Remember how I mentioned last time that I love questions because they make for easy blog posts? I’m lucky enough to have another great question for today. *smile*
Today’s “Ask Jami” came from a comment on my Romance Beat Sheet post. Nick Verso wanted to know how a story’s structure would change if the romance is forbidden:
“My question is about the Midpoint in the Romance Beat Sheet particularly involving “the visible sign of commitment” the characters make to each other, which is normally a very public event. … That moment is very clear in almost any rom-com (the racing scene in Pretty Woman, any meeting the parents scene in a bad boy/rich girl romance a la Nicholas Sparks or Titanic). I can see how valuable a moment it is – it’s the moment they test that relationship by showing it to the world and seeing how the world reacts and the world either says aye or nay (normally somebody will say nay or the film will wrap up pretty quickly).
Do you think this beat exists OR what form do you think it takes in the forbidden love subgenre? I’m thinking Brokeback Mountain or any film where the lovers are keeping their love a secret so they can’t put it the “show the world” test. … I don’t want to skip over what might be a very crucial and satisfying beat for audiences. What are your thoughts?”
See why I love my commenters? That’s a great question!
What’s the Purpose of the Midpoint Scene?
In any story of any genre, the Midpoint is the story beat/turning point that falls around the 50% mark. (If you’re new to the idea of story structure, check out my post with a basic explanation of story beats, as well as my post about how to use beat sheets, or join me in my upcoming workshops.)
As we’ve discussed before, the Midpoint is one of the beats we can use to prevent a “sagging middle.” The middle of our story is where we’re going to see progress, but also failed attempts to overcome the story obstacles.
Specifically, the Midpoint creates a “shift in context.” This shift could come from raising the stakes, changing the protagonist’s goals and choices, etc. But my favorite technique is to use the Midpoint to remind the reader of the goals, stakes, and obstacles before the chaos of the last quarter of the book.
James Scott Bell explains the Midpoint best by calling it “a look in the mirror.” The character might:
- wonder what it will mean for them if they do or don’t succeed,
- question how they’re changing or what they’ve become,
- consider how they’ll have to change to succeed,
- stop and recognize the odds against them, or
- figure out their chances of success.
With this reflection and insight, the character will now make choices with their eyes wide open. And that’s the key for understanding the Midpoint in romance stories.
What’s the Purpose of the Midpoint in a Romance?
If we look at my Romance Beat Sheet, we see that the Midpoint consists of two elements:
- External Relationship Arc: What visible sign of commitment do the characters make to each other?
- Internal Relationship Arc: How are the characters still in their Identity (and thus doomed to fail)?
As Michael Hauge teaches, at the Midpoint, the character must do something to show they’re committed to the story goal. In a romance, this might be the hero and heroine’s first kiss, first sex scene, or first declaration of love. Some visible action has to reveal their desire (goal) to the world.
It’s those last couple of words, “to the world,” that might trip us up in a forbidden romance story. Does the Midpoint—this visible action to reveal their desire/goal—really have to happen in public?
The Midpoint: How Visible Does “Visible” Have to Be?
If I reflect on my stories, it’s obvious I’m of the opinion that this Midpoint beat can take different forms depending on the nature of the story and of the relationship. In my various in-process stories, the Midpoint consists of:
- a first kiss scene,
- a proposal scene,
- a break-up scene, and
- a I-wish-we-could-be-together-but-here’s-why-we-can’t scene.
Of those, only one has any witnesses, so these scenes are not a public “outing” of the relationship. And the last two seem like the opposite of commitment. (Not surprisingly, I write romances that are “forbidden” on some level: incompatible cultures, ancient enemies, opposite goals, etc.)
So what gives? What does the Midpoint accomplish as a story beat in romances?
Think of the Midpoint, especially in forbidden romances, as an “Advanced Level Commitment Point.” *smile*
How to Make the Midpoint Matter in a Romance
Whether the story includes witnesses for the Midpoint doesn’t matter. The reader can be the witness. The point is to create a visible (or “tangible,” if that makes it easier to understand) commitment to the relationship.
Remember what we said about Midpoints in general? At the Midpoint, the characters now make choices with their eyes wide open.
So in a romance, at the End of the Beginning/First Plot Point beat (at the 25% mark), the characters might commit to spend time together or grudgingly reveal their desire for each other, but they don’t yet know all the odds stacked against them. In contrast, at the Midpoint, they have a better understanding of the obstacles—and decide to commit to the relationship anyway.
However, in forbidden romances, that “commitment” might look different from what we expect. Very different.
For example, in some of my stories, one character decides that although they can’t be with the other, they’re going to give them something even better—something believed more valuable than a potential relationship. That’s commitment, regardless of whether it looks like a break-up on the surface, because the subtext shows they care about the other person enough to make sacrifices.
In any kind of romance, we might be able to think of the Midpoint beat as a moment when one or both characters reflect on the obstacles of the relationship and make a commitment—at least in some way. That’s the visible (or tangible) sign of commitment for the beat, whether or not there are any story witnesses and whether or not outsiders would understand the commitment.
Of course, the characters are still in denial (in their Identity), so the commitment (no matter the type of romance) won’t meet the story goal or make the reader happy. Forbidden romance or not, the reader’s going to want more. *grin*
That gap between what the reader knows the characters desire (even if they’re in denial) and the commitment made at the Midpoint propels the story into the second half. Now we’re not just rooting for the characters to get together, we’re rooting for them to find a loophole so they can stay together.
Keep turning the pages, reader. Keep turning the pages. *smile*
If you’ve read romances where the relationship was forbidden, how did the story change direction at the halfway point? If you write forbidden romances, how have you handled the Midpoint? Does this help explain how we can match the style of the Midpoint to the story and the relationship? Do you have other tips for how to make forbidden romances work? Do you have other questions about how to handle aspects of forbidden romance stories?
Join Jami in her Upcoming Workshops: Learn all about Beat Sheets on 5/8 & Become an Expert in Story Planning with “Lost Your Pants?” on 5/13. Click here to learn more and save money!
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