NANOWRIMO Tips and Tricks (Day Sixteen)

Raising the Stakes — Jumping past the Midpoint

The hero is trudging along and moving toward his target. He is gathering what he needs and is developing his confidence. He is about ready to go after the villain and he is also about ready to throw everything to the side and use his knowledge and training to defeat the enemy. He can’t do it alone, usually he needs help, so he has also gathered allies and friends. They are all specialists and they all can help the hero through this tough battle.

He has been tested and trained. He knows about the villain and what he will likely endure to defeat him. The hero was once scared, but now the hero starts to get stronger and more competitive and appears less weak or confused to the audience.

The fun and games are over and it’s a chance for the hero to now display what he has inside of himself. The hero actually feels good about himself…but this is all false. None of it is as good as it should be or will seem to be. It is a false victory and a false feeling for the hero, because now the bad guys will be coming for him. The villain and his cronies are going to come after the hero and hopefully what he has learned will save him along the way.

This is the point where the bad guys will also lose a battle or two and then regroup and find out what is really going on with the hero. Consequently, doubt, jealousy, and disagreement happens for the hero and his team. It is incredibly hard for anyone to really get on the same page and then the hero and his team will have a total meltdown. The meltdown will happen just as the villains are getting stronger again and redoubling their efforts. That is when we land at the Darkest Moment.

For now, intensify the stakes, make the hero get defeated in a small battle and then figure it out, but what he has learned and what he has figured out will help him, he just doesn’t have trust yet. Make the villain even stronger and make it a situation where he must get away. Get to 26,667 words today. Keep up the great efforts and stay strong. This is the hardest part of any story. It’s important to keep muscling through it and intensify your efforts.