The Resolution of Act Three

How to Resolve the End to Get Them to Come Back For More

We are so close to the finish line. You just left your hero or heroine in peril. The bad guys closed in, the day changed into a dark night, and all looked like it was lost. But it’s not! There’s a rainbow at the end of this path shining its light on a silver line in the distance. There’s a way out. Your main character just has to get there. To get there they have to go through a Silver Lining, find a Resolution, get some Closure, and come face to face with an Open Door.

There doesn’t have to be any more obstacles at this point. That last Confrontation was a doozy that likely knocked your character on their butt. But they got up. Facing these obstacles, first in Act One at the start of their journey and then again in Act Two when they thought they were so close to achieving their goal, has changed them. They’ve grown and learned some lessons along the way.

The Silver Lining is a scene of revelation; it’s an a-ha epiphanic moment. You can have an epiphany or a revelation. Both the revelation and the epiphany is a discovery. But in an epiphany the character comes to understand a point that they hadn’t before and their opens are opened to a new (silver) light. Whereas a revelation is a communication of information. It’s often something that wasn’t disclosed before. One happens in the mind, the other happens in the ears. Either way, the character is changed and they will move differently from now to the end of the story.

Now that your character has navigated their way through all the obstacles you have thrown at them, they are finally at the point of achieving their original goal. All of the experiences they have had throughout the story have helped to shape their response to this moment; the Resolution.

This is where you answer the character either achieves their goal or not (if you're mean). There are valid reasons (mean reasons) for you to deny your character their goal. (because you're mean and I'm not biased at all). One reason could be that the story isn’t truly over and another installment is on its way.

However, if that is true, I still recommend you answer the Story Question and provide Closure. For example, if this was a mystery, we should learn who done it. And then a new murder can happen to twist the story towards an even bigger crime. You need to be sure to tidy up both the main plot as well as any subplots that aren't going to continue into your next story. This is also a great place to bookend your story by showing the protagonist in their new life with their goals achieved (unless your a meanie).

But wait, we’re not done!

In episodic television writing, the story continues next week. After you close the door of this episode, you want to ask a new story question which yanks the door back open. An Open Door is not a cliffhanger because you've resolved the main storyline or the main story question of the week. Now your protagonist is asking or is asked a new question. Or a new character is asked or is presented with a new story question. Because you gave readers such a satisfying journey by hitting all the pacing points, they are eager to join you to get the answers to this new question.

And that’s it! That’s all twelve pacing points. Go turn on the TV and see if you can spot them all in your favorite television program.