Build Your Story: 8 Strategies for Writing Innovative Setting with Impact
Duress
Physical trials often form the core of adventure movies.
Like Hercules facing his twelve Labours
we wonder will the hero overcome all the obstacles or will he perish? But we
also don’t really expect a deep character change in James Bond or Indiana
Jones. We simply enjoy the ride.
In physical dangers though, the stress is a mountain that
must be conquered regardless of the cost. In fact it is quite realistic that
the physical challenges will succeed in overpowering our characters. James N.
Frey, in his book The Key, points out
that a hero’s journey does not necessarily mean the hero will survive, but
rather that he succeeds and if he perishes—he dies victorious. In Cold Mountain, Inman walks for months to
reach home and the woman he loves. He suffers wounds, hunger, danger, capture,
exhaustion, and the elements. He succeeds only to be killed.
In the movie Hugo,
the isolated boy faces duress every day under the weight of his secret and the
possibility that if he is caught he will be locked away in a workhouse
orphanage.
Writing Exercise: Choose
a movie you have seen recently and pick out one or two examples of each of the
following dangers that might apply.
Natural danger
Man-made danger
Physical danger
Psychological danger
Spiritual danger
Share: Which one
had the most impact on you? Why?
Read deep, marcy
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