𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 & 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬

how to structure your story

PROMPT: Ask yourself:

- How is my protagonist going to react to the inciting incident, given their fear and misbelief about the world?

- What decision are they going to make now to avoid the most pain? (And get what they want while steering clear of the thing they're afraid of?)

First Pinch Point: Opposition/Antagonist Force Looms
In The Distance

You can have a pinch point even if you don't have a "villain" character in your story.

It doesn't have to be a villain — it doesn't have to be a person. It just has to be something that is ultimately going to come back to haunt the protagonist later. (It can even be the protagonist's misbelief.)

PROMPT: Ask yourself:

- What is the opposition/antagonistic force my protagonist is going to have to face head-on later? How can I show the reader that it's already looming in the distance?

Act 2

Pre-Midpoint Reactionary: Protagonist Pursues Their
Fear-Based Goal

Thanks to the decision your protagonist made at the end of act one, they are now a man (or a woman) with a plan.

They have a goal now that they are actively pursuing. Essentially, they're going after the thing they think will make them happy while still steering clear of the thing they're afraid of.

Whether they're running away from something or running to something, their motivation is the same: avoid as much pain as possible, and get to the finish line where (their idea of) happiness awaits.

PROMPT: Ask yourself:

- How is my protagonist going to execute their plan (achieve goal, avoid fear)?

- What is their step-by-step plan for making this happen? (Even if they don't know every step themselves).

- How can I show my reader the REASONING behind my protagonist's actions (aka: how their every decision is fundamentally based on their misbelief)?

Game-Changing Midpoint
Plot-Twist!

A game-changing midpoint doesn't have to be some epic and crazy twist of fate.

In fact, the only thing a game-changing midpoint has to do is surprise the protagonist and shift their goal. (Bonus points if you can surprise the reader at the same time!)

It can be as dramatic as "everything protagonist believes is actually a lie" OR as simple as "protagonist realizes they are falling in love with their nemesis."

PROMPT: Ask yourself:

- What unexpected thing is going to upend my protagonist's plan (and entire life)?

- Why does it matter to my protagonist, given their desire and fear?

- How is it going to change the game for my protagonist?

Post-Midpoint Action: Protagonist Approaches Their Goal From A Different Angle

Figure out how your protagonist is going to handle the plot twist.

It's sort of like another inciting incident, shoving them further outside their comfort zone and presenting a new and unexpected challenge.

Give your protagonist a plan going forward – and a sense of where this is going. Your readers want to know what happens next because they can foresee what MIGHT happen.