What do you do when your novel or memoir doesn’t follow the typical plot structure?
Maybe you have more of an exploratory approach. To you, plotting feels counter-intuitive, and can leave the story feeling false.
So how do you plot a story that’s an interior journey? Where the goals and conflicts aren’t concrete?
What if there’s no crime to be solved, or tsunami to survive?
What if your character’s only story problem is an internal one?
In this episode, I’m sharing 4 thresholds to help you plot your character driven story. These thresholds walk your character through each of the 3 Acts, all the way to the end.
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Episode at a glance:
[03:15] Character-driven stories are often harder to structure or to build a story around.
The change is internal and harder to capture on the page. But change only becomes meaningful when it manifests in the tactile world of the real.
[07:59] Threshold 1: Point of No Return
You can think of this as the inciting incident or significant situation. Ultimately, it’s a call to change. It ushers your character into Act Two, and invites him into the fray. It’s a turn in destiny.
[13:32] Threshold 2: The Midpoint
This happens midway through Act Two. This is where your character realizes that in order to get what she wants, she has to rethink her methods, because what she’s done thus far, in the first half of Act Two, hasn’t worked. It’s where your character recommits to the goal.
[18:24] Threshold 3: All Is Lost
At the end of Act Two, your character will be standing on the precipice between what was, and what’s to come. There’s no way back. But your character can’t see the possibilities of the future yet.
[23:19] Threshold 4: The Climax
This is where your character goes head to head with whatever antagonistic forces are at play. It’s your protagonist’s last hurrah. It’ll result in triumph of some sort. And move quickly to resolution at the end.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 185: Your Opening Scenes: What To Reveal, What to Withhold
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts.
“I love Writer Unleashed!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps me support more writers — just like you —to bring the story burning in their imagination onto the page. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. It’s chock full of writing tips and inspiration every Tuesday. Follow now!
Episode at a glance:
[03:15] Character-driven stories are often harder to structure or to build a story around.
The change is internal and harder to capture on the page. But change only becomes meaningful when it manifests in the tactile world of the real.
Change happens gradually. And the narrative tension comes from your character actively trying to change.
[07:59] Threshold 1: Point of No Return
You can think of this as the inciting incident or significant situation. in the hero’s journey. It’s a call to adventure, which the character initially rejects.
Ultimately, it’s a call to change. It’s what ushers your character into Act Two, and invites him into the fray.
It could be as devastating as a cancer diagnosis. Or as joyous as meeting the sexy stranger who just arrived in town on a work assignment. it could be a moment where your character realizes something for the very first time – when what they thought was true, is upended.
It’s a turn in destiny
[13:32] Threshold 2: The Midpoint
This happens midway through Act Two. This is where your character realizes that in order to get what she wants, she has to rethink her methods, because what she’s done thus far, in the first half of Act Two, hasn’t worked.
It’s a moment of truth. James Scott Bell calls it a mirror moment.
It could be a low moment of despair, or it could be a moment of hope. But it’s where the truth of your character’s situation hits hard.
It’s where your character recommits to the goal.
[18:24] Threshold 3: All Is Lost
At the end of Act Two, your character will be standing on the precipice between what was, and what’s to come. There’s no way back. But your character can’t see the future yet.
This could be a crisis, a loss, or a death, literal or figurative.
It’s where your protagonist is utterly alone with him or herself. It could be a black moment or the dark night of the soul. It could be a moment of despair. But it can also be a positive thing. Even that should have some uncertainty attached to it.
It’s that place where your character’s past is no longer, but the future is also unknown. He can’t yet see the possibilities for the future.
[23:19] Threshold 4: The Climax
This is where your character goes head to head with whatever antagonistic forces are at play. It’s your protagonist’s last hurrah.
It’ll result in triumph of some sort. And move quickly to resolution at the end.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 185: Your Opening Scenes: What To Reveal, What to Withhold
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts.
“I love Writer Unleashed!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps me support more writers — just like you —to bring the story burning in their imagination onto the page. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. It’s chock full of writing tips and inspiration every Tuesday. Follow now!
Episode at a glance:
[03:15] Character-driven stories are often harder to structure or to build a story around.
The change is internal and harder to capture on the page. But change only becomes meaningful when it manifests in the tactile world of the real.
Change happens gradually. And the narrative tension comes from your character actively trying to change.
[07:59] Threshold 1: Point of No Return
You can think of this as the inciting incident or significant situation. in the hero’s journey. It’s a call to adventure, which the character initially rejects.
Ultimately, it’s a call to change. It’s what ushers your character into Act Two, and invites him into the fray.
It could be as devastating as a cancer diagnosis. Or as joyous as meeting the sexy stranger who just arrived in town on a work assignment. it could be a moment where your character realizes something for the very first time – when what they thought was true, is upended.
It’s a turn in destiny
[13:32] Threshold 2: The Midpoint
This happens midway through Act Two. This is where your character realizes that in order to get what she wants, she has to rethink her methods, because what she’s done thus far, in the first half of Act Two, hasn’t worked.
It’s a moment of truth. James Scott Bell calls it a mirror moment.
It could be a low moment of despair, or it could be a moment of hope. But it’s where the truth of your character’s situation hits hard.
It’s where your character recommits to the goal.
[18:24] Threshold 3: All Is Lost
At the end of Act Two, your character will be standing on the precipice between what was, and what’s to come. There’s no way back. But your character can’t see the future yet.
This could be a crisis, a loss, or a death, literal or figurative.
It’s where your protagonist is utterly alone with him or herself. It could be a black moment or the dark night of the soul. It could be a moment of despair. But it can also be a positive thing. Even that should have some uncertainty attached to it.
It’s that place where your character’s past is no longer, but the future is also unknown. He can’t yet see the possibilities for the future.
[23:19] Threshold 4: The Climax
This is where your character goes head to head with whatever antagonistic forces are at play. It’s your protagonist’s last hurrah.
It’ll result in triumph of some sort. And move quickly to resolution at the end.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Episode 185: Your Opening Scenes: What To Reveal, What to Withhold
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Rate, Review, and Follow on Apple Podcasts.
“I love Writer Unleashed!” If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps me support more writers — just like you —to bring the story burning in their imagination onto the page. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. It’s chock full of writing tips and inspiration every Tuesday. Follow now!