Today’s Writers’ Tip
Plot Number 11: The Metamorphosis Fiction Plot
(Photos compliments of Wikipedia)
We’ve all enjoyed stories that have a powerful transformation take place with one of the characters. But writing a metamorphosis fiction plot takes quite a bit of pre-planning and character development. This subgenre is different from your “ordinary” transformation of the main character in an “ordinary” novel at the climax and resolution because…. Well, let’s look at the characteristics of writing an excellent unique story:
The Metamorphosis Plot
Wolfman
Dracula
Beauty and the Beast
- The metamorphosis usually results from a curse.
- The cure for the curse is often love.
- The forms of love include love of parent for a child, a woman for a man (or vice versa), people for each other, or man for the love of God.
- The metamorph is usually carried out by the antagonist (the “bad guy”) if the curse can be reversed by the antagonist performing certain acts, and the protagonist can’t hurry or explain the events.
- In the first dramatic phase, the metamorph usually can’t explain the reasons for his curse.
- The story should begin at the point prior to the resolution of the curse (release).
- The bad guy should act as the catalyst that propels the protagonist toward release.
- The antagonist often starts out as the intended victim but finishes as the “chosen one.”
- The second dramatic phase should concentrate on the nature of evolving relationships between the antagonist and the metamorph.
- The characters generally move toward each other emotionally.
- In the third dramatic phase, the terms of release should be fulfilled and your protagonist should be freed from the curse. The metamorph might either revert to his original state or die.
- The reader should discover the reasons for the curse and its root causes.
Have you got your metamorphic wheels turning? If you’ve wanted to try this subgenre, now you have the ammunition to do so. Have fun!
Next time we’ll look at fiction plot number 12: Transformation
All information compliments of:
Tobias, Ronald B (2011-12-15). 20 Master Plots (p. 189). F+W Media, Inc. Kindle Edition.
(I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in writing good fiction in any subgenre!)
Happy writing!
Marsha
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