Last week, we talked about the GUTS, or Act 2 of your novel, the first element being the Growing romance of the hero and heroine. 

However, this romance only happens through the next element:

U- Unexpected Twists, Turns and Tests:

During the GUTS portion of the story, the hero and heroine’s mettle will be tested – especially as it relates to their competence, that thing they do well.  The point of the middle to cause them to grow as human beings through lessons, revelations, challenges and epiphanies.  However, the middle is often where the tension sags – and that’s usually because we run out of the unexpected, and our motivation to keep going sags.  The key to a powerful middle is using the  peripheral plotting, and stakes and motivation techniques.

For example, your hero might handle climbing down a mountain just fine, but put a wounded child on his back, and it ups the challenge.  Now, add in a bad guy holding the mother hostage and give him a choice between saving the boy and saving the mother.  And then make the hero fall and break his ankle.  Move in a storm.  Have him wake a sleeping bear.  Finally, make his rope break.

Look at what the hero has around him you can cause trouble with – does he have a child who is bleeding? What if his car goes off the road? What if the kidnapper suddenly calls and he has ten minutes to get to the drop off point? Think outside the box, and make it worse, always testing their competence, or what they think they are good at. 

For example, In my book Expect the Sunrise, Andee is a survival expert, but she’s got a bunch of city slickers with her who panic.  Not to mention the wilderness, weather and a crazy FBI agent who thinks people are out to get him.  I have a lot to work with in the periphery.  And, every time she encounters something, it chips away at her abilities until she is finally kidnapped and ends up nearly dying.  She realizes that despite her best efforts, she has failed. 

All the while, make sure you have enough motivation to push him forward, over these obstacles.  (to get a refresher on this technique, click here).  Here’s some questions you can ask to keep the tension high for every scene: What is the worst thing that could happen to your character right now?  What’s the most unexpected?  How can you combine these? 

Thanks for reading!  Next week we’ll talk about the next two elements of the GUTS section. Have a great writing week!

Susie May