Stage 10: The Road Back Once they've attained the Reward, it's time for the hero to get on The Road Back to their Ordinary World.

But what is The Road Back and how can this stage develop your third act?

More Conflict, Higher Stakes

The Road Back is the moment of your screenplay that leads your character towards the final climax. They've survived The Ordeal, which is the midpoint of your story. They've gained a special weapon, elixir, piece of knowledge, eye-opening experience, or some form of reconciliation that they know will help them face the final conflict to come before they can go back to their Ordinary World.

This is the launching point of your third act, where you transition from the second and venture into the final stretch of your protagonist's journey.The Ordeal is the first major conflict they face, usually written as a false climax where things change and the conflict evolves. The Road Back is where the protagonist sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but faces yet another challenge — this time with higher stakes.

In Burning America, the Ordeal and false climax is when Paul thinks the second psychiatrist and feminist attorney will get Kaitrin home. But, they do not. Now Paul faces a custody trial knowing that mothes win 92% of contested custody cases. What chance does he have? The Ordeal is not over.

Paul loses his favored feminist attorney, and the second antagonist, Silena, emerges as a countervailing force against Paul; morever, Anne reveals serious health issues which will complicate procedings.

Showing the Light at the End of the Tunnel

There's sometimes a slight lull in the action or conflict between The Ordeal and The Road Back. A moment or sequence where the protagonist regroups with their allies or collects their thoughts leading into the continued hurdles and obstacles they face before the final climax.

This offers the reader and audience a chance to regroup and breathe after the action or drama of The Ordeal.You want to give the characters some form of accomplishment and hope. And then, as any good writer should, you want to then throw even more conflict at them — just as they are about to believe that their journey is almost complete.When you watch most films, you'll feel this shift within the story — to the point where it feels as if we've turned a page from the second act to the third.

Facing a custody trial, Paul has a bit of light in the character of Clarissa, Deborah's assistant, and a female attorney to keep him on a level playing field during the custody proceedings.

Setting Up the Third Act

If there's a specific purpose that writers are looking for when considering using this stage of the Hero's Journey, it's all about setting up the third act.When the hero has faced The Ordeal, they've experienced the biggest conflict of their journey thus far. But now they've managed to survive it.

We need to now flip that page to the third act by introducing more conflict and upping the stakes. And even more important, we need to understand what's at risk going into the third act and eventual climax (The Resurrection).

The Road Back stage of story structure offers you the opportunity to reset and show us what has changed, how it affects the protagonist and their allies (if any), and what they have to overcome to prevail at the end.

Mick, The Doctor of Digital, Smith mick.smith@wsiworld.com
Burning America: In the Best Interest of the Children?
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