<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073711037 9 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Menlo Bold"; panose-1:2 11 7 9 3 6 4 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-436198657 -805244421 40 0 479 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;} p.normal, li.normal, div.normal {mso-style-name:normal; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; color:black;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-fareast-language:JA;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style> --> <br /><div class="normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAoV-oniDdg..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAoV-oniDdg..." width="200" /></a></div><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I welcome back author <a href="https://inesjohnson.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ines Johnson</a> for the second of her three-part guest post on complication cards—an index card that summarizes the heart of a scene or story. Today, she describes how a character journeys from having wants to knowing what they need.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="normal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="normal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Complication Cards, Part 2: The Obstacle Course</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="normal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">by Ines Johnson</span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Yesterday we learned that characters have holes that only <i>needs</i> can fill. Before a character can see their need, they have to yearn after a <i>want</i>, which takes them on a bumpy ride to nowhere.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This obstacle course contains physical and/or internal complications that force the hero or heroine to make decisions that produce dramatic action.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There are four kinds of obstacles.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">The antagonist (bad guy)</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">A specific antagonist lends clarity and power to the dramatic structure because his primary function is to oppose the protagonist. He doesn’t necessarily have to be evil, but he should personify the protagonist’s obstacles.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Example: Cinderella’s wicked stepmother</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Physical Obstructions</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Physical obstructions are just what they sound like—material barriers standing in the way of the protagonist. These can be rivers, deserts, mountains, a dead-end street, or a car causing a crash—anything that presents a substantial obstacle for the protagonist.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Example: Arielle’s fin</span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Inner or Psychological Problems</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Inner obstacles are intellectual, emotional, or psychological problems the protagonist must overcome before being able to achieve their goal. For example, dealing with fear, pride, jealousy, or the need to mature fall into this category.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Example: Fiona’s appearance (in </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Shrek<i>)</i></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mystic Forces</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Mystic forces enter most stories as accidents or by chance, but they can be expressed as moral choices or ethical codes that present obstacles. They can also be personified as gods or supernatural forces that the characters have to content with.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Example: Tiana’s magical transformation into a frog (in </span></i><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Frog Prince<i>)</i></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Exercise</span></b></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Which of these obstacles will your character face? Will they face more than one type of obstacle during the course of the story?</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Tomorrow (Friday), we’ll put it all together—the character, need, and obstacle—into a scene card.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Menlo Bold";">✥✥✥✥✥</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://inesjohnson.files.wordpress.c..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://inesjohnson.files.wordpress.c..." width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="normal"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">Ines Johnson writes romantic erotica, paranormal romance, and fairytale-retelling romance novels. You can find her Website at <a href="https://inesjohnson.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">https://inesjohnson.wordpress.com/<.... Part one of her newest romantic erotica book, <i>The Loyal Steed</i>, is at </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loyal-Steed-Par..." target="_blank">here</a>. The </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 115%;">complete serial can be preordered <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Loyal-Steed-Com..." target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="normal"><br /></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div></div>