How To Write A Great Midpoint

In Classic Novel Structure, the Midpoint is the critical pivot that shapes the trajectory of the story as it moves out of its first half and into its second. Positioned around 50% of the way through the novel, it is the event or realization that tips the narrative towards its eventual, logical outcome. The Midpoint isn’t merely a halfway–point marker, though. It is a dynamic turning point that recalibrates the direction of the book. We are not yet on the road home, but at the Midpoint, we tilt towards your novel’s end.

The Midpoint works by shifting the protagonist from a reactive stance—responding to challenges—to a proactive role – seeking to resolve those challenges or possibly going in a new direction. They are not always successful in doing so.

I once wrote a novel in which a cynical politician attempted to find a new lover for the King in order to have control over the monarch. Having found them, all was appearing to go well. But the two then fell in love instead, undermining the original mission. This happened at the Midpoint and fundamentally changed the direction of the book.

NOTE: The original Quest was still in place, that is, to seek a way to control the King, but now it was dangerously complicated.

So, we know that the reader is not always expecting the Midpoint. Sometimes Midpoints can be very subtle, and later, if you asked the reader, ‘What was the Midpoint in that novel?’ they might not know the answer. But you should know the answer.

Therefore, the Midpoint needn’t be very dramatic. It can include a factual revelation or personal insight that alters the protagonist’s perspective of the world, the Quest or their own wants and desires. There can be an advantage in a subtle Midpoint, in that the reader might hardly notice the tilt to the end, but it has happened, and later, they can reflect on the subtlety of such writing.

But the Midpoint certainly can be a big moment. It can absolutely be that world–altering event. This can have a propulsive, energizing effect on the narrative and thus on the reader. An action, possibly a violent or perilous one, injects a surge of tension into the narrative, escalating conflicts and setting off events leading up to the Climax. It can be an incredible, unforeseen twist, as, we will see shortly, in Gone Girl. Either direction is totally fine. Choose what works best for you, your novel and its genre.

Regardless, stakes should be raised. Whether through increased personal risks, emotional stakes, relationship changes, or external threats, the Midpoint intensifies the urgency of the Quest.

Just as the Inciting Incident began to bring the true purpose of the narrative to light, the Midpoint sees the story reach maturity and begin to seek a conclusion. All stories must seek their conclusion. This process begins halfway through the novel at the Midpoint.

There is one more thing to add. In many novels, the Midpoint will usher in the Golden Time, which we will discuss in depth shortly. If your Midpoint is followed by the Golden Time, then you will likely want a positive–feeling here, or at least one which has positive repercussions or possibilities.

How To Develop Your Midpoint

– Use the Midpoint to catalyze personal changes in the protagonist. This could be a moral or romantic awakening, a shift in allegiance either because they change or are betrayed, etc.

– Introduce a pivotal revelation or plot twist that reframes the protagonist’s understanding of the central conflict. They were one person before the reveal at the Midpoint and then another afterwards. They will remain ‘this person’ until the end of Act Two, but now they are beginning to understand that the situation must change further, and begin to sense that they must too.

– Bring together previously disparate plot threads or characters in a way that grows narrative tension and throws light on the deeper meanings and mysteries within the narrative. Two major characters could meet at the Midpoint, in a sudden reveal or twist, although without major conflict.

– Connected to these points, present fresh obstacles or challenges that force the protagonist to adapt. The Midpoint can be the moment when the protagonist visits their home planet and finds their parents’ home a smoking ruin, thus making their life as a warrior more serious and personal. The Fun And Games of early Act Two, learning to fly space ships, etc., turns much more serious as a result.

This is an excerpt from How To Write A Novel Chapter By Chapter available here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Novel-Chapter-Outlining-ebook/dp/B0DJ8TMVWL?ref_=ast_author_mpb

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