Your Next Draft

Turning Point: How to Find and Write the Moment That Changes Everything


Listen Later

It's the hinge your entire story turns on—and one of the hardest story elements to identify and write.

Can I be honest? I struggled with turning points for years.

I knew they were essential. They’re the moment when everything changes. The moment that forces the character to face a crisis choice. The moment that reveals what the story is really, at its heart, about.

And yet . . . I couldn’t see them.

I found so many things that weren’t the turning point. I found inciting incidents, and midpoints, and climaxes.

The turning point, though? It eluded me.

Until I learned a simple framework that finally, finally unlocked them for me.

That framework:

  • Reveals why the turning point matters so dang much within the story
  • Ties the turning point perfectly to the inciting incident, climax, and every other element of story
  • Is objective and straightforward, making it clear to measure (no more guessing at turning points based on gut feeling!)
  • Is wonderfully simple (it’s kind of incredible how simple it is, considering how tough turning points are to spot)

That framework marked my turning point in the way I edit turning points.

If you have ever struggled to figure out what the heck the turning point is in a story, well, you’re not alone.

I hope this framework gives you a breakthrough. It certainly did for me!

Further listening:

  • Inciting incident (qualities & traps)
  • Progressive complications (qualities)
  • Progressive complications (traps)
  • Protagonist’s goal
  • Content genres

Send me a Text Message!

Support the show

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Your Next DraftBy Alice Sudlow

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

57 ratings


More shows like Your Next Draft

View all
What Should I Read Next? by Anne Bogel

What Should I Read Next?

5,148 Listeners

Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

Writing Excuses

1,286 Listeners

Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

Helping Writers Become Authors

1,002 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

626 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

215 Listeners

Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

Writer's Routine

313 Listeners

Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings by Oprah and Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle: Essential Teachings

3,804 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,460 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,198 Listeners

The Dialogue Doctor Podcast by Jeff Elkins

The Dialogue Doctor Podcast

18 Listeners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

779 Listeners

Book Talk, etc. by Tina @tbretc and Hannah @hanpickedbooks

Book Talk, etc.

633 Listeners

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

362 Listeners

Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

Writers on Writing

79 Listeners

Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel by Heather Davis, Writing Coach, Book Coach, and Developmental Editor

Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: How to Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Dystopian Novel

16 Listeners