How To Write The First Plot Point In A Story?

The First Plot Point is where your story truly begins. It’s the dividing line between setup and the heart of the narrative, forcing your protagonist out of comfort and into conflict. This turning point sets the tone for everything that follows.

What is Plot Point One?

Plot Point One, often referred to as the First Plot Point, is the critical turning point that launches your protagonist into the main conflict of the story. Up until this moment, readers are getting to know the world, the characters, and the situation at hand. But once the First Plot Point arrives, everything changes.

It is more than a random event, it’s the doorway between the setup of the story and the confrontation that drives the rest of the narrative. After the First Plot Point, the protagonist cannot simply go back to the way things were. Their world is disrupted, and they must respond in a new way.

In many story structures (like the Three-Act Structure), this is the moment that ends Act One and ushers in Act Two, where the real adventure begins.

Difference between First Plot Point and Inciting Incident

Writers often confuse the First Plot Point with the Inciting Incident, but they play different roles in storytelling.

The Inciting Incident: This is the spark that disturbs the protagonist’s ordinary world. It may be subtle or dramatic, but it raises a question or problem that demands attention. Think of it as the “call to adventure” in Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.

The First Plot Point: This is where the protagonist crosses a threshold and becomes directly engaged in the central conflict. Unlike the Inciting Incident, which can still allow for hesitation, the First Plot Point forces commitment. The protagonist can no longer avoid the issue—they must act.

Example:

In The Hunger Games, the Inciting Incident is when Katniss’s sister, Prim, is chosen at the Reaping. The First Plot Point occurs when Katniss volunteers in her place, sealing her fate to enter the Games. The first is a shock; the second is the irreversible choice that drives the plot forward.

When does the First Plot Point happen?

Most stories place the First Plot Point around the 20–25% mark of the narrative, in the first act. By this time, readers understand the protagonist’s normal life, their motivations, and the stakes. If it happens too early, readers may not feel emotionally invested; too late, and the story risks dragging.

The First Plot Point usually comes after:

1. The hook and the introduction of the world and characters
2. Establishment of stakes and themes
3. Inciting Incident that disrupts the status quo
4. Protagonist’s reluctance or hesitation

The Plot Point then locks the protagonist into the journey, transitioning from setup into active pursuit of the story goal.

Tips to Write the First Plot Point

1. Make it Irreversible – Ensure that the event or decision prevents the protagonist from returning to their old life.
2. Tie it to Stakes – Connect it directly to what your protagonist values most. If they don’t act, they stand to lose something vital.
3. Increase Tension – This moment should feel weighty, raising the conflict to a new level.
4. Force a Choice – The protagonist doesn’t always need full control, but the event should demand their involvement.
5. Align with Theme – The First Plot Point often hints at the story’s deeper message, pushing the protagonist toward growth.

Plot Point One in Fantasy

In fantasy, the First Plot Point often involves stepping out of the familiar into the magical or dangerous unknown.

• The farm boy leaves his village after it’s destroyed.
• The young mage discovers a power that draws enemies.
• The chosen one is thrust into a prophecy they can’t escape.

Example: In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo’s Inciting Incident is receiving the Ring, but the First Plot Point is when he decides to leave the Shire, leaving behind his peaceful life forever.

Fantasy thrives on threshold moments, literal and metaphorical doorways into new realms.

Plot Point One in Romance

In romance, the First Plot Point is usually the event that ties the love interests together in a way that ensures ongoing interaction (and conflict).

• They’re forced to work together on a project.
• A misunderstanding or external situation pushes them into closer proximity.
• An external commitment makes separation impossible.

Example: In Pride and Prejudice, the Inciting Incident is Mr. Bingley’s arrival in the neighborhood, but the First Plot Point is Elizabeth meeting Darcy, an encounter that sparks the story’s central tension.

Romantic First Plot Points should create both attraction and obstacles, setting up emotional investment for the reader.

Plot Point One in Mystery

In mystery, the First Plot Point often coincides with the crime or the moment the detective takes on the case.

• The body is discovered.
• The detective reluctantly agrees to investigate.
• A shocking clue turns an ordinary situation into a puzzle.

Example: In Sherlock Holmes stories, the Inciting Incident is often a client’s arrival. The First Plot Point comes when Holmes takes the case, moving from speculation to active investigation.

Mysteries rely on commitment to uncovering truth, so the First Plot Point should launch the protagonist into solving the central question that drives the narrative.