ACT I: THE HOOK

The hook introduces the protagonist and establishes their everyday day life, but most importantly, it shows their internal conflict. They are not happy, but their fear is stopping them from pursuing what they want. Something better change fast though—the protagonist is about to break.

Another conflict could be that your protagonist is in danger or needed for a high-stake mission.

Examples:

Tangled: A perfect example of a hook is the beginning of the Disney movie Tangled. We meet and learn about Rapunzel and her everyday life through her song ‘When Will My Life Begin?’. We see she’s dissatisfied with her life and wants to see the floating lights, but the fear of disappointing her ‘loving’ mother is holding her back. This internal conflict is shown again when she does leave the tower with Flynn Rider, but her mood switches between excitement (she finally gets to see the lights!) and fear (her mother will be heartbroken).

The Greatest Showman: P.T. Barnum grew up poor and scorned by society which made him believe that he wasn’t good enough. Now, as a grownup his life hasn’t gotten much better. He has a mundane job and though he wants more than that, his fear of being a failure holds him back (and the fact that he needs to feed his family). His fear overshadows everything in his life. It’s ‘Never Enough’, and we see that he especially struggles with it when he’s in the presence of his father-in-law who planted the seeds of doubt in the first place (as did Rapunzel’s mother).

Others are usually responsible for the protagonist’s deeply rooted fear. Backstory can help you figure out your protagonist’s wants and fear. If you’ve filled out the Character Profile Template this part should be easy, and you can move on to The Inciting Incident.

For a more compelling story you should also fill out the Character Profile Template for your villain if your story has one.

Good luck!