If the first part of your sequel*—the reaction—appeals to your readers’ emotions, the second
part is all about the intellect. Once your character’s first-blush emotional
response to the previous scene’s
disaster has passed, he will have to get down to the all-important business of
thinking about what he’s going to do next. The previous disaster has left him in
quite a pickle. It was a catastrophic declaration; the dilemma, in response,
presents a question, “What do I do now?”
Arguably, no other component within the scene/sequel structure is more important for establishing realism and fending off suspension of
disbelief. When you show your protagonist’s intellectual response and his thought
pattern as he considers many (and rejects most) solutions, what you’re really
doing is convincing readers your protagonist is a thinking human being and, more importantly, that your plot is based upon a pattern of
logic instead of arbitrary events.
Your dilemma may take up anywhere from half a sentence to
several chapters in your story. Whatever its length, this is an opportunity to
really let your readers sweat it out with your character. They’ll be able to
see the mess he’s in and, as he sorts through options, they’ll also realize he doesn’t have many good escape routes. Handled skillfully, a good
dilemma can heighten tension, make characters more sympathetic, and, most
importantly, keep readers turning those pages.
The Three Phases of the Dilemma
The dilemma is composed of three (that magic number once
again!) different phases:
1. Review.
The protagonist will look back on the disaster and consider the missteps that allowed it to happen. This phase is often intertwined with the previous reaction section of the sequel. Its length will largely depend on its proximity to the disaster and the pace you wish to set. Sometimes a lengthy recap of the disaster may be repetitious. If readers have just experienced the disaster, they’ll hardly need a blow-by-blow recount so soon. However, if the sequel has been separated from the previous scene by a chapter or more (as might be the case if one or more alternating POVs occur in between), a recap will be valuable both in refreshing the readers’ memories and in grounding the character’s reaction.2. Analyze.
Once your character has progressed past his initial emotional reaction, he will have to take a deep breath, put on the ol’ thinking cap, and start considering the specifics of his problem. The dilemma will always present a question, the gist of which is, “How in thunderation do I get out of this mess?” But don’t settle for generalities. Figure out your character’s specific problem/question and make clear it enough that readers could verbalize it themselves if they had to. Your dilemma’s question should be as specific as, “How do I get out of this snake pit?” or “How do I get Joey to forgive me for lying to him?” or “How can I find money to buy groceries?”3. Plan.
Once your character has sufficiently analyzed the problem, he will move into the planning phase—which will then segue right into the next section of the sequel, the decision (which we’ll be discussing next week). This phase can occur instantaneously if your character hits upon the right plan right away, or it can occur over the course of several chapters. Your character might experiment with several options, only to cross them off his list of possibilities when they lead him to dead-ends.Options for Sequel Dilemmas
The dilemma section is usually very straightforward. There
are only a handful of variations on how it can play out, although the dilemma
itself can manifest in countless different ways. Your dilemma will be presented
either implicitly or explicitly:
1. Implicit.
Sometimes readers will understand the dilemma well enough that it won’t have to be spelled out. Instead, to keep the pace fast, the character will move directly from reaction to decision.2. Explicit.
More often, you will want to take the time to flesh out the dilemma. This might require only a sentence or two, or you may dramatize it at length, using one of two approaches:a. Summary.
More often than not, a solid round of internal narrative will be enough to allow the character to consider his options and explain them to readers.b. Dramatization.
Some dilemmas will call for a more detailed examination. Your character may need to explore the dilemma over an extended period of time, either by talking to other characters or experimenting with solutions. Instead of playing out the options in his head and rejecting those that will not work, he can instead act out the options. He will run into a series of dead-ends until the appropriate (and, possibly, only) course of action presents itself.Questions to Ask About Your Sequel Dilemmas
Don’t let your dilemma pass without asking yourself these
questions:
1. Is the dilemma directly influenced by the disaster at the end of the previous scene?
2. Can the dilemma be stated in specific language (instead of just a general “what should I do now?”)?
3. Is the dilemma clear to readers, either through explicit examples or through the context?
4. Does the amount of time you spend on the dilemma match its importance within the plot?
5. If you’ve chosen to include a lengthy review section, does it avoid repetition?
Sequel Dilemmas in Action
As always, let’s take a peek at how sequel dilemmas manifest in successful books and movies:
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen: In Chapter 2, after the Bennet
women have finished reacting to the news that Mr. Bennet has called upon the
eligible Mr. Bingley, the sequel immediately segues into their (rather pleasurable) dilemma
of how to capitalize upon the situation. Specifically, they need to figure out,
“How soon can they ask Mr. Bingley to dinner?” The dilemma section is very brief,
taking up only a sentence at the end of the chapter.
It’s a Wonderful Life directed by Frank Capra: After Clarence
has revealed his mission to George, only to have George brush him off, his
dilemma is, “How to convince George his life is worth living?” He tries,
ineffectually, to explain to George the disadvantages of suicide. When George responds by wishing he had never been
born, Clarence comes up with a new idea, which he “discusses” with Joseph.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card: Ender’s dilemma has
been clear throughout the chapter that follows his fatal confrontation with the
bully Stilson. But when he wakes up the next morning, at the beginning of
Chapter 4, the dilemma comes to a specific head: “How can he avoid going to
school and facing the repercussions of his fight with Stilson?” The dilemma is
stated in the chapter’s opening lines, then backed up through Ender’s
interaction with his family in the following page of dialogue.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World directed by Peter
Weir: After the ship has recovered from the immediate effects of their
encounter with the French privateer Acheron,
Captain Aubrey gathers his officers in his quarters to discuss their options.
The dilemma section begins with a recap of the battle, during which the men
discuss the Acheron’s advantages and
the methods she used to sneak up on the Surprise.
The dilemma itself is evident from the context, “How do we recover and where
do we go now?”
A strong dilemma section will drive home to readers that
your characters are realistic, thinking human beings. Just as importantly, it
will also provide a solid bridge between the previous scene’s disaster and the following scene’s goal.
*For the purposes of this series, “Scene” with a capital S will refer to the scene in general (which can include in its definition the sequel). I’ll use a small s and italicize scene and sequel to refer to the two different types of Scenes.
Stay tuned: Next
week, we’ll talk about Options for Decisions in a Sequel.
Tell me your opinion: What is your character’s dilemma in your latest sequel?
Related Posts: Show and Tell
5 Ways to Pace Your Story
Why Narrative Isn’t a Bad Thing
_________________
Click the “Play” button to Listen to Audio Version (or subscribe to the Wordplay podcast in iTunes).
Tell me your opinion: What is your character’s dilemma in your latest sequel?
Related Posts: Show and Tell
5 Ways to Pace Your Story
Why Narrative Isn’t a Bad Thing
_________________
Click the “Play” button to Listen to Audio Version (or subscribe to the Wordplay podcast in iTunes).
Story by K.M. Weiland
Tags: dilemma , Feature , scenes , sequels , Showing , story structure , structuring your story's scenes , summarization , SYN , Telling
This is practically an overview of my story arc. Hope that's okay.
You mean the review/analyze/plan structure? As long there's some action leading up to a climax, you should be fine.
I never really thought of dilemma in terms of scene/sequel. But, reviewing one of my last sequels, my MC's worried they'll catch the serial killer before he kills again, in time for her to revive the last murder victim, and whether putting herself out there as a target was the brightest idea... Lot on her plate!
I've have not gotten to the sequel yet, right now I'm struggling just to plot the day by day schedule. Usually I plot out the whole day, and then figure out the scenes and sequels then.D:
@Liberty: Sounds like a perfect sequel dilemma.
@Sarah: Interesting approach. Is the daily structure important to your story (I'm imagining something along the lines of 24)?
Yea basically events and sequels are based on the hour out of twenty four.
I think this will be easier after I've figured out the characters primary struggle. For example a young boy who loves to read ghost stories, is struggling to let go of his books to board an evacuation ship. And so the segments would be separated into hourly growth.
Once we know what our characters want - and what's keeping them from getting it on a soul-deep level - the rest of the story usually falls into place much easier.
Its almost goes beyond simply knowing what they want, but rather how to compress it to a short tangible piece. Such as: A young boy struggles with a school friendship.
Its important I ground the plot within the real world, even if its in a far flung science fiction locale. The tricky thing is figuring out scenes and sequels that are character driven. (It used to be easier when I wrote more.)
Like anything, writing is one of those things that comes easier with practice. The more we do it, the more habitual even the tougher techniques become.
Because of disparate world views, a father and daughter have an estranged relationship. He is a career military man and she possesses a compassionate and holistic worldview. When the zombie apocalypse hits, her father becomes the only option for refuge. As she travels across country to get to him, the things she has to do awaken her to the knowledge that the job her father had demanded that he be the way he was, and that his hardness is helping her survive. (Scene). The (sequel) to this is when she gets to his location and it is already overrun and she has to "kill " her own father who is now a zombie. The lack of refuge and the inability to reconcile to her father sends her into a tailspin. (Dilemma) Those survivors that she has led through the story will rally her to pick up the pieces.
Ouch. Nice way to up the stakes on the personal moral dilemma.