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Q&A From reactive to proactive; When should the protagonist change tack?

In my exploration of story structure, I have encountered some conflicting advice. In some instances, it has been suggested that the midpoint of a story represents the moment that the protagonist s...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Arkenstein XII‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2020-01-13T03:25:57Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/46655
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T12:27:41Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/46655
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T12:27:41Z (almost 5 years ago)
In my exploration of story structure, I have encountered some conflicting advice.

In some instances, it has been suggested that the midpoint of a story represents the moment that the protagonist shifts from being a reactive character, simply reacting to whatever the story throws at them, to being a proactive one, choosing their own course from here on out.

However, I have also seen it suggested that the midpoint is simply the event that precipitates choice, a choice that the protagonist doesn't actually embrace until they've faced the crisis that follows, their 'darkest hour'.

In the story that I'm working on, I have been treating the midpoint as more the later, where a catastrophe strikes and the protagonist is left in a dire place that seems insurmountable. The second half of act 2 being the tale of how he faces his situation and decides he isn't going to take it lying down.

Does this approach make sense? Or should the protagonist really be making his decision at the midpoint as some suggest?

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-07-15T21:13:47Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 4