What's the MRU? Part Two

Write Better Now

Photo by Nadir sYzYgY on Unsplash

On the podcast yesterday, I was talking about Dwight Swain’s motivation reaction units or cause and effect, the stimuli and reactions that happen to your character on the page.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should, because this is a series, baby. : )

It’s over here.

Katie Ganshert breaks it down like this:

“1. Visceral: What emotion immediately overtakes your character? Your character has no control over this.

2. Reflex: What reflexes kicks into action? Do they duck? Gasp? Flinch? Yelp? Run? 

3. Rational Action/Speech: What does your character do or say? Your character has control over this.”

This the order of reactions that happen after the stimulus on the page.

And these are three components taken from AdvancedFictionwriting.com in which those actions are expected to occur:

1. (involuntary) feeling

2. (involuntary) physical reflex

3. (voluntary) action and/or speech

You must always have your character REACT to STIMULI that MOTIVATES them to.

Let’s break it down a little bit more.