So, after the First Plot Point, your MC is going to be reeling from the turn of events. They’re stumbling around this new Adventure World, trying to gather their thoughts and figure out what kind of place this is. But since this is the Adventure World, conflict between the Truth and the Lie is inevitable. The MC won’t be sitting around for long… the First Pinch Point is on its way.

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary and her father return home to pack for their journey. She cannot help but lament their situation, but he encourages her to trust in God.

In “Pendragon,” Artos meets King Ambrosius and Princess Wenneveria, who give him a position in the royal army after seeing his display of sword-fighting skill.

In the Flat Arc template, the First Pinch Point is labeled “Uncertain if Truth is capable of defeating Lie”. This is a mini Low Moment for your MC.

Now, remember, the real Low Moment will come at the Third Plot Point. But life can’t just be all joyous and happy up until that point. There needs to be challenges along the way.

So, your MC is in the Adventure World, trying to get things sorted out. They’re already confronted with enough opposition from the World itself. However, things are about to get more intense. The pinch points are when the MC is reminded of three things:

1. The antagonist

This is when the antagonist makes himself known to the MC. He gives your protagonist a little “pinch” to let him know, “Hey, I’m still here, and I’m still after you.”

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Juliette returns Mary’s basket of flowers, telling her that Amelia wants nothing to do with her anymore. This heaps even more despair on Mary, as she had clung to the hope that her friend hadn’t abandoned her.

In “Pendragon,” Artos meets Caydern, who immediately takes a disliking to him. As Artos continues to rise in the ranks and in the king’s favor, Caydern becomes increasingly jealous.

2. The stakes

Ask yourself, “What would happen if the antagonist wins?” Then ask “What would happen if the protagonist wins?” These are your stakes. This is why the story matters to the MC.

(Hint: Usually, the stakes will have something to do with the MC’s Goal. If the antagonist wins, the MC’s Goal will not be realized. If the protagonist wins, they’ll achieve their Goal.)

This reminder of the stakes applies more pressure on the MC, deepening the mini Low Moment. It allows more doubts to creep in as they realize just what’s at stake here.

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary’s stakes are shown when she loses everything she holds dear… except her father. Now that he is all she has left, she realizes how easy it would be to lose him, too. This is especially made evident when his health begins to fail because of their constant traveling.

In “Pendragon,” Artos’ stakes are shown when he sees that even King Ambrosius and his army are struggling to fight back against the Saxons.

3. The Lie

So now that the appropriate pressure has been placed upon the MC, the doubts start to creep in, creating our mini Low Moment. On top of the entire World being against them, they have this antagonist who is out to stop them from achieving their Goal. And the worst thing about it? None of this would have happened if the MC didn’t believe in the Truth.

They look at what they’re supposed to defeat, and they wonder if the Truth is capable of doing it. Can a little thing like a Truth take down an entire World of Lies? Can it defeat someone as powerful as the antagonist? How is the MC supposed to do it? What if they fail?

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary is discouraged over her situation. She’s been accused of a crime she didn’t commit, banished from the only home she’s ever known, and now, her best friend has seemingly turned against her. And it’s all because she trusted God instead of lying to get out of her punishment. As she and her father set out on their journey, and are forced to beg just to survive, she can’t help but doubt the Truth just a little.

In “Pendragon,” there isn’t really much of a Low Moment. Artos continues to help the king fight back against the Saxons, and all he appears to be doing is growing in favor. Of course, Caydern hates him all the more, but Artos doesn’t even seem to be conscious of this fact.

(Note: This lack of a mini Low Moment may be due to the fact that the Inciting Event was so dramatic, and provided a huge Low Moment in and of itself. This movie’s structure isn’t perfect, but I believe we can learn some things from it, which is why I chose to still use it as one of our examples.)

But, of course, the MC will ultimately not be deterred from their belief in the Truth. This is only a mini Low Moment, remember, so don’t make it too dramatic. They will correct their course and cling to the Truth all the tighter. This victory over the mini Low Moment shouldn’t be made a big deal, either. The pressures and hardships are still there, and the MC’s time to shine won’t be until the Midpoint. So have them continue to struggle as they go along.

In “The Basket of Flowers,” Mary and her father end up finding some people who are willing to give them work, and Mary’s faith is strengthened. However, the big victory (the Midpoint) is yet to come.

In “Pendragon,” most of the First Pinch Point is the victory, as Artos doesn’t really doubt the Truth (he already did this during the First Plot Point). His bigger victory at the Midpoint comes when an event obstructs his Goal, causing both a mini Low Moment, and an opportunity for the Truth to shine. (More about this when we get to the Midpoint.)

Here are a few more examples of First Pinch Points:

1. The BFG is bullied by the other giants; one of the giants finds Sophie’s blanket (“The BFG”)

2. The spaceship returns for Eve; Wall-E stows away until they arrive at the Axiom (“Wall-E”)

3. Will tries to recruit some of his friends, only to realize they are too cowardly (“High Noon”)

4. Paddington is taken in by the Browns, though Mr. Brown clearly doesn’t like him (“Paddington”)

Comment below the First Pinch Point of your favorite book or movie!