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

by K.M. Weiland

Your First Plot Point needs to be preceded by a strong decision on your character’s part

This decision leads the character to the First Plot Point, but the decision itself isn’t the plot point.

The First Plot Point is then something that happens to your character to upend his plans

The most important thing about the First Plot Point is your character’s reaction to it.

The First Plot Point sets up the series of reactions that will occupy your character for the next quarter of the book, up until the Midpoint.

He doesn’t turn away from the First Plot Point—he moves into it.

Your character will have two basic responses to the First Plot Point. Either he’ll be, “Heck, yeah!”—and charge right on through that door, with no clear idea what he’s really getting himself into. Or he’ll be kicking and screaming as events beyond his control drag him through.

what’s important is that the character quickly establishes a clear physical goal—based on the Thing He Wants.

Physically, he’ll have immediate needs that must be met, either in an effort to restore the old “normal” and/or in an effort to find a new normal

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.