Welcome to Day Twenty-Four of Fiction University’s At-Home Workshop: Idea to Novel in 31 Days. For the rest of the month, we’ll focus on plot and the major turning points of a novel.
Today, we’re looking at the plot-driving moment that gets us to the middle of the book.
The Act Two Choice
The act two choice is a transitional moment, linking the beginning of the novel with the middle. The protagonist embraces whatever problem he’s confronted with, and accepts the opportunity it offers to resolve that problem.
How he decides to deal with that problem establishes how the plot is going to unfold until the next step on the plot path. The act two choice launches the goal for the middle of the novel and drives the plot forward.
Why the act two choice is important: This shows the protagonist isn’t just reacting to what’s happening, but being a proactive character and making the novel happen. It’s his choice to move forward. And that choice creates the goal for the book’s middle.
Key Elements of the Act Two Choice
- Shows the protagonist choosing to embrace the problem of the novel
- Creates a goal and direction for the plot to follow
- Has consequences for the choice not taken, or the choice made (or both)
- Leads to the midpoint reversal
The act two choice frequently launches the protagonist’s character arc as well, because his flaw will be his weakness during the middle of the novel. He’ll struggle and fail, not seeing what he needs to do to become the person he wants to be.
Here are some things to consider to develop your act two choice:
1. What opportunity is offered at the end of act one?
2. Who is involved in this opportunity?
3. What are the choices offered?
4. How do these choices lead to the core conflict?
5. What consequences are there for making a choice?
6. How will this lead to the midpoint reversal?
7. What possible subplots might result from these choices?
8. What about the protagonist’s old world is he leaving behind?
9. What new opportunities or discoveries will the protagonist make going forward?
EXERCISE: Describe what your protagonist decides to do and how this sets him on the plot path to the midpoint.
Be as detailed or as vague as you’d like. Consider how this scene might lead to the next turning point of the novel. Add notes as you see fit.
If you’re not sure how much to write, aim for one to two paragraphs that describe what the choice is, why it’s important, how it changes things for the protagonist, how the stakes escalate, and where the protagonist will go from here. Writing more is also acceptable if you want to continue with how the plot would unfold to the next major turning point.
Those following along with the PYN book: Workshop Ten goes into more depth on the individual turning points of story structure, as well and the basics of scene and sequel structure. It also shares tips on plotting and story development.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at one of my favorite turning points, the midpoint reversal.
Follow along at home with the book, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure. Get
more brainstorming questions and things to think about,
in-depth articles, and clear examples of every step from idea to
novel. Paperback: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Google Books | Books-A-Million | Chapters/!ndio
Ebook: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Overdrive | Kobo | Inktera | Chapters/!ndio
Go step-by-step through plotting and writing a novel. Learn how to find and develop ideas, brainstorm stories from that first spark of inspiration, develop the right characters, setting, plots and subplots, as well as teach you how to identify where your novel fits in the market, and if your idea has what it takes to be a series.
With clear and easy-to-understand examples, Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure offers ten self-guided workshops with more than 100 different exercises to help you craft a solid novel. Learn how to:
- Create compelling characters readers will love
- Choose the right point of view for your story
- Determine the conflicts that will drive your plot (and hook readers!)
- Find the best writing process for your writing style
- Create a solid plot from the spark of your idea
- Craft your one-sentence pitch
- Create your summary hook blurb
- Develop a solid working synopsis And so much more!
Available in paperback and ebook formats.
Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. The Shifter, was chosen for the 2014 list of "Ten Books All Young Georgians Should Read" from the Georgia Center for the Book. She also writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series for adults under the name, J.T. Hardy.
When she's not writing novels, she's teaching other writers how to improve their craft. She's the founder of Fiction University and has written multiple books on writing.
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