Story Structure #19: Act II, Stage 6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies

So we’re here… we’ve taken the leap of faith, and are on the way through the Special World in search of our boon, whatever that may be for our Hero. This is a big transition that should not go unnoticed by our readers. We need to make sure that we have crafted our Special World to be a shock to the system as we plunge in from the Ordinary.

On the way, we are certain to encounter plenty of new situations and characters, all of which will prove to be for us or against us. The landscape is different and the old rules no longer apply. It will take some fleet feet to navigate the unfamiliar waters and sort through it all to find the safe path.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies

• Readers’ first impression of the Special World should strike a sharp contrast with the Ordinary World – different feel, rhythm, priorities, values, rules.
• Testing to sharpen the hero
• Making Allies (sidekicks, teams…) or Enemies (rivals…), and differentiating between the two
• New rules to adjust to quickly

Testing is important, as it sharpens and hones our Hero into what he needs to be in order to be successful. They are painful, but necessary, and we need to lay our darlings in harm’s way for their own good. Take a deep breath!

A printable version, for your reference, can be found here: Stage 6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies

To view a chronological listing of the posts in this series, continue below:

• Structure Series #1: First Things First, or Donald Maass Strikes Again (6/8/2015)
• Structure Series #2: Plotting for the Pantser (6/11/2015)
• Structure Series #3: To Begin… a Story Engineering overview (6/18/2015)
• Structure Series #4: Part One (6/24/2015)
• Structure Series #5: First Plot Point (7/1/2015)
• Structure Series #6: Part Two (and Pinch Point One) (7/5/2015)
• Structure Series #7: Midpoint (7/10/2015)
• Story Structure #8: Part Three (and Pinch Point Two) (7/15/2015)
• Story Structure #9: Second Plot Point (7/21/2015)
• Story Structure #10: Part Four (7/27/2015)
• Story Structure #11: Story Engineering Wrap-Up (8/16/2015)
• Story Structure #12: Introducing The Writer’s Journey (8/19/2015)
• Story Structure #13: The Writer’s Journey: The Archetypes and the Map (8/20/2015)
• Story Structure #14: Act I, Stage 1: The Ordinary World (8/21/2015)
• Story Structure #15: Act I, Stage 2: The Call to Adventure (8/22/2015)
• Story Structure #16: Act I, Stage 3: Refusal of the Call (8/23/2015)
• Story Structure #17: Act I, Stage 4: Meeting with the Mentor (8/24/2015)
• Story Structure #18: Act I, Stage 5: Crossing the First Threshold (8/25/2015)
• Story Structure #19: Act II, Stage 6: Tests, Allies, and Enemies (8/26/2015)
• Story Structure #20: Act II, Stage 7: Approach to the Inmost Cave (8/27/2015)
• Story Structure #21: Act II, Stage 8: The Ordeal (8/28/2015)
• Story Structure #22: Act II, Stage 9: Seizing the Reward (8/29/2015)
• Story Structure #23: Act III, Stage 10: The Road Back (8/30/2015)
• Story Structure #24: Act III, Stage 11: The Resurrection (8/31/2015)
• Story Structure #25: Act III, Stage 12: Return with the Elixer (9/1/2015)
• Story Structure #26: Wrap-Up (9/2/2015)