Plot points are major events or turning points in a story that impact what happens next and move the story forward. They are incidents, episodes, or events that "hook" into the action and spin it around into another direction. Plot points are not just any event in a story, but rather an incident that directly impacts what happens next in a story, forcing the story in a different direction where otherwise it would have just meandered.
Plot points serve an essential purpose in the screenplay or novel. They are a major story progression and keep the story line anchored in place. Plot points can be big dynamic scenes or sequences, or they can be quiet scenes in which a decision is made. A plot point is whatever the writer chooses it to be, but it is always an incident, episode, or event that is dictated by the needs of the story.
There are usually two main plot points in a well-structured movie within a three-act structure. The first major plot point occurs 20–30 minutes into the film, and the second major one occurs 80–90 minutes into the film. The first plot point ends Act I and propels the story into Act II, while the second plot point ends Act II and propels the story into Act III.
Plot points are key moments in a story that relate specifically to the protagonist and their individual journey. The plot, on the other hand, refers to a series of events that connect together to make the overall story. Plot points are what give the story momentum, moving the story forward and taking the reader with it.
In summary, plot points are major events or turning points in a story that impact what happens next and move the story forward. They are not just any event in a story, but rather an incident that directly impacts what happens next in a story, forcing the story in a different direction where otherwise it would have just meandered. Plot points serve an essential purpose in the screenplay or novel, and they are key moments in a story that relate specifically to the protagonist and their individual journey.