation. J.C. has the opportunity to have the job she spent years fighting for, and make a lot of money in the process, but after getting a taste of
a very different kind of life, she just can't bring herself to do it. - I think I'm gonna have to pass. - [Abbie] J.C. loves her adopted daughter, and her new life in Vermont, more than she ever thought she would. She surprises herself,
as much as everyone else, when she turns down the offer, and decides to keep her
business and her lifestyle, just the way it is. - I'm not the Tiger Lady anymore. I mean, I have a crib in my office and there's a mobile over my
desk, and I really like that. - We see how she is transformed as a result of her journey, and discovered what truly matters to her. There are so many great examples of the temptation to aha moment. Those are the two that
immediately came to mind for me, but I want you to comment below, and tell me what are
some other great examples of the temptation to aha moment in one of your favorite stories? Okay, let's recap what we just learned about the temptation story beat. You don't need a disaster for your character to
come to their senses. In fact, it could be just the opposite. Your character could be
offered the very thing they've always wanted, but they realize they
don't want it anymore. They have found true happiness, and transformed as a
result of their journey. Make it clear to your audience why your protagonist no longer
finds this goal attractive. Throughout the course of the story, their goal has shifted from
a definition of happiness, based on their misbelief, to a clear idea of what
happiness actually looks like. Their character arc comes full circle, as they finally see the
light, and grasp the truth, that you set out to
tell through this story. Ask yourself, what is
the misbelief based goal that my protagonist has been
chasing this whole time? How can I offer my protagonist the chance to finally have this
thing they've always wanted? Why will my protagonist
turned down this offer, and therefore, prove their transformation? Okay, boom, that's it for this Story Beat. Make sure you grab the
three-act-story-structure. It's linked below, and next
time we are going to talk about the climactic confrontation,
or the climax of your story, the final battle, the
showdown, the biggest challenge that your character must face, in order to prove their transformation. So, stay tuned for that, and
if you're from the future, the link will be right there. Smash that Like button,
if you liked this video, and be sure to subscribe to this channel, if you haven't already,
because I post writing videos and publishing videos
every single Wednesday, and I would love to have
you here in the community. Also, be sure to check out my Patreon, because that's where we go beyond videos, and take storytelling to the next level. The Patreon community's not
only the best way to support what I'm doing here on YouTube, but it's also the only way to
connect one-on-one with me, and get better guidance on your story. So go to patreon.com/AbieeEmmons, and check out all the awesome,
exclusive bonus content, I have over there for you. Until next week, my friend, rock on. We'd be over here, like. (chuckles) We'd be over here, like. We'd be over here, like. I'm really abusing this book, I'm sorry. (laughing)
