If the first and second acts were engaging and aesthetic labyrinths, the third act is where X marks the spot.

The second half of the second act is where your plot really starts popping.

This centerpiece is your second major plot point, the midpoint, which divides your second act.

If we pay attention to solid story structure, we find that the middle of the story has a checklist all its own.

The first quarter of your story hinges upon two important and irreversible moments: the inciting event and the key event.

The first plot point is the moment when the setup ends, and your character crosses his personal Rubicon.

The first quarter of the book (the first act) is the place to compile all the necessary components of your story.

Readers aren’t about to surrender themselves to the lure of your story unless you’ve presented them with an irresistible hook.

Over the next few months, we’ll be exploring the mysteries, the fallacies, and the opportunities of structure.