Are the First Plot Point and First Pinch Point the Same?
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2023
- helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com
www.kmweiland.com
Historical and speculative novelist K.M. Weiland offers tips and essays about the writing life to help other writers understand the ins and outs of the craft and the psychology behind the inspiration.
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This week's question is from @prathapchinuri9578:
"What is the difference between First Plot Point and the First Pinch Point?
Is it possible to write a First Plot Point and First Pinch Point only in a single beat?"
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My most popular articles on story structure: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
My books on story structure:
- Structuring Your Novel: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
- Structuring Your Novel Workbook: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
- 5 Secrets of Story Structure: www.kmweiland.com/get-your-fr...
Check out the Story Structure Database for hundreds of structural analyses of books and movies: www.helpingwritersbecomeautho...
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Thanks so much for the clarification! The difference between the two never fully made sense before I saw your video.
Thus far, best defintions I've found for these points.
Plotting, yeah that'd be nice. By the time I have enough of an idea of what's going on to even think about a plot outline, my characters pick me up by the shirt collar and shout, "Now here's the deal..." Then they take off like a cruise missile to the climax and have the whole thing wrapped up by page 10, leaving me sitting there sobbing into my hands, saying, "but it was supposed to be a novel!"
I so enjoy your insight. Thank you!
I have learned the three act structure a bit different : Are they the same?
Act 1. Setup: Exposition, Inciting Incident, Plot Point One
Act 2. Confrontation: Rising Action, Midpoint, Plot Point Two
Act 3. Resolution: Pre-Climax, Climax, Denouement
Love your explanation. Thank you.
Thank you for the reply, so kind of you
I've been remiss in my duty as a long time fan, in that until you asked, I've not ever left a comment. Thank you for excellent lessons. I'll treat myself to your latest book as a way to demonstrate support, and because it will help me on my writing journey. Win win.
I like it!
Great tidbits and wisdom as always. Thank you K.M. 😊
Next video suggestion - Could you do a video on the "Dramatic Question." It's the backbone of a story, yet it has never been discussed on this channel. You have wonderful insights into storytelling, and I would be interested in your perspective...and it's nice to see you again. We missed you!
Thank you KM. I once read somewhere that we should consider the tree plot points as the three meals breakfast lunch and dinner and the two pinch points as snacks between between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner.
I nice way to remember.
Love your new videos :) My question is about the Key Event ... and something I forgot lol... it's like "Key Event" in that it's extra (The normal ones being Hook, Plot Turn 1, Pinch 1, Midpoint, Pinch 2, Plot Turn 2, Resolution.) I have trouble with the definition of and way they interplay with the nearby plot-points.
Terrific video, Katie. I think plot is the hardest thing a writer has to do. David Mamet compares it to working with an unclean substance. Poor structure seems to be the number one reason agents give for passing on a manuscript. They might say the manuscript "needs work" but it relates back to structure. Most of us can write an interesting character or voice and describe things all day, but plot is tough, so I get a lot of value from these videos.
IMO, the best structure in a novel ever is _The Silence of the Lambs_ by Thomas Harris. The movie breaks it down faithfully.
I've been following you for many years now. I'm also a Star Trek fan. In watching and analyzing the most recent season of Star Trek Picard, it was fascinating to see how the season (which was essentially divided into three stories--4 episodes, 4 episodes, then 2 episodes---but also told one large story) adhered to the story-structure that you teach. It was also interesting to see how occasionally one plot-point would pull double duty, functioning one way within the smaller story, and another in the season-wide story. (For example, the Midpoint of the first story was also the First Plot Point of the season-at-large.)
Thank you for taking the time with very helpful information. Continued success!
What should actually happen at the midpoint? I know it means the story changes direction and it can be by learning some new information, but I don't really understand what actually has to happen in the story itself, and whether it means the character either loses something or wins something. I would appreciate you explaining this if you have chance. Thank you.
I've always enjoyed following a structure while writing and after reading a bunch of books on structure (including yours) I'm more likely to notice key plot points in the books I read. I'm told that literary fiction often abandons classic structure but I can't think of a novel I've read where the basic elements of structure don't exist. Can you point to a story that abandons classical structure and you still consider a good/great literary work?
Great stuff, K.M., as always. I follow you here, and your splendid podcast.
Graceful KM... always in love with you❤
Thanks. I'm currently working my way around helpingwritersbecomeauthors and I'm loving it. That smile at the beginning took my breath away. I should know by now but you get me every time. 😄
How do subplots fully play a role in stories, and how do we make it so that readers can tell it is a subplot.
Cool
Excellent
The sound of your ring, or whatever piece of jewellery it may be, hitting the table every time you gesture is very distracting.
You always have good advice. I appreciated hearing about the difference between plot point and pinch point.