I Have a Plan

Here's a useful tip on how to navigate the post-midpoint act two: have your protagonist say, "I have a plan."



Now, keep in mind, "I have a plan" is in danger of becoming a viral video montage of movie characters saying those words over and over, like "I get it". But as an exercise, it's a fantastic way to turn your protagonist from passive to active. It forces you to ask yourself, "What IS my protagonist's plan?"

Now your protagonist is charged with the mindset of going on offense, of defining what he/she wants, and having the strength to go and get it. He/she isn't waiting to be saved by a deus ex machina. 

The plan may not work. In fact, it probably won't. But that will naturally give you an "all is lost" moment to propel your story into act three.

Once you've used those words to light your way to act three, you can take the actual phrasing out of the script, or, as in Guardians of the Galaxy, use the phrase to great comedic effect at the 68 minute mark of a 102 minute film, which is midway through the post-midpoint act two.

I find it fun and useful to look for when protagonists have their "I have a plan" moments.

In The Matrix, Neo forms the plan to save Morpheus VERY late in act two, just a few scenes before act three.

In Gravity, Sandra Bullock's character, Ryan, literally becomes the only person left in the movie at the midpoint, with a plan to return home, and no one to help her.

And when does Ben Affleck's character get the go ahead to execute his plan to save the Iranian hostages? Right at the midpoint. Post-midpoint act two is ALL PLAN.

So, now YOU have a plan for your post-midpoint act two. See what I did there? Yes, that is another clam waiting to be made into a viral video montage.