High concepts, plotting, and loglines...

I have spent the last few days scouring the website http://www.thescriptlab.com/ because it is amazingly clear when describing how to boil your story down into just the essentials. They have all of these great articles on plot, character development, and story structure......

The more I read, the more I think that after I have the first/second/third draft down, it's time to step back and look at the big picture of the story... then start taking it apart piece by piece.
So that is what I'm doing with KEEPERS OF THE EMERALD CAVE:

The Script Lab speaks of having eight plot sequences, and inside those, having five key moments. It explains why the rhythm and pace is so important, and why you have to look at the end of the book to where to start your story, so now I am pulling out the big concepts and action sequences of EMERALD CAVE and plugging them into an outline to give my story a check-up...is the action spaced out? Does it make sense? Do I emphasize the important plot action or am I spending too much time on something that needs less page time?

Some things I have already realized -- it's not done. I do have another act to write... TSL would call it the "Third Act Twist" in their "Five Key Moments" or in their Eight Sequences, it would be the entire third act, consisting of the following two sequences: Sequence 7 is "new tension and a twist" with Sequence 8 bringing the story sliding into home plate..."hell-bent for resolution." THAT'S when you know it's the end of the story and everyone sits back and says, "WHEW!!! THAT was CLOSE!!!"

It also has hints on how to write your logline and look at what your high-concept idea would be for your story, so in case you ever find yourself in an elevator with a literary agent or Hollywood producer, you can dazzle them with your 25-word-or-less logline and high-concept POW idea:

Logline for KEEPERS OF THE EMERALD CAVE as of right now:
Boy with super bubble powers protects his family from his murderous uncle while saving the Pacific Northwest from ecological disaster.

The best high-concept comparison I have come up with is basically Spider-Man meets The Lord of the Rings... because Denim begins as the reluctant superhero, but quickly learns what he can do by using his powers for good. While he is getting used to his new powers, he also finds out he is living in a dual world, where there are creatures of light, others who live underground, in the water, in the woods...some look human, some don't, but they are all depending on him to protect them, their way of life and the world they all share.

Okay. And now my brain needs more coffee. And water. We are all still fighting colds over here...pretty annoying!! :-)

Keep reading...keep dreaming.
Cynthia