FSN - Day 18 - First Plot Point/Point of No Return

[ladyseishou]

Day 18 - 13 days until the start of NNWM




This week we’re going to fashion a kind of very loose framework for our story Nano Writer - a guide that will lead our protagonist from the beginning built around our character’s background we worked on last week through to the ending we envisioned yesterday, all while pursuing his or her heart’s desire.

Got all that? Well, don’t worry. We’ll work on putting all the pieces together at the end of the week. For today, we’re going to spend fifteen minutes and make a list of things or events that will convince our hero of the necessity of leaving behind the comfort and safety of “home” to begin “the quest.” What will it take to persuade your character? True love? Gold? Survival?

Questions? Comments? Motivation? You’ve got the moves, Nano Writer! Let’s hear what you got! Keep writing!

Comments

[serpentrose]

I'm thinking two things will spur my MC to action, both of them other people. First he's now of an age where he will be expected to take on more responsibilities, only he's not very good at what's expected of him. As a result he is going to be confronted by his older sister.

Second, and less interestingly, he's going to meet and fall in love with someone.

Thinking on this I realize that my MC is very passive, which is one of the reasons he would make a very poor King. One of the major plotlines involves him, and his elder sister, working to change the Rules of Inheritance.

[ladyseishou]

Is it your MC's decision to act or is he forced to act? Passive MC's are tricky to write so that they don't alienate the reader. It may be that your MC is afraid? Be sure to bring that to light early. Or if he's just uninterested - find something that he does care about and tie that into the larger plot.

And as for love - as a motive it can move mountains.