The Second Change

Every story has a middle. If you are writing a story that is structured using a story arc, the middle is where the main part of the action happens. The middle is where your main character deals with the main story problem. In the very heart of the middle you arrive at the exact center of your story. This center point divides the first half of the middle from the second half of the middle. It also divides the entire story in half. Once again, by learning how to create a significant change at this center point, you can write a story that keeps the plot moving forward while engaging your readers in a powerful way.

At the center of the middle, the second change occurs that holds significance in your story’s plot. Using A Sick Day for Amos McGee as our example again, we see that in the center of the book, on page 13, there is a significant change. Amos McGee wakes up sick and decides to stay home from work.

This change effectively divides the first half of the middle from the second half of the middle. It also effectively divides the entire story in half. In the first half of the middle, we see Amos McGee at work at the zoo, giving special individualized attention to his friends, the animals at the zoo. Yes, there are many different scenes here. But each scene has a similar theme in that it shows Amos being kind and caring to each of the different animals. An important change occurs after these scenes, and it’s this change that is the second change in the plot.

This second change introduces the second half of the middle. In our example, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, the second half of the middle is all about how the zoo animals miss their friend so much (because he stayed home from work) that they all decide to leave the zoo and go visit him!