From the course: Write a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps

Break into two: Examples

From the course: Write a Bestselling Novel in 15 Steps

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Break into two: Examples

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- [Narrator] One of the best examples of a break into two that takes us into a brand new world, and shows the hero chasing after what they want, not what they need, is Legally Blonde. Remember the catalyst was Warner breaking up with Elle. The debate was Elle trying to get into Harvard Law School to win him back. And the break into two is the moment she arrives at Harvard Law School, looking completely out of place in her pink outfit and accessory-sized dog. If Act One was the status quo world of Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, and the sorority house, then this Act Two world of Harvard Law School is definitely an upside-down world for Elle. And let's talk about that decision to come to Harvard. Is she doing it because she wants to prove her hidden worth, which is her theme? No, she's doing it to get Warner back. That is a perfect example of a hero being motivated by what they want, not by what they need. Eventually she will realize that this wasn't the answer after all, and she'll change her tune and start fixing things the right way. But for now, we're going to have a blast watching her fix things the wrong way. The upside-down world for Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, the book and the movie, is the Capitol. What a drastically different place to the world of District 12, where we spent all of Act One. The break into two is the moment the train arrives in the Capitol, and Katniss becomes a tribute in the Games. Is she there to make a stand, and prove to the Capitol that they don't own her--her theme? No, she's just there to protect Prim and her family. Her wants. In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, the upside-down world of Act Two is Hogwarts, and the break into two beat is when Harry boards the train for Hogwarts. Huh, that's two phenomenally best-selling novels where the break into two happens on a train. Perhaps I should put more trains in my books. Hm. Anyway, once again, Harry isn't being motivated by what he needs here. He's not going to Hogwarts to fulfill his destiny as the boy who lived, and take on Voldemort. No, that part comes later. For now, he just wants a place to belong. And he's found one. Let's take a look at some novels of the romantic variety. In Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, we know that the catalyst is Louisa meeting Will, which means the break into two, an upside-down world for Louisa, is life with Will. It's important to note, Louisa doesn't physically go anywhere new. She still lives in the same provincial town she grew up in, but she's trying something new within that town. This is a great example of a break into two where the proactive decision does not involve a physical relocation, but rather it involves a hero stepping out of their comfort zone and trying something different. Again, Louisa isn't taking this job because she's finally learned her theme, and is taking control of her life and living it just for her. Far from it. She's taking this job because she wants a job, and her family needs the money. Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon is also a fabulous example of a hero who doesn't leave home to break into two. Actually, she physically cannot leave home. She's confined to her house because she has a disease that makes her allergic to the world. But when the catalyst brings a new boy moving into the house next door, Maddy finds herself starting a relationship with him, which is a completely new and exciting and different way of life for her. Now that we've seen some examples of the break into two beat done well, let's see if we can emulate the same pattern, and create some dynamic, new things and new worlds for our heroes to explore. I'll see you back in the writers' room.

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