On Writing: How Does Real Life Turn Itself Into Plot?
A Terrifying Encounter From My Past - Fictionalised. Part Two.
How Three Act Structure Imposes Itself On Real Life
(Continued from last Tuesday’s ‘On Writing’ Post)
( A man had just arrived in my house uninvited and pinned me round the neck and asked if I have any money hidden in the house.)
…He clearly doesn’t believe me about there being no more money in the house.
He tells me, to my horror, that he is going to ‘call some friends’ to come to the house and assist him, and starts to make a call on his mobile phone[AM1] .
Now panicking, I struggle to get away from him.
I am in fear of further violence or even my life.
To my surprise, since he is so much stronger than me, I manage to slip out of his grip.
I run desperately from the portico of the front door, through the hallway, corridor and into the kitchen.
In the door leading to the backyard from the kitchen, there is key in the lock.
I pull the key out of the door, the plan being that I can lock my assailant out[AM2] and be, at least temporarily, safe in the backyard, where I will call for help.
But when I get into the yard and turn to lock the door behind me, I realise/remember that there is no keyhole on the outside.
Only the inside.
In my panic, I had forgotten this crucial fact.
I stand there helplessly, feeling foolish now as well as afraid, and await my doom.
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