Welcome back to Story Structure. We’re still using the story we’re creating with Oliver and Sophia, and we’ve come to Plot Point #2. Plot Point #2 comes after the dark moment (that I talked about last time) and just before the climax. Plot Point #2, according to Larry Brooks, is defined as “the final injection of new information into the story, after which no new expository information may enter the story, and which puts a final piece of narrative information in play that gives the hero everything she or he needs to become the primary catalyst in the story’s conclusion.”
Whew! Did you get that? What a great definition of Plot Point #2. We’re finally at the end of Act 2, and we’re ready to move into Act 3 with a major twist or turn that sends us careening to the end with this new information.
So, where are we now in our story with Oliver and Sophia? To catch you up, Oliver’s house has burned to the ground, taking crucial evidence with it. Sophia has learned her parents are hiding something and want her to leave the investigation into the dead girl–and Sophia’s missing sister–alone.
Sophia now has to make a decision whether to do that or keep hunting for her sister and figure out what the big secret is. Well, of course she’s not going to quit; but she can think about it. Then in true heroine fashion, go all in to figure out the truth. She confronts her parents one more time, and her father has a massive heart attack. They rush him to the hospital with her mother quiet, tense, and pale. In the hospital, waiting to hear whether her father will live or die, she tells Sophia,
“I can’t do this anymore. All my life I’ve been afraid, looking over my shoulder, waiting for someone to come take you away.”
Sophia blinked. “What?” Take her away?
Her mother pressed shaking hands to her eyes and gulped air in huge gasps. “Mom? What are you talking about?”
“We adopted you,” she finally whispered.
For a moment, while the words registered, Sophia couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe. “I’m sorry, what?” It seemed she couldn’t find another response.
“You’re adopted, and we didn’t go through legal channels to get you.”
Um … what??? Plot Point #2. Heroine finds out new information. Her father has a heart attack and may not live. But what does this have to do with her sister? And why did her parents do that? Why not go through legal channels to adopt her? What in the world is going on?
Find out as we wrap up this series on story structure.
Your turn: Take a look at your story. Do you have a Plot Point #2? If not, brainstorm one and see how that changes the trajectory of your story.
Until next time.
Only the Rich Get Published (?)
It’s the last plot point of my story,
the place where preconceptions shatter,
and on this night I’ve learned the glory
of finding that it doesn’t matter,
none of that which led me here,
no painful loss, no well-earned win.
It’s time to pop another beer
and face what’s coming with a grin,
even though it won’t be pretty,
even though it’s gonna hurt,
I don’t need another’s pity,
and I shall remove my shirt.
Like Latimer, I’ll play the man,
and in the flames work on my tan.
I understand the importance of continually moving a plot forward but I’m not sure I agree that the system is the only one that works (especially no further development/characters). If a story covers a long time span doesn’t that sorta naturally include more “Plot B’s”?
Hi Gordon, thank you for your response. And the answer is, “Of course.” As I explained when I first started this series, this is how *I* get the bare bones of the story–the main storyline fleshed out. I’m not advocating that there is only one system for an author to use. I tried to emphasize that this was MY process and that once I’m finished with the structure basics, then I go back in and layer in the subplots. I plan to do a whole series on subplots once I’m finished with story structure. Hope that helps.
Ooh, nice plot twist! Really enjoying this helpful series. I’ve been using it to improve the plot of my latest project. Thank you!
I’ve so enjoyed this series of blogs. And even though I don’t always have time to read them the moment they come out, I still track down what I miss and read them. Thank you!