As you write your novel, understanding key turning points in your story strengthens your ability to captivate your readers.

In movies – similar to novels – the story has six basic stages which are characterized by 5 key turning points in your plot.

The good news, is that these turning points tend to happen at the same position in the story: at the 10% mark; the 25% mark; the 50% mark; the 75% mark and the 90% mark. 

Listed below are 5 key turning points of great novels. I hope this list helps you as you write your story…

6 Stages of Your Novel and their 5 KEY Turning Points…

Plot structure is the sequence of events that lead the hero in pursuit of their ultimate goal.

Your protagonists will come up against seemingly impossible obstacles that they have to confront along the way.

The good news is that all great stories follow the same basic structure. I’ve listed the six stages and five turning points below. Hopefully it helps as you write your novel.

 

STAGE 1: The Setup:

The beginning 10% of your story must draw your reader into the ordinary everyday life of your hero or heroine.

In this first part of your novel, it’s important to create identification and trust with your hero or heroine so that readers see them likeable, sympathetic, funny, threatened or powerful.

Turning Point #1: Your hero or heroine is given an opportunity (10% mark)

Near the 10% mark in your novel, your hero needs to be given an opportunity, which will create a new visible desire. This new desire, starts the character on her journey.

 

STAGE 2: New Situation

For the next 15% of your story, the hero will react to the new situation that was a result of the new opportunity. She gets used to the new surroundings, tries to figure out what’s going on, or makes a specific plan to reach her overall goal.

At this point, often the story structure will follow geography, as the new opportunity takes your hero to a new location. Example: Katniss has volunteered to take her sisters place in the Hunger Games. So now both her and Peeta are sent by train to the Capitol.

In many novels, the hero will begin this new opportunity willingly, even feeling excitement or at the very least believing that the new problem she faces is solvable. However, as the conflict increases, she starts to become aware the she’s up against bigger obstacles than she realized.

Turning Point #2: The Plans Change (25%)

Something must happen to your hero one-fourth of the way through your novel that will transform the original desire into a specific goal that they can see has a clearly defined end point. This is the scene where your story concept becomes clearer and your hero’s outer motivation is exposed.

The outer motivation of your main character is the visible finished that your readers are hoping your hero will reach by the end of the story.  Example: The outer motivation of Katniss is that she will win the Hunger Games… readers hope she will win(aka: make it out alive) and be able to return home to her sister and mom.

It can be easy to confuse outer motivation with the inner journey your hero takes. Since what we respond to emotionally grows out of the hero’s wounds, fears, courage, growth and longings, as writers we often focus on these elements as we develop our stories. These unseen character pieces can emerge completely only if they can grow out of the character’s simple, visible desire.

 

STAGE 3: Advancement

In the next 24% of your story, your hero advances. The plans she made and the action she takes to achieve her goal, seem to be working as she makes progress towards them.

During this stage there is conflict, but your hero is able to overcome the obstacles she faces.

Example: Katniss is at the Capitol training for the games. As she is in training, she catches the eye of a few sponsors and she also proves that she has what it takes to win.

Turning Point #3: The Point of No Return (50%)

At the midpoint of your novel, your hero must fully commit to her goal. Up to this point, she had the option of turning back and giving up on her plan. She had the option of returning to the life she was living at the beginning. Now your hero must jump in with both feet.

For instance in the Truman Show, this is the point where Truman crosses the bridge. Or for example: Katniss is brought to the place where all twelve contenders for the Hunger Games will start the battle for their lives.

At this point, the hero is taking a much bigger risk than at any previous time in the story. And as they pass this point of no return they must now face more obstacles and higher stakes.

 

STAGE 4: More Obstacles and Higher Stakes

For the next 25% of your story, your hero has more trouble trying to achieve her visible goal. At this point in the story your hero has far more to lose, if she fails.

Example: In the Hunger Games, Katniss is now trying to figure out how to avoid not killing anyone(at least at the beginning that’s her goal) and win. She faces fire, robotic wasp bites and all sorts of horrible things trying to stay alive.

At this point in the story, the conflict and obstacles continue to build and for your hero it seems like success is within her grasp, when suddenly there’s a major setback.

Turning Point #4: The Major Setback (75%)

For about 90% of your novel, something must happen to your hero that makes it seem to the reader that all is lost. For example in the movie What Women Want, this is the point where the hero’s deception is revealed and the lovers breakup.

Example: Katniss finds Peeta and he’s dying. She hides with him in a cave. When he sleeps, she runs to the place where there is water and medicine… risking her life to bring it back to Peeta. Later a sponsor sends a healing salve which she puts on Peeta’s wounds.

These huge obstacles leave your hero with only one option: she must make one last, do or die effort to win.

 

STAGE 5: The Hero’s Final Push to Win

Now that your hero has faced major setback, she feels beaten and battered. But she now must risk everything and give all the courage and strength she has inside of her to reach her ultimate goal.

Example: Katniss and Peeta face their enemy at the place where the hunger games started. Peeta’s life is on the line as their enemy holds a knife to Peeta’s throat.

During this stage of your story, the obstacles are overwhelming, the story’s pace has accelerated and everything seems to be working against your hero until she reaches the climax.

Turning Point #5: The Climax (90-99%)

There are a few things that need to happen at the climax of the story. Your hero must face the biggest battle/obstacle of the entire story; she must determine what happens to her own life; and the outer desire/goal must be resolved once and for all.

Example: This is the point where Katniss finds their enemy holding a knife to Peeta’s throat and she raises her bow and arrow(to do the one thing she didn’t want to do) and shoots the enemy. She didn’t shoot to kill, only to wound, but he falls… only to be attacked by wild animals. However it doesn’t end there. Next the Announcer says there can only be one winner and Katniss pulls out the poisonous berries. Her intention is to thwart the plans of the Capitol and that her and Peeta will die together. Suddenly, in the last few seconds before they eat the berries, the Announcers stops them and says there’s been a change to the rules and there can now be two winners.

The climax of the story is usually between the last 90 – 99% of the story. Depends on how much time you need to write the aftermath.

 

STAGE 6: The Aftermath

This is the point in the story where the hero’s objective is resolved. In your story, this is the point where you reveal the new life your hero is now living now that she has overcome the obstacles and finished her journey.

In the Truman Show, the writer’s choose to leave the audience shocked or elated at the ending. In this movie, the climax happens at the very end of the movie. But, in most romances, mysteries, the aftermath will happen around the last 5 or 10 pages of your novel.

Example: Katniss and Peeta take the train back to District 12 as winners of the Hunger Games.

 

I’ve found that by understanding and using these stages and turning points as I develop my novel, it has given me an incredible tool to brainstorm and develop my novel.

This gives me an outline for where I can ask questions like: Do I have my story idea figured out at the 25% mark? Is my hero’s goal visible and not just an inner desire for success or self-worth? Have I introduced my hero fully in the beginning before giving her a new opportunity at the 10% mark in the story? What is her major setback at the 75% mark in the story?

This story structure is really helpful as a guideline to follow. However, try not to make it into a rigid formula… because that can block your creativity.

The most important thing is that you come up with characters and a story you love that puts a match to your passion! Once you are passionate about your story, then apply these stages and turning points to your idea.

Now go write your story with passion:)

 

How do you develop story structure for your novel? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!