Act 1: Setup

• Exposition - The status quo or ‘ordinary world’ is established.
• Inciting Incident - An event that sets the story in motion.
• Plot Point One - The protagonist decides to tackle the challenge head-on. She ‘crosses the threshold,’ and the story is now truly moving.

Act 2: Confrontation

• Rising Action - The story's true stakes become clear; our hero grows familiar with her ‘new world’ and has her first encounters with some enemies and allies. (see Tests, Allies, Enemies)
• Midpoint - An event that upends the protagonist’s mission. (Similar to the climax in Freytag’s pyramid)
• Plot Point Two - In the wake of the disorienting midpoint, the protagonist is tested — and fails. Her ability to succeed is now in doubt.

Act 3: Resolution

• Pre Climax - The night is darkest before dawn. The protagonist must pull herself together and choose between decisive action and failure.
• Climax - She off against her antagonist one last time. Will she prevail?
• Denouement - All loose ends are tied up. The reader discovers the consequences of the climax. A new status quo is established.