Mastering the Midpoint (Fiction Writing Advice)

Learn how to improve your stories and give them direction by including a strong Midpoint.

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[jeromelemoine]

In Alien, the mid-point is when captain Dallas is killed in the vent shaft, which has 2 consequences: Ripley, who was second in command up to then now becomes in charge; the protagonists' main goal shift from "kill the beast" to "survive", they're no longer hunters but preys.

[rsrt]

My favorite is "Wreck-It-Ralph"
At the midpoint shift Vanelopy is showing Ralph where she sleeps: "Alone, with all the garbage." as Ralph put it, and you can see in his face and tone of voice he's made a connection with the little girl. From here on out, he's not just trying to win the race to get his medal back, but he's going to help Vanelopy because he genuinely wants to do what's right. Something a REAL hero would do

[Michaelmuq]

You're a phenomenal teacher, God bless you.

[rome]

This is where I always get stuck in a story. If I can get past the midpoint, I know I can finish. In fact, often the story begins to write itself. That's because, if I've set up my characters and situations properly, everything becomes an inevitable consequence of what's happened so far.

[BBassistChrist]

The Fellowship of the Ring could be an excellent example of a midpoint. The Counsel of Elrond is when Frodo decides to take the ring. This is a point that sets up the rest of the adventure, but it is also the point where he has to let go of the innocent life he had lived and embrace the responsibility of the world. Both Jackson and Tolkien set this up well. With Tolkien showing Frodo procrastinating leaving the Shire, which reveals that he really doesn't want this responsibility. Jackson depicts this with Gandalf expressing that Frodo had to endure the ring too long already and it was too great a task to ask of him. In either case, Frodo accepting the task shows a development in his character that he doesn't want, but he becomes willing.

[rome]

My favorite movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I haven't watched it in a while, but I would say the midpoint is when Joel Barish realizes he doesn't want to erase Clementine from his memory after all.

One of the things I love about Eternal Sunshine is that despite its experimental nature, it hits most of the classic story beats perfectly.

[whosaidthat]

You pack in a lot of good advice in just under 7 minutes, much more useful than other YouTubers do in 20. As for you question, it's not my favorite but Iron Man is one of my favorite examples when it comes to the midpoint. When he suits up in the Mark III for the first time and wastes the soldiers still gives me goosebumps. It's typical hero's journey stuff but done so well.

[Casper]

You are clear, straight to the points I’m really thabksful to your teaching skills !! I’m Japanese but your video really help me develop my storytelling skills!! Thanks ❤

[sibusisoboemah]

Parasite Mid-Point is my favorite of all time.

[johnjim]

The "Wheel of Fortune" sequence in "LA Confidential" is one of the greatest midpoints I know. It is a classical faux climax with Ed Exley being rewarded for killing three black suspects and seemingly having solved the Night Owl Murders. And it is the moment when Bud White leaves the Victory motel without permission from Smith to find Lynn Bracken - which is the first time that he stops following simple orders, becomes a pro-active character and triggers everything that happens in the second half of the movie.

[kevinpeoples]

This is so encouraging. I’m pretty sure I have my midpoint nailed!

[KehindeAdeola-bw]

THANK YOU SO MUCH BRANDON. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOUR VIDEOS HELPED ME GROW AS A WRITER! I'm sorry i'm shouting lol! Please keep posting more. I'll also drive my friends to your channel!

[markmarkel]

New Writer, great video. But what I like and hate the most, is you’re giving me more ideas. I have to go back in and change whatever I’m doing.

[TimRG]

The midpoint is such an important piece of the story. I'm not a fan of the 3-Act Structure, the fact that all breakdowns of it split Act 2 into two halves at the midpoint enrages me. It talks about the midpoint, but never dives into more than, it's the midpoint. It should be its own act... Mini Act. I agree with a lot of what John Yorke says about the midpoint. I don't necessarily agree with the change part. James Scott Bell Write from the Middle says there should be a major character beat there, which will lead to the character's realization later. I think if you take both of those, points you got what the middle is about. Belle is right about the character moment but forgets about the plot. Whereas Yorke talks about both, but character change is too early for a change. It can work, I think it would determine the story you're telling.

[stephvandykeozzy]

I love it that you used The Godfather 1 and 2 for assistance. Those are great examples you used, and of course they're great movies. For sure, the midpoint is pretty important in the story telling. It's good when the story situation changes or some character development; or it can use both.

As I remember in a FanFiction I wrote, it was called Perils in Space which was about Duck Dodgers (Daffy Duck) gets kidnapped and his crew have to save him, Dodgers changes his attitude to his crew after they come to rescue him for the first time. I also remember this one book I wrote, Dark Graves, which was about a guy who gets kidnapped and used as a sex slave. In that book, the midpoint was about the main character escaping for the first time.

For my own midpoints, I use either the development or the story conflict changes. I'm glad you mentioned this advice since it worked out great for myself as well.

[stevensandersauthor]

Your videos are so concise yet so packed with great principles. Great job. One of my favorite movies is Deliverance. At the midpoint, the “attack” has happened. Ed decides they have to bury the dead mountain man and go after the other. It’s an under-appreciated film and novel that you should use in your videos.

[gamewriteeye]

The actual “50%” mark is really a faux climax. A point in the road where the character fails or progresses, but it isnt the actual final hurdle.

[iosyntropy]

i just watched top gun maverick and can say the midpoint shift was when the audience learns his motive for harming the career of Goose's son. its barely something that would be brought up when summarizing yhe story yet its a pivotal moment that connects the first and last act in a way that if we didnt learn it, the middle would not have had an emotional punctuation. it makes you care about maverick more than you did the first hour which was already alot, and right way pulls you deeper into the story, even though theyve done half of the cool stuff they are going to do. it was definitely a reaction scene too, as oppose to action. so basically its like all the action in the world can make the audience love what the character does, but its their emotions that really connect with us, and you cant over use that, so the middle is the perfect place to make a time for only emotional change rather than setting or action change. i assume a great midpoint idea would come when writing a boring chapter where all you can do is dig deep and try to find something emotional to use because theres no action to use

[ajdndbdjbdj]

Thanks man i can definitely have a use of this vid

[princeowiredu]

I love this channel. You've earned my subscription.