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Pitfalls: Writing compelling conflict or comprehensive guidance
The Five Ps of Premise Prep are:
The fourth P stands for Pitfalls.
Now it’s time to have fun putting your Person through the wringer!
Pitfalls are just the things that stand between your Person and their Prize.
These could be physical barriers or impairments such as mountains, blindness, security guards, walls, missing limbs, wild animals, moats, or diseases. The princess can’t reach her beloved because of the wall the villain has built around the castle. The toddler can’t get the cookie tray because it’s on a high counter. The new hire can’t get to their first day of work on time because of a traffic jam.
Pitfalls could also be psychological hurdles such as resentment, anxiety, hallucinations, pride, or issues with cognition. The princess can’t communicate well with her beloved because they speak two different languages. The toddler struggles to eat a cookie because their newfound sense of boundaries means they want to get permission from an adult’s permission first. The new hire can’t get to their first day of work on time because of the panic attack that hit them as they…
