ABSTRACT
All dramatic writing has patterns. Unfortunately, one drawback of knowing these patterns well is the ability to spot them at will in television, movies, plays, and so on. Fortunately, it is possible to switch off this knowledge and enjoy the show. When writing dramatic fiction, especially good manga with quality storytelling, though, it’s important to both know of and be able to use these patterns. In manga terms, a story arc where the subplot is the main focus is like the creature-of-the-week story on television. Manga scripts are similar to scripts written for television, movies, or plays. Other Side of the Tracks, the manga short story at the center of this book, is an excellent example of three-act structure. The first five pages are Act 1, the introduction. Keil and Jeyne are two mecha pilots in the eye of the hurricane, recovering from a brutal war skirmish.
