How To Write a TEMPTATION MOMENT (Alternative to Disaster)

Рет қаралды 60,531

Күн бұрын

Did you know there is an ALTERNATIVE to the "Disaster/Dark Moment" plot point in the 3 act story structure? I like to call it the Moment of Temptation...and it can be the most compelling way to lead your protagonist to their "aha" moment! In today's video I'm breaking down what the Moment of Temptation is, what makes it so memorable, and case-studying some stories that pull it off really well.
GRAB THE 3-ACT STORY STRUCTURE TEMPLATE: eepurl.com/gFYD8z
🎥PREVIOUS VIDEOS IN THIS SERIES:
▶︎ACT 1
THE HOOK → • How to Write a Hook Fo...
THE INCITING INCIDENT → • How to Write an INCITI...
INCITING INCIDENT CASE STUDY → • INCITING INCIDENTS: Di...
THE 1ST PLOT POINT → • How to Write the First...
THE 1ST PINCH POINT → • How to Write a PINCH P...
▶︎ACT 2
THE PRE-MIDPOINT REACTIONARY HERO → • How to Write The MIDDL...
THE GAME-CHANGING MIDPOINT → • How to Write a PLOT TW...
PLOT TWIST CASE STUDY → • Thrillers VS Romance: ...
THE POST-MIDPOINT ACTION HERO → • How to Write The SECON...
▶︎ACT 3
DISASTER + DARK MOMENT → • How To Write A DISASTE...
THE AHA MOMENT → • The Most Important Par...
________________________________
✨T I M E S T A M P S ✨
0:00 Introduction
1:18 What is The Temptation?
6:00 Case Study: Roman Holiday
7:50 Case Study: Baby Boom
9:27 Recap
________________________________
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• INCITING INCIDENTS: Di...
→ HOW TO WRITE THE "MUSHY MIDDLE"
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Story isn’t about “what happens” - it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel - and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!
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All movie clips and soundtracks used for educational purposes under the Fair Use law. Roman Holiday (1953) copyright Paramount Pictures, Baby Boom (1987) copyright MGM/UA Communications Co.

Пікірлер: 243

@Hamilwhovian 3 жыл бұрын

Zuko in Avatar the last airbender... his arc is just perfect, the temptation is so strong that he falls for it but a few episodes later he realizes the truth and boom! Best character arc in the history of characters arcs ❤

@jacindaellison3363 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, that was epic! Zuko is one of the best examples of a redemptive villain.

@ehhhhhh1885 2 жыл бұрын

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT

@blueseaturtle6031 Жыл бұрын

Wouldn’t that be considered a redemption arc? I’m newer to writing but I constantly hear ppl refer to zuko transformation as “the redemption arc”

@joannereadsandwrite Жыл бұрын

@@blueseaturtle6031 Yes, it is a redemption arc which is just a fancy way of saying the villain realized the error of their ways and stopped doing bad things. Literally being redeemed. It's a way of describing a character arc.

@CassidyDrew13 3 жыл бұрын

Disney's Tangled. Although I realize Eugene isn't the main character, I love his character arc. He went from selfish thief to sacrificing himself for the love of his life. When Rapunzel gives him his original goal (the crown), he gives it up to try and keep Rapunzel safe from the thugs he worked with. Of course, that backfires, but still. He tried and grew as a character. His goal then changed to saving Rapunzel, which he accomplishes at the cost of his own life.

@kaitEBee 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! My favorite.

@TheEuphonage 3 жыл бұрын

I can’t believe you didn’t use Flynn/Eugene in Tangled as an example. You even used the words “see the light.” 🙃

@SingersHeart89 3 жыл бұрын

Princess and the Frog; Tiana's wanted her own restaurant all her life and during the temptation moment Dr. Facilier offers her everything she's ever wanted (turn back human, her own restaurant) as long as she hands him the necklace that keeps the prince a frog. She realizes she loves the prince more than her initial goal.

@youseineko 3 жыл бұрын

Momo Chan That’s what I thought about when I heard this.

@victoriac.shadow9361 3 жыл бұрын

I watched that movie yesterday too 😩💜

@Gods_Harbinger_2_The_12_Tribes 3 жыл бұрын

Another great example: Prince Zuko. His sister offers him everything that he ever wanted and he takes it... Only to realize he made the wrong choice.

@CoraMaria 3 жыл бұрын

I scrolled down to the comments to see how long it would take for someone to mention Prince Zuko and boom, first comment I see. I think his real temptation moment (as defined by this video) is when he is invited to a war meeting, something he was shown to desire from 'The Storm'. He was accepted by his father as a useful asset in the war like he had always wanted, but that war meeting made Zuko realise that he no longer wanted to help the Fire Nation take over the world. "During the meeting I was the perfect prince, but I wasn't me," and that led to his "Aha!" moment.

@happyfellowship4291 3 жыл бұрын

AAAAAAAAA I just finished book 2 (NO SPOILERS PLS) and OH MY LORD ZUKO I WANT TO SMACK YOU But I also can't wait to see how it all works out :DD

@tasharaines7119 3 жыл бұрын

Beauty and the Beast comes to mind for me. The Beast spends most of the movie getting Belle to fall in love with him and when he finally has the chance to break the spell, he lets her go. Why? Because he loves her. He realized that while he would be able to return to his human form, Belle would suffer more if she lost her father. Especially because of him. It's my favorite story and favorite temptation moment.

@kathyl6677 3 жыл бұрын

I loved the aha moment in Legally Blonde, when Warner tells Elle he loves her, and she rejects him.

@kathyl6677 3 жыл бұрын

Actually, now that I think about it, the real aha moment for Elle wad when she won the court case. I think it was at that moment her [life] goals changed. She did it without Warner, and suddenly gained true independence in thought and action.

@akgwriting9481 3 жыл бұрын

@@kathyl6677 I agree and telling Warner what she did is just the Victory part of the 3rd act which is after the climactic confrontation I think

@victoriac.shadow9361 2 жыл бұрын

@@kathyl6677 That's the realization, and then the temptation is when she turns him down because she doesn't want him or need him anymore. She found something so much better. I think temptation is an opportunity to turn down their old desire and that will be proof that they've come to the realization. ^^

@BetweenSunAndMoon 3 жыл бұрын

I think Cars offers a great example of a temptation moment combined with a disaster. Lightning McQueen finally gets to leave Radiator Springs and go to California, but he doesn't want to because he's realized the friends he's made in Radiator Springs are more important to him than the Piston Cup, and only goes because he has to.

@asherthedisaster4724 2 жыл бұрын

oh my gods yes! i have watched that movie literally hundreds of times. it gets so much better n the climax when the king crashes during the race and he chooses to forfeit the game so what happens to doc doesn't happen to the king

@heatherengland5416 2 жыл бұрын

Cars is my favorite Pixar movie because they play this so well. Not only is Lightning about to win the cup, but he has all of his new friends there with him, everyone supporting him, and he's EARNED it! He's worked hard, changed, realized that he can have what he's wanted the whole time... but he stops to help the car that reminded him of the car that helped him so much when it comes to racing and to just being a better person... er... car. >.> .>

@sariahsue 7 ай бұрын

Cars was the first example I thought of too! Last lap of the race, and he has the chance to win, and stops dead right in front of the finish line, lets Chick pass him, and then backs up to help The King instead. He could have won. He CHOSE to finish last. (And turned down the sponsorship he wanted. AND went back to Radiator Springs.)

@marislawyer1896 3 жыл бұрын

Scarlet O'Hara in Gone With the Wind--she's spent the entire story pining after Ashley, and when Ashley' wife dies, it gives Scarlet the perfect opportunity to sweep in and be with Ashley. But, she realizes too late that she doesn't love Ashley after all. But, it's also too late to turn back to Rhett, who she DOES love. It's an aha moment that comes too late because she doesn' end up with anything she wanted--infuriating and tragic, yet so satisfying from a storytelling standpoint because we see such a detailed transformation in Scarlet over time. It really deserves a case study!

@seekerjordan680 3 жыл бұрын

One of my favorite temptation moments is in Mockingjay. There's a huge production for Katniss to finally kill President Snow. Her bow is poised and ready; the crowd is hushed...THE ARROW FLIES! -------OMG WHAT JUST HAPPENED???!!! Haha, I love it, no matter how many times I watch that scene it is physically painful to watch her make that choice. Great work Abbie. The examples definitely do help. Stay safe!

@silviashappyplace8831 3 жыл бұрын

This helped alot! 😍 I'm writing a series where the protaganist gets bullied by the popular kid at school. The protaganist and his best friend plan to prank the bully in a school play in front of the whole school (and parents), but then he finds out that the popular kid has a diffifult relationship with his parents and really want to impress them. So when the day comes the protaganist decides not to go through with the prank. 🥰😇

@simelly_6813 3 жыл бұрын

This story beat works well with revenge driven storylines I think. Deciding that revenge is not worth it, even when they are so close to getting it. I love this idea!

@marichatfangirlfandom9690 Жыл бұрын

That's what I'ma use it for

@Milkbread1217 Ай бұрын

@@marichatfangirlfandom9690 same

@sinead4587 3 жыл бұрын

These videos have helped me SO MUCH with my novel - it has made me so much more excited to write and I feel more confident to do so!💕

@HH-xj8nh 2 жыл бұрын

I am experiencing the exact same thing from watching these videos. I look forward to bingeing on them every day!

@sweaterweatherlady Жыл бұрын

Labyrinth did TWO great temptation scenes back-to-back: the Ballroom scene, though in much more visual splendor, was the more minor of the two. Does Sarah stay asleep, forget her goal, and dance with Jareth until the clock runs out or does she muster the strength to break through? The following scene in the "false reality" and the junkwoman challenge Sarah and gaslight her into "I'm dreaming" and abandoning her character development. She has grown enough to outgrow her childish tendencies and belongings, bringing the scenery crashing down.

@jonmelryle4433 3 жыл бұрын

Just want to share but one great example of this is 2019’s “Klaus”. Go watch if you haven’t yet 😊

@coralia.i9702 3 жыл бұрын

I LOVE KLAUS SO MUCH OMG YESSS

@lokeshkolhe9738 3 жыл бұрын

Did you mean to say Nicklaus Mickelson?

@jonmelryle4433 3 жыл бұрын

LOKESH KOLHE no. it’s that Christmas movie “Klaus”

@jonmelryle4433 3 жыл бұрын

Abbie noticed me 🥺

@blackgirlwrites678 3 жыл бұрын

Also Zuko is a great example

@ComposerRocks Жыл бұрын

For me, the best temptation moment in film is the last scene in "Casablanca," where Ilsa is willing to go with Rick, but Rick pushes her off to board the plane with Laszlo, thereby losing the love of his life and risking death at the hands of Renault (who, by the way, also transforms in that moment). Amazing scene!

@johntabler349 11 ай бұрын

Good one, neat mix of modern and classic in the comments

@JustPerusing 3 жыл бұрын

Love the movie Baby Boom. I know some people became Diane Keaton fans with Annie Hall but Baby Boom was the movie that made me a life long fan.

@nica_says 2 жыл бұрын

I'm really convinced. I wanna cry, the examples are so heart-touching although I only witnessed it now.

@rachelmeyer526 3 жыл бұрын

I love the moment of temptation in movies. I also like when they do take the chance to have what they wanted, and then realize what a big mistake that was and have to fix everything they just broke by taking the opportunity.

@trutrustories5223 3 жыл бұрын

My favourite temptation moment gotta be from The Apartment! I mean this whole story leads to these two touching scene - first, when Bud Baxter leave his dream work and his boss, and then Fren Kubelik dumbs the very same guy and runs to Baxter´s place... I saw it so many times and it always gets me

@joyejohnson6746 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite film of all time!

@joshuajordan6278 3 жыл бұрын

Zuko and Wreck it Ralph both face the temptation and fall for it...only to have the aha moment later. Nice twist on this concept.

@victoriaolender6289 3 жыл бұрын

Never gonna forget that scene where Zuko comes back to Iroh's tent, I've never had so many happy cry moments with a show as I've had for ATLA and those two precious souls

@ArabellaKFederico 3 жыл бұрын

I've never thought of this as a beat 🤔 I've always thought of it as a huge fall and then come up, but I actually really loove this temptation version on the way to their AHA MOMENT. Yaaass queen 👸

@odduckOasis 2 жыл бұрын

One great temptation moment that changed- was Dimitri from Anastasia. The whole time he wants to groom Anya into tricking the Empress that she is Anastasia to get a big money reward. He ends up falling for Anya before he discovers that it actually is the lost princess. By the time it all ends and he's able to collect the reward, he's come to realize that returning the rightful princess to her family, and that he cares about her enough to do so, was reward enough and didn't want the money anymore (tho he was tempted by it all the same).

@dawnpoint 3 жыл бұрын

Now I wonder: Can the temptation and disaster ideas be effectively combined? If it works, it could be an excellent double punch.

@Spark_is_right_here 3 жыл бұрын

@Taylor Rhodes Hmmm...I was thinking about that too. Maybe the disaster could just be the final, most difficult challenge to overcome, and the protagonist makes a huge sacrifice. Then, they could be at the thing they’ve also wanted....and turn it down. Then, they go back and try to undo the sacrifice (if they can), proving their transformation. I know that your comment was just a thought, but I guess I ‘m expanding it.

@jacindaellison3363 2 жыл бұрын

I would think so. A disaster happens and now the character is given a choice, a moment of temptation, to fix it but the wrong way based off of their fear/misbelif. I would say Zuko from Avatar: the Last Airbender goes through something like that.

@eliseb20 Жыл бұрын

So glad I'm not the only one with that idea: the disaster brings your protagonist to their knees, leaving them the most vulnerable; in that moment, the tempation lurks in, threatening to reverse your character's development except they turn it down, for no matter how shattered they are, their concept of happiness has changed....and that's where the aha moment comes by.

@yay29823 Жыл бұрын

I personally really like the idea of the temptation moment going before, and instead of turning it down, the protagonist actually accepts it, and it leads to the disaster, the dark moment, and then the aha moment as they realize they've made the wrong decision, because in the end, they didn't want that thing anymore.

@lilyl5492 5 ай бұрын

I feel like Mob Psycho 100 alternates between and combines these two ideas. It's character driven with a bunch of arcs over 3 series (the first series being a bit more about relationships) For 'Mob' temptation and greatest fear are intertwined, both relating back to himself. His choices fluctuate between emotional clarity, impulse and dissociation, and personal disasters come from being the greatest danger to himself and others. As a cartoon it's visually in your face, wacky and deceptively simple at the same time, much like the story. The boyish 'kid with superpowers' setting potentially masks the excellent emotional storytelling, but it doesn't follow the typical action story setup of 'woohoo! POWER!' at all. It's very entertaining and sparks a lot of love for the characters.

@SHERRYTutorials Жыл бұрын

I'm writing a Novel with two protagonists. And I was able to create a very cool disaster for one of them but I couldn't do it for other and I thought maybe the flaw is in her character development or maybe my story only has one protagonist and she is just a side character. But this video solved my problem. I couldn't write an earned disaster for her because she didn't need it. She needed a temptation moment. Her character arc is clearly leading to one. Thank you Abbie for amazing content.

@kjlucky6501 Жыл бұрын

Haha we’re in the same boat! I have duel protagonists alternating pov and one I always planned on having a disaster/dark moment that would still affect the other character as well but not to the point of it being their “rock bottom” so this temptation moment should be a nice alternative and interesting way to incorporate both options. Best of luck to you and your novel:)

@pragyashashidharan7098 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! And perfect timing. My book ‘The Gem of Portia’ just went live today on Amazon. Sooo excited!!

@alicemaliyekkal1370 3 жыл бұрын

Woohoooo!!!!!

@pragyashashidharan7098 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Wishing you all the best on your writing journey:)

@PortiaDDoesStyle 3 жыл бұрын

My name is Portia 😍

@elinannestad5320 3 жыл бұрын

@@PortiaDDoesStyle wow, beautiful name. Hooray for your Mum, she saw many good things for you.

@mark_d1198 Жыл бұрын

One of my favorite moments of temptation in a movie is from Cars. Lighting McQueen goes the entire movie talking about winning the Piston Cup and being the face Dinoco. At the he's so close to winning 1st place but after seeing The King wrecked, he forfeits all that to help him because it reminded him of Doc Hudson.

@HeadmasterHorrifier5394 3 жыл бұрын

Abbie i found your videos not to long ago, and i just want to say that your videos are inspiring.I am 20 years old and have autism.And while I have been wanting to do other things for a career, those other things haven't gone my way.But lately I have gone back to writing as a way to escape the world you, me and other's live in(like the current election in which I have no intrest in because of my politicly independent views).I am currently working on my first book (which is a novella) about a 18 year old male with autism who moves out of his adopted parents house in the suburbs and move into an apartment in the city hidden with supernatural being, three weeks after an museum robbery which led to an explosion.I really don't know what I want to do with my life, and I don't want to talk about how I feel to my family, friends or the people I know because I don't want my problems to bother them(And yes...my problems do bother them which is why I cage my problems inside and emotinaly lie to my family, friends and the people I know.)Some I feel like I will fail at life because of my autism(I disibility that I am proud of having)fail at finding a part time job and finding my first girlfriend,which will cause the people in my life to pity me and cage my in their bubble(which is the last thing I want)So I write and I write to seperate my self from this world and Into another, which is my I want to be a write and make a good amount of money to suport myself.I don't mean to make anyone who reads this feel weird when reading this, and I'm not trying to look for attention.But I thought I should get at least 10% of what I am feeling of my chest, to a channel I feel ok with.

@AbbieEmmons 3 жыл бұрын

I am cheering you on as you chase your dreams! Thank you so much for your kind words! They mean so much to me, and I am thrilled that the content I make encourages you to chase your dreams and make your story MATTER!

@margobarrett589 3 жыл бұрын

Another great example: The Adventures of Huck Finn. At one point, Huck finds that he could sell the slave Jim and get money and move on with his life. But... he's stuck because him and Jim had become best friends. Huck's upbringing has convinced him that sense he hasn't turned Jim in, he is therefore bad and will go to hell when he dies. But the best part in the whole book is where Huck thinks: "Well, I says to myself: 'I might as well just go to hell cause I cant just turn ol' Jim in." -Or something along that line. But I love Huckleberry and his story for this reason. Another great video, Abbie!

@AnkouBlake 3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you offered this as an alternative to dark moment because for my protagonist, her life has already been a pretty dark moment. The temptation will suite my story better. I couldn't bring myself to destroy her any more than she already has been.

@lizanna6390 Жыл бұрын

Down with love. She does all this for Catcher Block and the realises how her plan has freed so many women and given them power for the first time.

@EmilyNolsAuteur 3 жыл бұрын

Oh my God, that's so incredible. Watching this video, I realised : this is exaclty what I did in my story, without realizing it was a thing, and I was doing it 😅 Guess I got lucky on this one 😄

@manymusings 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great video. This point reminds me of the part in the book Outlander by Diana Gabaldon where Claire faces the opportunity to travel back through the stones to get back to Frank and realizes she really loves Jamie.

@yizuhi5908 3 жыл бұрын

Oh crap I'm too early 😅 This sounds so interesting, can't wait to finish watching the vid ❤️

@brandibadgett2587 2 жыл бұрын

I can't believe you've seen Baby Boom. Love, love that movie, but definitely much older.

@justjesssss1026 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Abbie! I would love to hear you talk about negative character arcs. This story structure breakdown has been super awesome to follow, but I'd love to learn more about an ending that hurts... While still being a good story.