Your Next Draft Where the Turning Point Goes (And How to Know If Yours Is in the Right Place)
If you’re second-guessing your pacing, give your turning point this two-part check.
Where the heck is the turning point?
If you’ve ever tried to spot the turning point in a story you love, you’ve probably asked some version of this question.
I always feel like I’m playing that old children’s video game: Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
(In my imagination, the turning point is captured in shadowy profile, wearing a red hat with a wide brim.) (this is also called, tell me you’re a 90s baby without telling me you’re a 90s baby.)
Anyway. When you’re analyzing someone else’s story, it feels like a hunt for something you just can’t spot.
When you’re analyzing your own story, it feels like second-guessing your pacing.
Did you put the turning point in the right spot? Is it happening too early? Too late? Will the reader get bored waiting for it to happen? Or have you rushed something critical?
If any of those questions sound familiar, you won’t want to miss this episode.
It’s all about where in the story the turning point is located—and yes, this question is complicated enough to require an entire episode to unpack.
You’ll hear:
- 2 guiding principles I use for the location of every turning point
- Where the turning point is located in a novel, novella, and scene—and why those can be different places
- What happens when you move the turning point earlier or later
- Whether the turning point and the midpoint are ever the same point
- And more!
You know what the turning point is—the moment that makes it clear the protagonist cannot achieve their goal in the way they wanted to.
You know what it does—it forces the protagonist into a crisis choice.
And now, you’ll know where to look for it—and where to put it in your own stories.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »