Mariner Software Contour for Mac User Manual
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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Force the protagonist out of the normal world and have him or her answer the "call to adventure." Sometimes the
protagonist does this by choice, sometimes by circumstance.
Neo chooses to take the red pill. Or was it the blue pill? (THE MATRIX)
Luke's aunt and uncle are killed and now there's no reason for him to stay on Tatooine. (STAR WARS)
Will Turner joins with Jack Sparrow to pursue Elizabeth on the Black Pearl. (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE
CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL)
KICK THE DOG
Show that the bad guys are not just bad, but really, Really, REALLY bad. Give the protagonist (and the reader) the idea
that answering the Central Question is going to be harder than the initially thought. If you don't have a standard antagonist
(as in a love story) show that the obstacles to the protagonist are overwhelmingly strong.
The Deathstar destroys a whole planet. (STAR WARS)
Butch and Sundance begin to be pursued by the "super posse." (BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID)
Dr. Neville tries a new serum on a mutant and fails spectacularly. (I AM LEGEND)
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