From Scatter Plot to Line Graph

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From Scatter Plot to Line Graph

• Guidelines to Organizing Your Plot
• PRESENTATION BY Anastasia Marie, using

Michael Hauges Six Stage Plot Structure
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STAGE ONE Set Up

• Introduction
• Old World vs. New World
• Hero
• Empathy creation
• Reader must empathize hero/protagonist

3
TURNING POINT ONE (TP1)

• The hero is presented with an opportunity
• Make a difference, leave a legacy

4
STAGE TWO New Situation

• Hero moves from Old world into New
• - Trials
• - Glimpse Essence (true self) when confronted
  with difficult situation

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TURNING POINT TWO

• Change of plans
• Hero must make a plan of action and an ultimate
  goal

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STAGE THREE Progress

• Hero approaches goal(s)
• Obstacles
• Identity and Essence in state of flux

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TURNING POINT THREE

• Point of No Return
• Midpoint of Story
• Hero must continue on, no matter the cost (so do
  you!)

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STAGE FOUR Complications

• Difficulties
• Essence Progression
• Goal becomes important
• Hero has more to lose
• Acknowledge missing piece

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TURNING POINT FOUR

• Major Setback
• ALL IS LOST

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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

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TURNING POINT FIVE

• Climax
• Hero achieves or fails goal

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STAGE SIX Aftermath

• How far the hero has come
• Return with TREASURE
• Fully in essence

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THE END

• End with a punctuation (!?)
• Cliffhanger?
• Victory!

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Michael Hauges Six Stage Plot Structure
0 10 25 50 75 90-99 100

Stage I SETUP Fully in identity
Stage III PROGRESS Vacillates between identity
and essence
Stage IV COMPLICATIONS HIGHER STAKES Moves
steadily into essence
Stage V FINAL PUSH Retreats to identity, then
returns fully to essence
Stage VI AFTER- MATH Transformed existence
Stage II NEW SITUATION Glimpses essence
Turning Point 4 Major Setback
Turning Point 5 Climax
Turning Point 3 Point of No Return
Turning Point 2 Change of Plans
Turning Point 1 Opportunity
Act I
Act III
Act II
? 2005 Michael Hauge www.StoryMastery.com (818)
995-4209