The Twist #writers
I proofread and edited to page 331 of a 530 page manuscript today.
According to Larry Brooks’ book Story Engineering, there needs to be a twist/context shift at the midpoint of a good story. My story is much more than a revenge story, but that is a major motivation of my main character – similar to Maximus in Gladiator.
Today I finished the section with the major twist. My hero’s goal has not changed but if he can’t modify his approach he will lose everything. But, now there is more purpose to his cause, a purpose he must bring into his motivation. He commits to a new way of getting it done and begins to take the path that will lead to the inevitable show down with the bad guys.
Related articles
- Dan Wells’ Seven Point Story Structure: The Hook (jrhallwriting.com)
- The First Plot Point (sonjahutchinson.wordpress.com)
I think you are on point. The mid-point should take your character from reactionary to action. Now he has a cause and he is going to do something about the problem he was dealt at the first plot point.
Good post and thanks for stopping by my blog.
Thanks for the comment. I’m so glad you did. Something you said revealed another aspect to me that was already there. I did not see it but I see it now. He has a cause, but there is one more tidbit of info that the reader/story could use that gives it more of a nudge at the midpoint. Thanks!