From the course: Writing: The Craft of Story

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Example: Setups, payoffs, and the clues in between

Example: Setups, payoffs, and the clues in between

From the course: Writing: The Craft of Story

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Example: Setups, payoffs, and the clues in between

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- Let's look at a rough draft that doesn't follow the two rules for setups and payoffs. Imagine you're reading a novel and the protagonist, Louisa, is on her way home from work when you come across this paragraph. - [Writer] Ahead a doorman whisked open the glittering glass door and a harried man dressed in black stepped out onto the sidewalk, leading a sleek, black Doberman Pinscher. The dog's mouth was secured by another muzzle, but as soon as Louisa stepped under the awning, it began to growl a horrible, low rumble. She froze in her tracks. She hated dogs, and clearly this dog knew it. She flicked wide eyes towards the dog's amused owner. "He won't bite as long as I'm holding the leash," the man said. "Then hold on really tight, please," Louisa whispered, walking away as quickly as she could in stilettos. - That paragraph would trigger a reader's story radar because it's a perfect setup. We instantly assume that there's something about…

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