Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development

by K.M. Weiland

Questions to Ask About the First Plot Point in Your Character’s Arc 1. What major event will slam into your character’s Normal World and force him to alter his original plans? 2. What decision will lead your protagonist to the First Plot Point? 3. Will the First Plot Point seem favorable? If so, how will the complications turn out to be worse than the protagonist expected? 4. Or will this event be obviously disastrous? How? 5. Will the protagonist willingly embrace the First Plot Point and walk into the Second Act under his own power? 6. Or will he have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, through the gateway between acts? 7. Will the First Plot Point destroy the Normal World? Or will it physically remove your character from the Normal World? Or will it warp the Normal World around the protagonist? 8. How will your character react to the First Plot Point? 9. What new plot goal will the character form in response to the First Plot Point? 10. How will the First Plot Point put your character’s feet on the path to his new Truth? 11. How will the First Plot Point create a new world in which the character will be “punished” for acting according to his Lie? The First Act is about setting up your character’s Lie. From the First Plot Point on, that Lie’s days are numbered. From here on out, the Second Act is about destroying the Lie and helping the character find the Truth that will allow him to combat the external conflict and grow into a whole person. Pla...