Reaching the breaking point

The breaking point of a story is where the protagonist has been beaten down so many times that they throw life to the ground and yell, “Enough of this shit!”. Keep in mind that the breaking point does not necessarily mean it’s the climax, more it is a pivotal moment for the protagonist as it shifts the story into the next phase.

So here are some things to keep in mind when writing a breaking point.

The breaking point has to happen to your protagonist
This is your protagonist’s moment to shine; to really show that they have enough will to push through this intensely emotional stage of the story. This is moment in the desert where the devil is giving your protagonist an out and there’s a good chance they will take it. The stakes are bearing down on them and they have to make that crucial decision of whether or not they are going to continue or take their ball and go home.

This is the point where any claims about risk or uncertainty are bearing down
By now you should have been placing stakes, or risks, about the consequences of your character’s actions in the world. The breaking point is where those consequences are bearing down and your protagonist and they are going to get bitten in the ass.

It has to relate directly to your plot
The breaking point is there to test your protagonist’s resolve and if this point in the story does not relate to the plot then it will feel out of place and irreverent and nobody wants that. Given that most stories involve the pursuit of a goal and the breaking point is there to test that resolve. It is also there to test your readers and their belief in whether or not the protagonist can reach those goals.

The breaking point is personal and emotional
Bookending the first point, the breaking point is directly affecting your main character and it often does emotionally. The highest stakes are ones that personally impact the protagonist and the breaking point is a big blow to that ego. Generally, for a moment, the action will have slowed down as the MC deals with emotional fallout. But, by the time of the climax, they have to have dealt with the trauma enough that they can push themselves to deal with major conflict. That’s not to say they won’t be unaffected, (which would defeat the purpose of the breaking point to begin with) but mmore, they have figured out a way to handle themselves in a tough situation enough so that they can triumph.

Has your story reached its breaking point? How do you think your characters’ will react? Let us know in the comment section below! And join us on Sunday evening for our Quackchat at 5:30PM(EST)!

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