Okay, okay, okay, everyone calm down.

Calm. DOWN.

There’s still a lot of work to be done. Remember our Try-Fail cycle of ‘Yes, But…’ or ‘No, And…’.

Wait, what? You mean there’s more work for the MC and their plucky band? Oh, yes. Yes, indeed, but not to worry, dear writer, because you already know how to do this next bit. You did it way back in the beginning.

This next piece echoes or reflects the Inciting Incident, the Call to Adventure, and maybe the Refusal of the Call. Again, your watchword here is BREVITY as these elements should be even faster to get through this time around for a couple of reasons:

• Your readers have been here with these characters before. Don’t bore them with the same or similar concerns they read about in Chapter 3.
• Your characters have grown and changed. They don’t have the same flaws as before so while the challenge may be thematically similar, the MC is more capable and needs a bigger, badder test.
• If there is hesitation, it won’t be for the same reasons. Remember, your MC is a better version of themself. Where once Mr. Milquetoast would have trembled at the idea of telling the barista he wants oat milk, please if it’s not to much trouble, now he confidently orders his beverage of choice because, gosh darn it, he’s been to heck and back. The man has seen some shiz!

Your job in the Road Back is to set the stage for the final confrontation. Good vs. Evil. Red vs. Blue. Star Wars vs. Star Trek*

What this means is you need more conflict, higher stakes, a shorter clock, fewer allies, more/worse enemies, etc. Also, it’s probably raining…

Essentially, this means dangling Happily Ever After over your MC’s head and then snatching it away, only to replace it with a grenade sans pin. Yes, the Road Back is on heck of a reversal of fortunes and it happens fast!

Ask yourself:

• What were MC’s wants at the start? What are they now?
• What were MC’s needs at the start? What are they now?
• Friends/Foes gained or lost – who’s still on the stage at this stage?
• Baddies – how have they gotten worse, more powerful, more dangerous?

Writing exercise

Writers are sadists extraordinaire as any of our characters can attest, so put on your most evil thinking cap, chuckle your most diabolical chuckle, and ominously stroke a house pet.

Now, to the writing!

Write a scene where your MC is trying to do something, but is prevented by at least three things. When they attempt to resolve the situation, make it worse.

For example, Gwen wants to pick up flowers for her girlfriend, but (1) her favorite florist shop is unexpectedly closed, (2) she can’t order online because her credit card is locked for [story reasons], and (3) the only flowers at the gas station are lilies, which her girlfriend is deathly allergic to! Frazzled, Gwen remembers that graveyards always have beautiful arrangements and her girlfriend is a bit Wednesday, so she might actually like those flowers better. Despite her moral objections, Gwen decides to raid the local cemetery. She parks in the back and makes sure no one else is around. Just as she’s picking up a lovely bunch of roses, she hears someone clear their throat behind her…

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