The Plot Thickens

Hey gang, I want to add one thing to the plot skeleton and clarify the story worthy problem.
Sharon's minutes from the last meeting were great, but they made me aware of something I didn't communicate clearly.

The second eye = the story-worthy problem

In the Wizard of Oz the story worthy problem is deeper than finding Oz. Dorothy needs to be content with her current family. This is a universal and timeless issue. Hopefully not to many of us were orphaned, but we all are thrust into new family situations-- We marry, gain in laws, have children with their unique personalities, lose a parent or sibling, watch our kids become teens, gain more in laws as our kids marry, gain grandchildren, maybe even lose a spouse-- like it or not our family unit is in constant flux. We can relate to Dorothy's life lesson. It really is a sovereignty issue. Will we trust God? Will we choose to bloom where He planted us.

I'm reading Hooked (write fiction that grabs readers at page one and never lets them go) by Les Edgerton. Great book by the way. One of her points is you need to be aware of the story worthy problem from page one. You may not write to it specifically, but it will affect your direction from the get go.

Add a nose to our skeleton. Motivation.

This is vital. For both the eyes, the two goals, surface problem and story-worthy problem there needs to be a motivation. A object at rest prefers to stay at rest unless something moves it. Could be greed, love, longing for family, the work of the Holy Spirit, hatred, physical pain, rent is due... but something has to drive characters toward that goal.

I hope this helps clarify.
Metaphors be with you,
Dan