Screenwriting : Today's Wish and Creative Tip by Laurie Ashbourne

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Most of us are pretty good at 1st acts (on and off the page). We introduce our heroes with pride and paint a cinematic universe that sets the stage for our brilliant idea. We're energized by the potential of the idea and pour our energy into giving our characters life. Then, we go out to lunch. Before tackling the first scene of Act 2 we're checking email, facebook and picking at split ends. Stepping into The 2nd act does not have to be so torturous, in fact don't even think of it as an act, you're just opening a door. Your character (and in some respects, you) are leaving an old world behind but as the title says, it rarely works out that it's a clean break. Whatever your character needs to shed from his beautiful world you so creatively set up in order to face the shit storm of your story, he/she will have to let go of something comfortable and old habits are hard to break. If you've ever broken up with someone or worse; divorced, you know full well that there is a build up. You know you have to do this, you may have even taken the first steps. But you have to get your ducks in a row and damn it, change sucks even when it's for the best. The first 8-10 scenes of ACT 2 are your character's awakening to change -- the adjustment period to the new, inevitable world they have stepped into and it's exhausting. In any break up there's the packing, the explaining to friends and family while trying to move on, the being alone in both familiar and new places. Technically speaking, the segment of story that comprises the first half of the 2nd act, is about the same lenght as the 1st. So in this 'break-up' period you have about 10-12 pages for your character to get adjusted to the new reality. With the last scene being your, 'don't let the door hit you in the ass' moment. But at the same time, new relationships are calling and they bring uncertainty especially when your character doesn't have a clear head. After this adjustment period, when the exhaustion turns to what (you) know to be right, there's work to be done but this is where the adventure truly starts and you can deliver on that promise of the premise from act one. Just open the door, it only takes one step through and it won't be quiet as daunting. I wish you a day of embraceable change.