The "True Story" award category highlights narratives where the stakes aren't just high—they are real. These stories resonate because they provide a blueprint for how ordinary people can navigate extraordinary circumstances. One of the most compelling examples of this is The Best of Enemies, a narrative based on true events that explores the unlikely bond between an activist and a Klansman.
Why the Characters are Captivating
The beauty of these characters lies in their raw, unfiltered humanity; Ann Atwater is a powerhouse of righteous fury, while C.P. Ellis is a man blinded by a hateful ideology. They are captivating because they are not caricatures of good and evil, but complex individuals whose transformation feels earned, proving that even the deepest-seated prejudices can be dismantled through proximity and shared purpose.
Act 1: The Collision of Worlds
Set-Up: In 1971, Durham, North Carolina, we meet Ann Atwater, a fierce civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, the Exalted Cyclops of the local KKK. The community is a powder keg of racial tension, and both leaders are entrenched in their opposing camps, a dynamic inspired by true events.
Theme Stated: An official or bystander remarks on the impossibility of the two sides ever seeing eye-to-eye, subtly introducing the theme of finding common ground in the most divided of places.
Save the Cat: We see Ann’s tireless devotion to her community’s housing needs and C.P.’s genuine (though misguided) desire to protect his family’s future, humanizing both figures before the conflict peaks.
Inciting Incident: Following a school fire, a federal mediator arrives to force a "charrette"—a two-week community summit—to decide the fate of school integration, forcing Ann and C.P. to co-chair the event together.
Act 2: The Hard Road to Empathy
Fun and Games: The "fun" here is the friction; the two leads are forced into the same room, trading barbs and observing each other's worlds. This section of the true story highlights the awkward, tense, and sometimes surprising moments of their forced cooperation.
Midpoint: A shift occurs when C.P. and Ann realize they share similar struggles, such as poverty and the desire for their children to succeed. The stakes are raised as their respective "teams" begin to view their cooperation as a betrayal.
Bad Guys Close In: Internal pressure mounts; C.P. faces threats from his KKK "brothers" to ensure the vote goes against integration, while Ann’s community worries she is compromising too much with the enemy.
Dark Night of the Soul: C.P. Ellis faces a moral crisis as he realizes his "tribe" doesn't actually care about his family’s well-being, while Ann’s humanity has shown him a dignity he can no longer ignore. He is caught between the life he knew and the truth he has discovered.
Act 3: The Courage to Change
Climax: During the final vote of the charrette, C.P. takes the stage. In a stunning moment based on true events, he tears up his KKK membership card and votes in favor of integration, choosing a shared future over a divided past.
Resolution: The immediate fallout shows the beginning of a lifelong, real-life friendship between the two. The story concludes with the knowledge that school integration moved forward, forever changing Durham and the lives of the two protagonists.
Ready to Put Your True Story to the Test?
Once you've structured your true story using these beats, consider entering the Page Turner Awards True Story Award. You can also receive professional feedback on your memoir, screenplay, or narrative nonfiction, helping you refine your structure and strengthen your narrative.
Whether your true story is based on true events like Erin Brockovich's legal battle or if it's inspired by true events from your own life, the Page Turner True Story Award celebrates real-life narratives that inspire, educate, and move readers.
Master True Story Structure
Want to dive deeper into crafting compelling true stories? Join my True Story Masterclass where we'll explore:
- Advanced beat sheet techniques for memoirs and true stories
- How to find the narrative arc in your real-life experiences
- Character development in true stories (even when you're the character)
- Balancing factual accuracy with narrative drive
- Creating emotional resonance from based on true events narratives