Comments on: Story Structure Series: #4 – The Most Important Moment in Your Story: The First Plot Point http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point Novel Writing, Screenwriting and Storytelling Tips & Fundamentals Sun, 20 May 2012 23:50:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adam http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-67869 Adam Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:27:20 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-67869 @Nora - I'd say that the decision to leave would be your FPP. If you reveal that choice to your reader, than the adventure has begun--your character has mentally already begun the journey, even if the first step is packing up to actually walk out the door. If your hook is the father's disappearance, then I think your FPP will be the moment you reveal the information that compels your character to decide to leave. Up until then, I'm guessing your character will be mourning the loss of her father. What one bit of information will make your character go from passive mourner to active investigator? @Nora – I’d say that the decision to leave would be your FPP. If you reveal that choice to your reader, than the adventure has begun–your character has mentally already begun the journey, even if the first step is packing up to actually walk out the door.

If your hook is the father’s disappearance, then I think your FPP will be the moment you reveal the information that compels your character to decide to leave. Up until then, I’m guessing your character will be mourning the loss of her father. What one bit of information will make your character go from passive mourner to active investigator?

]]> By: Martha http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-65885 Martha Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:57:19 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-65885 This is fabulous, Larry. Thanks for emphasizing it so clearly. I hope all your readers who want to study your structural model in more depth will consider coming to Portland, OR for the Oregon Writers Colony workshop you're presenting on November 29 and 30. They can learn more at www.oregonwriterscolony.org. This is fabulous, Larry. Thanks for emphasizing it so clearly. I hope all your readers who want to study your structural model in more depth will consider coming to Portland, OR for the Oregon Writers Colony workshop you’re presenting on November 29 and 30. They can learn more at http://www.oregonwriterscolony.org.

]]> By: Nora http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-40109 Nora Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:21:49 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-40109 I have what may seem like a silly question. I am plotting out a new novel, and I'm not clear on the exact nature of the FPP. At the most basic level, the hook is that this girl's father goes missing, and at some point she has to decide to set out on a journey to try and find out what exactly happened and bring him back. So is the FPP her decision to leave or her actually leaving?? I have what may seem like a silly question. I am plotting out a new novel, and I’m not clear on the exact nature of the FPP. At the most basic level, the hook is that this girl’s father goes missing, and at some point she has to decide to set out on a journey to try and find out what exactly happened and bring him back.

So is the FPP her decision to leave or her actually leaving??

]]> By: Larry http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-14125 Larry Sat, 25 Dec 2010 19:42:40 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-14125 @Marshall - sounds like you've got this concept cold. For many -- like me -- this was like a flash bulb going off in a very dark room. And I like your hammer analogy, too. Thanks for commenting, hope to hear more from you. L. @Marshall – sounds like you’ve got this concept cold. For many — like me — this was like a flash bulb going off in a very dark room. And I like your hammer analogy, too. Thanks for commenting, hope to hear more from you. L.

]]> By: M. A. Latimore http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-14110 M. A. Latimore Sat, 25 Dec 2010 10:14:13 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-14110 Larry, yet another ingenious post. I think now I'm officially obsessed with the first point plot. For the last two months, I've been editing a novel and had been trying to put into words what the author was missing. His first draft was a multi-hero story (which from reading another of your posts, won't work) that just had the characters just existing, just living, feeling their way through the plot. Without this essential catalyst, there was no motivation for them to move anywhere, let alone get there with a sense of urgency. Thanks. This hit the nail on the head - which is exactly what the FPP is. Every nail and hammer is just a nail and hammer until the hammer connects with the nail head and drives the nail into whatever surface. Larry, yet another ingenious post. I think now I’m officially obsessed with the first point plot. For the last two months, I’ve been editing a novel and had been trying to put into words what the author was missing.

His first draft was a multi-hero story (which from reading another of your posts, won’t work) that just had the characters just existing, just living, feeling their way through the plot. Without this essential catalyst, there was no motivation for them to move anywhere, let alone get there with a sense of urgency. Thanks.

This hit the nail on the head – which is exactly what the FPP is. Every nail and hammer is just a nail and hammer until the hammer connects with the nail head and drives the nail into whatever surface.

]]> By: Blueprint of a Novel: Act One « Resplendence http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-13298 Blueprint of a Novel: Act One « Resplendence Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:48:48 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-13298 [...] The Most Important Moment in Your Story: The First Plot Point [...] [...] The Most Important Moment in Your Story: The First Plot Point [...]

]]> By: eden http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-12538 eden Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:53:39 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-12538 I've been researching parts of stories/novels and when things should occur and what's needed to pull off a great novel people will actually read and love. Which is odd for me, because I've never done this before. I've finished one novel and I have four fulls out right now (I have to wait until January to hear anything ... gotta love it ;)) and, of course, I had an idea of what would happen in the story, but I really only had the ending solidified in my head. Everything else, I just let happen. I watched it happen in my head and I wrote what I saw. I had no clue what was supposed to happen when. The odd thing is, everything is matching up with what you (and other articles) are saying. I did the math -- my first plot point is right where it should be. Was I just lucky to have everything work out so well in the first novel? That's why I'm researching now. I'm trying an outline for the next novel I'm starting. I don't think I can pull off what I just did (well, it took a LONG time and a lot of revising, but never with story structure in mind -- only pacing and voice and things like that, really ... as far as revisions...) Anyway, I'm rambling now. Thanks for this -- I'm off to read some more! Too bad I'm scared to death now to write the second book. I feel like the first was a fluke to work out so well and to get the requests it has :/ Am I a one hit wonder? lol I’ve been researching parts of stories/novels and when things should occur and what’s needed to pull off a great novel people will actually read and love. Which is odd for me, because I’ve never done this before.
I’ve finished one novel and I have four fulls out right now (I have to wait until January to hear anything … gotta love it ;) ) and, of course, I had an idea of what would happen in the story, but I really only had the ending solidified in my head. Everything else, I just let happen. I watched it happen in my head and I wrote what I saw.
I had no clue what was supposed to happen when. The odd thing is, everything is matching up with what you (and other articles) are saying.
I did the math — my first plot point is right where it should be. Was I just lucky to have everything work out so well in the first novel?
That’s why I’m researching now. I’m trying an outline for the next novel I’m starting. I don’t think I can pull off what I just did (well, it took a LONG time and a lot of revising, but never with story structure in mind — only pacing and voice and things like that, really … as far as revisions…)
Anyway, I’m rambling now.
Thanks for this — I’m off to read some more!
Too bad I’m scared to death now to write the second book. I feel like the first was a fluke to work out so well and to get the requests it has :/
Am I a one hit wonder? lol

]]> By: NaNoWriMo: Day 1 | Ash Joie Lee http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-8438 NaNoWriMo: Day 1 | Ash Joie Lee Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:44:11 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-8438 [...] I did. I woke up saying to myself: Okay, unlike my other novel, I know the ending, I know the first plot point, so why don’t I spend today writing that scene? Oh. My. Gawd. Skipping forward? Yes, why not? I [...] [...] I did. I woke up saying to myself: Okay, unlike my other novel, I know the ending, I know the first plot point, so why don’t I spend today writing that scene? Oh. My. Gawd. Skipping forward? Yes, why not? I [...]

]]> By: JUDITH http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-7780 JUDITH Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:30:59 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-7780 This is simply wonderful indepth teaching. Thank you so much. I have been writing a novel for about 3 years. I actually got stuck in the middle, (after 37,000 words). I did not know what the problem was, now I can lay my hands on it and I believe I can proceed now. Thank you so much LARRY This is simply wonderful indepth teaching. Thank you so much. I have been writing a novel for about 3 years. I actually got stuck in the middle, (after 37,000 words). I did not know what the problem was, now I can lay my hands on it and I believe I can proceed now. Thank you so much LARRY

]]> By: A Little Help for NaNoWrMo Writers http://storyfix.com/story-structure-series-4-%e2%80%93-the-most-important-moment-in-your-story-the-first-plot-point/comment-page-1#comment-7536 A Little Help for NaNoWrMo Writers Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:13:18 +0000 http://storyfix.com/?p=647#comment-7536 [...] Read my story structure series, which unfolded in about 12 posts last fall.  There are many other posts on story architecture here, too, including one you need to read even if you skip the rest.  Read it HERE. [...] [...] Read my story structure series, which unfolded in about 12 posts last fall.  There are many other posts on story architecture here, too, including one you need to read even if you skip the rest.  Read it HERE. [...]

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