Have you ever read a story and felt so good when the climax arrives and the protagonists overcome the antagonist? The MC gets the payoff it deserves? Well, that is probably because you passed through a part in the story you maybe didn’t notice that much.
Usually, when you submerge in a story you go through all the obstacles and hurdles of the main character’s arc. You see the MC battling with its own conflicts, the antagonist, in the quest to overcome the main conflict. But before the main battle, before the climax, there is one place where the MC sits for a small period of time and it is where the MC questions its motives. That place is called the breaking point.
In an article in 2014 on the website, helpingwritersbecomeauthors wrote: The single most important moment in your story is your character’s breaking point. Every protagonist has one, no matter whether he’s following a change arc (positive or negative) or a flat arc. And every protagonist will define both himself and his story by how he reacts to it.
So why is that? Why is it the breaking point mentioned as the most important moment in the story for the MC? Well because it puts things in perspective. It shows you what is at stake when your character is at one of the most vulnerable states in the story.
Maybe your MC learned a new move. Discovered a new power. Recovered the magical sword that can defeat the godly-like creature. Then the MC thinks it has everything figured out to go forward, then the MC is shown not only it doesn’t, but it is kicked while on the floor and taught that the MC doesn’t belong even in the same realm as the antagonist. Because of this the MC questions its motive and asks if its even worth going on forward. Because of this, there’s a clear view of the risks the MC is taking. Is it fighting for his life? For the honor of a society? The safety of the world?
So what can you do with the breaking point? For most writers, these next words will make them salivate. Remember you are doing this to set up the climax and making for a more satisfying payoff.
1 – Throw the MC to the floor, and kick it while recovering.
2 – Torture the MC.
3 – Disband the group or the MC’s allies.
4 – Take the MC’s super powers, powers or any other thing that could give an advantage over the antagonist.
5 – Kill off the mentor, the teacher or a person of great sentimental value to the MC.
6 – Make the MC’s love interest find something embarrassing, the antagonist leaves with the love interest.
7 – Maybe all the money the MC reunited for something big was stolen.
There are lots of ways on how you can damage your MC’s psyche. But remember you need your MC to barely come out of this, just enough to get back to its feet and get over the hump and finish up the antagonist and pass the finish goal. That way you will have audiences cheering on the MC all the way to the end.
Reign of Darkness can be found at the moment in Amazon, on ebook and softcover. If you haven’t had your chance, don’t wait for too much and get aboard on this new vampire world. Be sure to follow me on social media as well. ER Landron is on YouTube, doing writing tips in Spanish. Be sure to check that out. This is what I have for now, until the next time, take care guys and keep writing mis amigos.