“Some setback or crisis, or discovery or clue, pushes the Lead through the second doorway of no return. Now all the elements are there to get to that final battle or final choice that’s going to end the story.” (James Scott Bell, Write Great Fiction – Plot & Structure)
Writing Exercise: Building Momentum Toward the Final Choice
1. Establishing “Doorways of No Return”: Learn to craft moments where characters face decisions or events so significant that they cannot revert to their previous state of being.
2. Creating Escalating Stakes: Ensure each plot development heightens the urgency, emotional investment, and complexity for the protagonist.
3. Foreshadowing the Final Conflict: Introduce elements that organically set up the climactic battle or choice while maintaining reader curiosity.
500-Word Writing Prompt
Write a scene where your protagonist encounters a moment of no return that directly sets up their final battle or choice.
Scenario Options (Choose One or Create Your Own):
1. A detective uncovers a clue about the murderer’s identity, but acting on it will endanger someone they love.
2. An astronaut discovers damage to their spacecraft, forcing them to choose between their survival and completing their mission.
3. A musician realizes their big break is built on sabotaging a rival, but walking away risks their future.
4. A single parent discovers their child has been hiding a dangerous secret, which could harm the family if exposed.
In the scene, focus on:
• Establishing the stakes and why this decision is irreversible.
• Building tension through discovery, crisis, or conflict.
• Dropping subtle hints about the final conflict ahead without resolving it.
Clear Evaluation Criteria for Success
A strong response will:
1. Present an unmistakable turning point: The event or choice must irrevocably alter the protagonist’s circumstances. Example: A parent who decides to shield their child from police, despite knowing the child’s secret could destroy them both.
2. Escalate stakes clearly and believably: Readers should feel the pressure building toward the climax. Example: The astronaut realizes they have minutes left to act, adding physical and psychological strain.
3. Foreshadow the final conflict skillfully: Drop hints about the protagonist’s ultimate challenge in a way that heightens anticipation. Example: The musician learns their rival might already suspect the sabotage, setting up a dramatic confrontation.
A weak response will:
• Feature a decision that feels minor or easily reversible. Example: A detective postpones an unimportant lead instead of taking meaningful action.
• Lack emotional stakes or urgency. Example: A parent calmly talks to their child without revealing a secret that changes everything.
• Fail to connect the scene to the climactic conflict. Example: The musician practices for an audition without addressing their moral dilemma.
Follow-Up Questions for Workshopping/Revision
1. Does the protagonist’s decision or discovery feel truly irreversible?
2. Are the stakes high enough to compel reader engagement and empathy?
3. How effectively does this scene lay groundwork for the climax without resolving it prematurely?
4. Are there any details or elements that feel extraneous to the central conflict?
Recommended Published Examples
1. “Evelyn Nesbit” chapter from Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow – Demonstrates a character confronting a moment of no return, with escalating stakes and foreshadowing a ripple effect through the climax.
2. “The Part About the Crimes” excerpt from 2666 by Roberto Bolaño – This section illustrates how a single discovery forces characters into a deepening investigation, with stakes escalating and irreversible consequences on their psyche and relationships.
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