Plan Your Story Using The Midpoint
There are many ways a writer can outline their story and prepare for drafting. You may favour the Save The Cat Story Beats or Three-Act Structure. Or you may be a pantser, in which case you prefer not to plan and instead follow the flow of the story.
If you’ve ever written a book that felt a little lacklustre, or you’re wondering how you can make it through the first draft without getting bored or wanting to give up, then perhaps consider planning your story from your midpoint.
What is the midpoint?
The midpoint of a book is exactly what it sounds — the middle point of the story.
Planning from the middle of your book may seem unorthodox; however, the midpoint is one of the most compelling and significant plot beats in a novel, as it acts as turning point for the plot or character development.
A strong midpoint will pivot the story and force the protagonist to commit to their goal as they prepare for the climax.
So how can the midpoint help you when planning and developing your story?
The midpoint can introduce a new goal…
The inciting incident (the event that kicks your story into motion) gives the protagonist an initial goal. This is what drives them for the first half of the story.
The midpoint is your opportunity to challenge this initial goal by introducing new information, characters, or obstacles that develop a new goal.
This new goal will guide them throughout the second half of the book towards the climax and their (potential) completion of their goal.
The midpoint can pivot characterisation…
Your protagonist's character arc will be shaped by their experiences throughout the book. Often, where their arc ends will be different to where it started — for better or worse.
An impactful midpoint may see a crucial development in a character's arc.
This may be them gaining a much-needed knowledge or truth; them overcoming a fear or misbelief; them performing a significant action to display their growth. Whatever the case, the midpoint is a great opportunity to deepen character growth.
Things to consider when planning…
When outlining (or drafting or revising), there are a few questions you can ask yourself to determine the impact of the midpoint.
By understanding how your plot and characters develop pre and post midpoint, you can understand how impactful your midpoint should be.
Pre-midpoint questions to ask:
Beginning to midpoint:
What does the protagonist believe about themselves and the world around them?
What does the protagonist want?
What is the initial goal after the inciting incident?
What is the story building towards? (What's the main focus in the first half of the book?)
What must the protagonist learn about themselves and the world around them?
Who or what opposes the protagonist in the first half?
Post-midpoint questions to ask:
Midpoint to ending:
What has the protagonist discovered or encountered that challenges their fears and beliefs?
Is a secondary goal required to focus the second half of the story? (ie: will the protagonist’s goal change as a result of what they learn/encounter at the midpoint, or is their initial goal from the inciting incident the same?)
What will cause the protagonist to commit to their goal with renewed vigour? (ie: what do they learn or encounter that makes achieving their goal even more important or vital?)
Who or what opposes the protagonist in the second half of the book? (note: your climax takes place in the second half of the story, so this will be your big conflict.)
Midpoint examples:
The Hobbit, novel by J. R. R. Tolkien
Bilbo encounters Gollum and steals the Ring. With its ability to turn the wearer invisible, Bilbo is suddenly a valuable member of the group.
Mulan, Disney movie
Mulan proves herself to the soldiers by climbing to the top of the post and retrieving the arrow — a feat none of the other soldiers managed.
Deciding on a midpoint…
Your midpoint may act like a secondary inciting incident to force the protagonist to take action. Your midpoint may feature an arrival at a significant location, the introduction of an important character, the reveal of vital plot-related information, the obtainment of a necessary object, or a development in the character’s arc.
Consider how the plot and character must develop in the second half of the book and what may be the trigger for this. It’s likely that trigger could be your midpoint.
If you’re struggling to plan and plot your story, my 16-Week Planning & Drafting Coaching is specifically designed to help make the planning process easier so you can stay motivated and write with confidence.
