![]() The important thing to remember is that the reader must feel it. The simpler and more direct the pinch point the better. In a romance novel, the First Pinch Point could be the hero’s husband being seduced by another woman (acting as the antagonist). Or a kidnapper playing recorded screams over the phone for the hero. In thrillers, the scene could involve a murderer stalking his next victim. They need to experience it, either through the hero’s eyes or through the antagonist. With the First Pinch Point, readers need to see the antagonist and not merely hear it referenced or discussed. Since the First Plot Point comes in at 20%-25% into the book and the Midpoint arrives at 50%, then the First Pinch Point would be at the 3/8th mark or about 37.5%. The First Pinch Point comes midway between the First Plot Point and the Midpoint. They also set up the emotional change within the hero as they react to the new situation. Pinch Points show how high the stakes are. The quest cannot exist without an opponent, and the Pinch Points show the reader what that opposition is all about. But without well-placed Pinch Points, the story will lose its sense of rising action, conflict, and tension. Top Tip: Find out more about our workbooks and online courses in our shop.New writers often concentrate on the Hook, Midpoint, and the big twist at the end. Sources: The Basics of Fiction, Writers Write and Lajos Egri Once you have a theme for your book, use it to check if every scene fits in your novel.Īsk yourself: Does this scene build your story’s theme? A woman who meddles in other people’s marriages leads to her realising that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.Embezzling money from your company and getting caught leads to you understanding honesty is the best policy. ![]() Your wife committing adultery leads to you finding out you never really know anyone.Lajos Egri gives this simple formula to develop a theme: _ leads to _ Example : People with nothing to lose are dangerous. What is the lesson? This is a statement about the human condition. Example: My story says that when the system fails a person who has lost everything, he will find out how far he is prepared to go.ģ. What is the meaning behind the story? This is usually an abstract result of his actions. Example: My story is about a man who hunts down the men who were acquitted after they killed his family.Ģ. What is the story about? This is the plot of the story. 3 Steps To Help You Find Your Story’s ThemeĪsk these three questions to find your theme.ġ. Once you understand the meaning, you will find the theme. If you understand your plot, the parts your characters, especially the protagonist and the antagonist, play in the story, and the effects this plot will have on your characters’ lives, you will find the meaning of your story. What does not kill you makes you stranger.You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.People with nothing to lose are dangerous.The past is a foreign country – they do things differently there.Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.It sums up what the story shows us about the human condition. ![]()
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