ACT 1
Hook
Introduction to Protagonist's Inner Conflict
Fisk/Dermy is convinced that he will never be forgiven for the crime he did, and so he thinks he will have to live in the wilderness. He fears what other people will think of him. His desire is to be able to return happy to his kingdom, forgiven. He want’s to be redeemed so he can life a life devoid of the mistakes that he made in the past. If he really wants to win his desire what he needs to do is go back to his city and repent for what he did and then go back to his normal life.
Dermy tells the story of his past and shows his lament for his past decisions, and his thoughts of uselessness, and that he should die.
Inciting Incident
Protagonist it Pushed Outside Comfort Zone
This is the event that really sets your story in motion. Your inciting incident doesn’t have to be some big, epic, crazy call-to-adventure. It just has to be something that pushes your protagonist outside their comfort zone. A conflict surfaces — something the protagonist has to face head-on. It’s really as simple as that. Don’t overcomplicate it, as many writers do. If you know why the inciting incident matters to the protagonist and you let them react to it as a normal person would (running for cover because of their fear!) CONGRATULATIONS. You nailed it.
The Lady of the Good News tells Dermy that he can change if he can destroy Crown of Death from the Tyrant of Tellewen. However, in order to obtain the Crown of Death he needs to face the trials of Temptation and Tests of Faith. At first he rejects her and leaves. However, he meets Murdo Boyne. He was an innocent man who was killed by the Dullahan seeking Dermy. He pushes him a an agreement. This pushes him out of his idea of simply doing nothing about the situation and dying a lie. Dermy runs from the Dullahan, and decides to begin his quest.
BUILD-UP
FACING THE CONSQUENCES
Protagonist is going to have to face this thing head on. The reader can now see what the protagonist’s internal struggle really is, and how this whole situation is going to be especially tricky for her to navigate.
Ask yourself: What internal conflict is going to arise for my protagonist in wake of the inciting incident?
The Quest for Death's Crown officially begins. Dermy's conviction is that he still believes his sins—lust, betrayal, violence—have condemned him beyond salvation and change. He sees that each warrior there is only there out of despiration, and he keeps thinking, What if this is all for nothing? They are ambushed by the Eadhor Turyth as they go on their journey
FIRST PLOT POINT
PROTAGONIST MAKES A DECISION WHICH DETERMINES WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Your protagonist is a conflicted person — torn between desire and fear. So when the inciting incident steps in and shoves them outside their comfort zone, their fear takes over and they respond all wrong, which sets up more obstacles for the rest of the book. Avoiding Pain.
Ask yourself: How is my protagonist going to react to the inciting incident, given their fear and misbelief about the world? What decision are they going to make now to avoid the most pain? (And get what they want while steering clear of the thing they’re afraid of?)
The more painful thing will get you what you want in the end
Dermy at first desires to regain his glory. Mainly pridefull motivation. Dermy is taken by Erdenni. He decides to do abandon his god for what seems like the easier option for glory. They learn from their mistake, and they continue on by sheer motivation, but they have still more to convince them.
FIRST PINCH POINT
OPPOSITION/ANTAGONISTIC FORCE LOOMS IN THE DISTANCE
You can have a pinch point even if you don’t have a “villain” character in your story. It doesn’t have to be a villain — it doesn’t have to be a person. It just has to be something that is ultimately going to come back to haunt the protagonist later. (It can even be the protagonist’s misbelief.)
Ask yourself: What is the opposition/antagonistic force my protagonist is going to have to face head-on later? How can I show the reader that it’s already looming in the distance?
Rhiavas tells them of the challenges ahead and that they will most likely die. This somewhat demotivates them, and they are continuing based mainly on simple priority. However, their pridefull ambition so on creeps back in.
- work on
ACT 2
PRE-MIDPOINT REACTIONARY HERO
PROTAGONIST PURSUES THEIR FEAR-BASED GOAL
Thanks to the decision your protagonist made at the end of act one, they are now a man (or a woman) with a plan. They have a goal now that they are actively pursuing. Essentially, they’re going after the thing they think will make them happy while still steering clear of the thing they’re afraid of. Whether they’re running away from something or running to something, their motivation is the same: avoid as much pain as possible, and get to the finish line where happiness awaits.
Ask yourself: how is my protagonist going to execute their plan (achieve goal, avoid fear)? What is their step-by-step plan for making this happen? (Even if they don’t know every step themselves).
Dermy and the others feel that they gained glory from what had happened in Fossad Ithae, and they believe themselves and become pridefull. Dermy sets out believing that he can overcome the battle with sin and temptation purely through relentless mental fortitude. He trains his mind and body—practicing discipline, strict routines, and solitary meditation. He leans on his own determination and the teachings of Rhiavas and the others, thinking that sheer willpower is enough to rebuff temptation. Dermy outlines tactics for the upcoming trial of lust: avoid distractions, confront the Banvas head-on, and signal his inner resolve by recalling his past glories. His inner monologue reaffirms that his mental strength will be the key to defeating the seductive, deadly call of the sirens.
GAME-CHANGING MIDPOINT
PLOT TWIST!
A game-changing midpoint doesn’t have to be some epic and crazy twist of fate. In fact, the only thing a game-changing midpoint has to do is surprise the protagonist and shift their goal. (Bonus points if you can surprise the reader at the same time!)
Ask yourself: What unexpected thing is going to upend my protagonist’s plan (and entire life)? Why does it matter to my protagonist, given their desire and fear? How is it going to change the game for my protagonist?
During an encounter with the sirens—a trial meant to test his endurance against lust—his close comrade, Alahad, succumbs to the enchantment and is killed. Both Alahad and Dermy had surcumbed to the enchantment, but Dermy, only through luck that Alahad had been killed first, had managed to escape. The death of Alahad shatters his confidence. It exposes his most harrowing fear: that human will alone is feeble against the monstrous allure of temptation. Alahad’s tragic end is a brutal irrefutable sign that strength of mind, pride, and self-reliance are not enough—you will fall if you try to fight sin without higher aid. Alahad’s death forces Dermy to confront the limits of his own capacity. The collapse of his mental fortress means that—rather than an isolated struggle against lust—he must face his inner demons with the support of divine mercy. He learns this from Conn, and from a dream.
POST-MIDPOINT ACTION HERO
PROTAGONIST APPROACHES THEIR GOAL FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE
Figure out how your protagonist is going to handle the plot twist. It’s sort of like another inciting incident, shoving them further outside their comfort zone and presenting a new and unexpected challenge. Give your protagonist a plan going forward – and a sense of where this is going. Your readers want to know what happens next because they can foresee what MIGHT happen.
Ask yourself: What is my protagonist’s NEW plan going to be, based on the game-changing midpoint and what it means to them? How does my protagonist think their new plan is going to actually work and bring them to their goal while STILL avoiding their fear?
Realizing that fighting alone was his fatal error, Dermy now resolves to seek the Lord’s aid. He reorients his quest from being a battle fought by mortal might to one led by divine guidance. Admitting his weakness becomes first step on the pilgrimage toward redemption. In future encounters (be it with sirens or other trials), Dermy plans to hold onto his newfound humility, using ritual invocations and sacramental rites to strengthen his resolve. Dermy now believes that by surrendering his pride and embracing divine instruction, every trial becomes not just a test of mortal might, but a passage towards sanctification. With this shift in perspective, the Crown of Death ceases to be a trophy of personal conquest and becomes the crown of a reborn soul, symbolizing grace over guilt. Dermy envisions that through constant repentance, steadfast faith, and continual reliance on the Lord, he will overcome his deepest fears and finally obtain redemption.
SECOND PINCH POINT
OPPOSITION/ANTAGONISTIC FORCE GETS CLOSER
Remember, your “opposition” doesn’t have to be an actual villain or person — it can be the protagonist’s misbelief always looming in the background, getting ready to attack them come act 3. Whatever the major “opposition” your protagonist is going to face off with at the climax of your story, that’s what you want to give the reader a taste of at this story beat.
Ask yourself: how can I show the opposition/antagonistic force now getting closer to disrupting the protagonist’s life?
ACT 3
SUPPOSED VICTORY
PROTAGONIST THINKS THEY HAVE OVERCOME
Making progress with their new-and-improved plan, the protagonist feels confident they will be victorious. Or perhaps they have already overcome the smallest of the challenges and feel pretty good about their plan. Little do they know, disaster is on the way. (NOTE: this plot point is optional, but awesome.)
Ask yourself: Why does my protagonist think they will be victorious? What’s happening to make them feel SO CLOSE to achieving their goal and finding happiness at last?
DISASTER
EVERYTHING GOES WRONG
Bring your protagonist to their knees by rooting the disaster in their greatest fear and misbelief. It might be something that’s terrible for anyone to experience, but go beyond that and make it something especially bad for your protagonist because of their fear and misbelief.
Ask yourself: what does this disaster specifically mean to my protagonist? How does it force them to realize that they’re the one to blame for this crisis? How does it completely disarm them and make them face off with their fear and misbelief?
DARK MOMENT
PROTAGONIST IS HOPELESS
It’s always darkest before the dawn. Your protagonist needs a rock-bottom moment in order to have an “aha” moment — and that’s what makes the revelation so satisfying. But right now, in wake of the disaster, your protagonist is feeling utterly and completely broken, confused, lost, and disappointed.
AHA MOMENT
RENEWED HOPE
This is the biggest pivotal moment in your whole story. After your protagonist has been brought to their knees by the disaster, they have a revelation — an aha moment. They can suddenly see how their fear and misbelief has led them to make the wrong decisions about everything. They realize how wrong they were — but most importantly, they see that they’ll have to overcome their fear and make the RIGHT decision in order to achieve their goal: true happiness.
Ask yourself: how is my protagonist going to overcome their fear and continue to the climax, therefore developing as a character? What lesson are they going to learn (and simultaneously teach the audience?)
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CLIMACTIC CONFRONTATION
PROTAGONIST FACES THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET
This is the moment everyone has been waiting for, where the protagonist is going to face their most difficult challenge yet. It’s a true test of their character — and how they respond to the confrontation is the proof that they’ve TRANSFORMED…as a result of their journey. So your protagonist has already won the internal battle (in their “aha” moment) but now it’s time for them to win the external battle (which of course will force them to face off with their greatest fears.)
Ask yourself: how does my protagonist prove their transformation by crushing their misbelief and facing their greatest fear with courage?
Dermy confronts Gealirian (Atheldrú) alone with the Armor of light and other heavenly treasures. He repels the Arrows of Lies, the sword of Shame, the chains of sin, the whip of Doubt, and the spear of beguilement. In the end, he defeats Gealirian (Atheldrú) and he has the crown. Gealirian (Atheldrú) tells him to keep the crown, for it gives you the power of god, but he refuses, and he destroys the crown.
VICTORY
PROTAGONIST OVERCOMES
This doesn’t necessarily mean the protagonist wins the external battle or that things turn out exactly how they hoped. But the protagonist does experience a personal victory — because they overcame their fear and destroyed their misbelief. Here’s my rule of thumb: if your reader doesn’t know how the character has transformed as a result of their journey, you need to rewrite your book until they do.
Ask yourself: how has my protagonist changed as a result of their journey?
Resolution
Wrapping up Loose Ends
This is the part where all the loose ends are tied up. The reader should be left with no missing information or silent questions. If the book is part of a series, then you may want to end on a cliffhanger by swapping out the “victory” story beat with another “plot twist.” If the book is a standalone, make sure the reader’s questions are answered when they reach the final page.
