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P

GOAL

REACTION

CONFLICT

DILEMMA

DISASTER

DECISION

GOAL

REACTION

CONFLICT

DILEMMA

DISASTER

DECISION

GOAL

REACTION

CONFLICT

DILEMMA

DISASTER

DECISION

GOAL

REACTION

CONFLICT

DILEMMA

DISASTER

DECISION

The Cheaters Scene Cards


for plotting a novel

Optimized for printing on A4 paper.


Having the actual cards to write on makes it easy to focus on just a sequence,
scene or act at a time (divide and conquer).
Each card should include either a pro-active or re-active scene (respectively,
scenes and sequels).
You should alternate proactive and reactive scenes to create sequences.
Each card contains the three beats that should make up the scene. These
beats, according to some teachers, must each be written as MRUs
(motivation-reaction units).
I include an example outline for a 4-act novel. Each act is divided into three 4scene sequences, for a total of 48 scenes. Im using this to plan a short
NaNoWriMo novel.
In the example outline I highlighted milestones (big disasters, plot turns, etc),
and gave a generic name to some sequences as guidelines.
Remember rules can be broken.
1. Goal
Proactive (Scene)

2. Conflict
3. Disaster (Setback)

Types
1. Reaction
Reactive (Sequel)

Scene

2. Dilemma
3. Decision

Motivation: external
and objective
MRUs (motivation
reaction units)

1. Stimulus
2. Feeling

Reaction: internal
and subjective

3. Reflex
4. Rational Action or
Speech

(c) 2015 Miguel Urdinola

13 key points
I find that the 3-act structure, or the 7-point method are lacking in milestones for designing a high level plot.
Ive come up with this extended list that works better for me. It ends up looking much more like the Heros
Journey.

5.
6.
7.

8.
9.
10.
11.

12.
13.

[Hook] The Ordinary World. Underlying conflict.


Presenting the conflict. Hero may meet his mentor here.
[Plot Turn 1] This is the triggering event. Call to Adventure. Refusal of the Call.
[Pinch 1] First Disaster (1), our hero is pulled into the conflict and barely makes it out, with help
from the mentor.
These are the consequences of Disaster 1. This is the new world. This is our heros reaction.
[Try & Fail 1] Our hero tries to fix the situation in his own way, but fails. Maybe he causes the
following Disaster.
[Midpoint] A new Disaster (2) happens and they make it out again, but this time the hero is
personally involved. He cant escape any more. He accepts his role and switches from reactive to
active.
This is the world of the adventure. Now hero and mentor travel the world trying to find the answer
or solve the problem.
[Try & Fail 2] This is another failed attempt by both. After this, they come up with a master plan.
[Pinch 2] Maybe as a consequence, a third Disaster (3) happens. Master plan fails. Bad guy wins.
Everything is lost. Maybe the mentor dies. Hero is left alone.
[Plot Turn 2] This is the epiphany. Out of the jaws of defeat, the hero comes up to the last piece of
information or tool he needs to defeat the antagonist force. He learns from the previous failure.
New plan.
[Resolution] This is the climax, the final confrontation. Our hero, alone, faces the antegonist force
and defeats it (or not). He may die.
[Denouement] This is what happens afterwards, when the hero or the survivers return home.
Act 3

Act 2

Act 1

100

Plot turn 2
Resolution
Midpoint

Intensity / Conflict

1.
2.
3.
4.

Pinch 1
Pinch 2

50
Try & fail

Plot turn 1

Denouement

Hook
Try & fail

ACTION

REACTION

25

50

Time / Scenes

(c) 2015 Miguel Urdinola

A Novel Outline in 48 scenes

Having these two pages printed out in front of me while I write each one of my scene cards
makes it really easy to understand in what part of the story I am and what should be
happening.
Scene cards are written in pencil: they will probably change, appear and disappear as the
writing moves forward.

Act 1
1

10

11

12

Hook
5

Conflict
9

Pinch 1

Plot Turn 1

Act 2A
13

14

15

16

18

19

20

New World

17

Try & Fail 1

21

22

23

24

Midpoint
(c) 2015 Miguel Urdinola

Act 2B
R

25

26

27

28

30

31

32

Adventure
R

29

Try & Fail 2

33

34

35

36

Plan!

Pinch 2
Act 3

37

38

39

42

43

44

Resolution

New Plan
45

Epiphany

Consequences

41

40

46

47

48

The End

Denouement
(c) 2015 Miguel Urdinola

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