#WritersCoffeeClub 20260223: What techniques help you write a difficult second act?
Once upon a time we invited an author of paperback westerns over for dinner. After dinner, the discussion turned to art. He clearly thought that I was not qualified to speak on the subject because I made my living programming computers, and teaching people to do things with computers. From his perspective, any form of structure felt like an enemy to true artistic expression. He believed that creativity could only flourish in the absence of constraints, and that assigning any practical or utilitarian purpose to art diminished its value. I gently shared my own experiences working alongside professional artists, many of whom I taught to incorporate computers into their creative processes. At first, some hesitated, worried that technology might limit their imagination. But I remember one particular illustrator who, after learning to use digital tools, was suddenly able to visualize and iterate on complex forms that would have been nearly impossible by hand. Years later, that artist developed Parkinson’s. She called to thank me because she could no longer hold a pencil to draw, but she could still use a mouse and remained productive.
If anything defines humanity, storytelling deserves a place in the top ten. Since we gathered around campfires, we have told and listened to stories, perfected techniques to capture our interest, ward off our fears, brag, teach and enlighten. I would submit that one of the most basic storytelling ideas is that a good story has a beginning, middle and an end. There may be exceptions, the terminology may vary, but to speak of the “second act” in my view is merely to speak of the “middle” portion of the story. Formula or no, that “act” has the burden of getting the listener (or reader) from the beginning to the end while maintaining their interest. There are techniques for doing this that I would argue do not diminish the story but make it more delectable.
