We took a great leap forward with our projects yesterday, diving right into the deep end. Today, we need to keep up the momentum. This morning, we feel overwhelmed with all the new information coming at us. But Mercury turns direct this afternoon, giving us the impetus to keep going. A Moon/Saturn conjunction galvanizes our concentration and Ceres in Sagittarius gives us the power to find the right words. A late evening Sun/Venus trine Neptune makes sweet dreams going into tomorrow. It’s a great writing night if you can stay awake that long.
Tag Archives: reading
OCTOBER 24 ~ Writing With The Stars ~ daily astrology for writers
Mercury’s last retrograde day sees us taking one last look at the outline we have built as our foundation for moving forward with our writing. By late afternoon, everything should be in place. Now is the time to start actually writing new material. Later today, we will be able to tap into the collective unconscious and pull up brand new ideas or ways of saying things that have never been written before. Don’t think too much, though. Let the ideas filter up into your consciousness like dreams or bubbles from the deep.
FIVE ACT STRUCTURE – based on character going from unconscious to conscious, or clueless to self-aware
I’ve been studying story structure and plot design lately and have come up with a five act structure that works for me.
My eyes were opened when I read James Scott Bell’s book, “Write Your Novel From The Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between”.
I can see this being good for avoiding middle muddle and writer’s block.
So, without further ado, here it is:
FIVE ACT STORY STRUCTURE:
* MC = Main Character
ACT ONE = Unconscious Inaction (20%)
SETUP / HOOK / ESTABLISH EMPATHY
ESTABLISH WANT / “FLAW” / WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT / FEAR, CORE WOUND
DISTURBANCE, INCITING INCIDENT / DEFINE STORY PROBLEM
MENTOR(S) / ALLIES / REFUSAL / RELUCTANCE
FIRST DOORWAY / MAJOR COMPLICATION / ACTIVATES EXTERNAL GOAL (based on WANT)
ACT TWO = Unconscious Action (30%)
ENTERS STRANGE NEW WORLD (or strange part of old world)
MC REACTS TO CONLICTS, TROUBLES, TWISTS and TURNS
MAJOR REVERSAL / CRISIS / THEY’VE MADE THINGS WORSE
ACT THREE = Awakening (10%)
MIRROR MOMENT (from James Scott Bell) (MC looks within)
TENSION / REALIZATION / FINDS REAL NEED (as opposed to WANT)
“DEATH” EXPERIENCE, MUST SACRIFICE OLD UNCONSCIOUSNESS
2ND DOORWAY / MC DECIDES TO ACT / REDEFINES GOAL(S)
ACT FOUR = Conscious Action (20%)
DELIBERATE CONFLICTS / SPECIFIC GOALS
THE INTENSE MOMENT / FALSE CLIMAX / ANTAGONIST REVEAL
FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
ACT FIVE = Transformation Shown (20%)
FINAL PUSH
JAWS OF DEFEAT
VISIBLE TRANSFORMATION / MORAL CHOICE
FACES WORST FEAR / “FLAW” OVERCOME OR REDEEMED
CLIMAX
RESOLUTION, TIE UP THE STORY PROBLEM / FINAL SHOT
OCTOBER 23 ~ Writing With The Stars ~ daily astrology for writers
We get all fired up in the morning as the Moon sextiles Mars in Sagittarius. We’re getting ready for BIG THINGS. We’re dreaming big dreams that just get bigger as the day progresses. By later afternoon, the Moon drops into Scorpio and meets the Sun in a partial solar eclipse with quintiles to Pluto in Capricorn and Jupiter in Leo. If that’s not the very best time to start a novel, I don’t know what is! Meanwhile, Mercury in Libra is backing us up with the ability to write beautifully. Don’t waste this day watching movies. WRITE!
OCTOBER 22 ~ Writing With The Stars ~ daily astrology for writers
When the Phoenix wakes up lying in the ashes, it’s rather uncomfortable at first. Then, just before it rises into the air, it must shake off its feathers and preen a little, so the inaugural flight will go off without a hitch. This morning, we’re shaking. This evening we’re preening. And tomorrow is lift-off, with the new Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio flinging us into a wonderful new beginning. Don’t worry. It’s not a surprise. You’ve been preparing for this your whole life.
OCTOBER 21 ~ Writing With The Stars ~ daily astrology for writers
Today is like the calm before the storm. We’ve been in a preparation phase, writing outlines, plotting and thinking about structure. In two days, a New Moon Solar Eclipse at zero degrees of Scorpio plunges us into the depths. For now, though, there’s a bit more preparation to do. We need to get those final details in place before we surge ahead on Thursday evening and Friday.
OCTOBER 20 ~ Writing With The Stars ~ daily astrology for writers
Moon in Virgo sextile Saturn in Scorpio gives you the ability to get to the bottom of any structural details you’ve been working on. It’s been great for novelists lately with Mars sextile Sun/Venus in Libra for the last couple of weeks. This gives us the ability to write actively within a plot outline, making the work more organized. Good aspects with Mars and Pluto remain for another three weeks, with an extra oomph as Mars goes into Capricorn. If we’ve had any plotting problems, they’ll be solved by mid November.
OCTOBER 19 ~ Writing With The Stars ~ daily astrology for writers
This is a great day to edit or work on plotting or outlining. The Moon in Virgo gives us the willingness to pay attention to detail. Harmonious aspects to Saturn and Pluto reinforce our ability to discriminate between what to keep, what to change and what to chop. Anyone dealing with writing contracts will be able to scrutinize the fine print easily today. With Mercury retrograde, it’s a good idea to read everything before signing. This evening, take a break, and pat yourself on the back for being so diligent.