Also, in your “character as heart” metaphor, I always feel like characters act as the fingers, enacting the motion of the story. I think that the audience is the heart, in a sense.

That’s what I’m still trying to figure out; who or what will be that turning point. I’m still rough sketching right now, so I’ll HOPEFULLY have that idea by the time I have to have it.

whatever that fork in the road event will be, it sounds like it is the midpoint milestone scene where everything turns in a new direction– so ask yourself what would compel her to shift gears? and, what would lead her to the story’s end? Where in the story things change radically are the midpoint, first plot point, and second plot point. I don’t know this plot but it sounds like the midpoint from my limited perspective. What ever you toss at her it should be something that pushes the story forward toward the conclusion.

Hi Rachel 😀 And thanks. My character will do something…semi-controversial. Many will applaud her actions, but her own mother and sister turn against her, which causes my main character (Jolene) to get bitter and…well, it gets pretty odd from there. She becomes a friend to society, in part, but her own worst enemy. She doesn’t really agree with her choices, but her career serves as a backlash and a ‘cure’ for those who might end up growing up in her sort of home.

My situation is trying to figure out where Jolene’s ‘fork in the road’ will be. What and/or Who will bring her to that ‘valley of decision’.