Reader Emotional Arc Hypothesis: [Book Title]
**Created:** [Date] **Last Updated:** [Date] **Version:** [e.g., v1, v2]
Overview
Reader Emotional Arc Hypothesis: [Book Title]
Created: [Date]
Last Updated: [Date]
Version: [e.g., v1, v2]
Purpose
Maps the reader's emotional journey—not just what they'll think, but how they'll feel. The book-architect uses this to design pacing and structure.
Starting State
How the reader feels when they pick up the book:
What they believe:
- [Belief]
- [Belief]
What they want:
- [Desire]
Emotional Waypoints
Early (First 25%)
Target Emotional State:
[How should they feel?]
What Creates This:
[Which claims or content?]
Risk to Avoid:
[What could go wrong emotionally?]
Middle (25-75%)
Target Emotional State:
[How should they feel?]
Emotional Turning Points:
- [Moment]: [From X feeling to Y feeling]
- [Moment]: [From X feeling to Y feeling]
The "Dark Night" Moment:
[Where do they feel most challenged/uncomfortable?]
Late (75-100%)
Target Emotional State:
[How should they feel?]
The Resolution:
[What emotional payoff do they receive?]
Ending State
How the reader feels when they finish:
What they now believe:
- [New belief]
- [New belief]
What they want to do:
- [Action/change]
Emotional Arc Summary
[Starting emotion] → [Early shift] → [Middle tension] → [Crisis point] → [Resolution] → [Ending emotion]
One sentence: [Describe the full emotional journey]
Risks and Mitigations
| Risk | Consequence | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| [Reader feels X too early] | [They quit] | [How to prevent] |
| [Reader never feels Y] | [No transformation] | [How to ensure] |
Updated by idea-validator skill