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Understanding Pinch Points in Storytelling

Mar 29, 2025

WritersLife Wednesdays: Pinch Points in Storytelling

Introduction

  • Host: Abbie Emmons
  • Focus: Writing pinch points into stories
  • Importance: Enhancing suspense and reader engagement

Overview of Previous Discussions

  • Three-act story structure breakdown
  • Key story beats in Act One:
    • Hook
    • Inciting Incident
    • Case studies on these elements
    • First Plot Point
  • The topic today is the final story beat of Act One: the first pinch point

What is a Pinch Point?

  • Definition: A little bit of suspense that hints at future conflict
  • Purpose: To pull readers in before transitioning into Act Two

Structure of Pinch Points

  • Two Common Pinch Points:
    1. At the end of Act One
    2. At the end of Act Two
  • Some argue the first pinch point appears at the beginning of Act Two, but Abbie prefers it at the end of Act One.

Description of the First Pinch Point

  • Characteristics:
    • Opposition or antagonistic force looms in the distance
    • Can exist without a traditional villain (e.g., protagonist's misbelief)
  • Prompt:
    • Identify the antagonistic force the protagonist will face later
    • Use foreshadowing and suspense to hint at this conflict

The Science of Suspense

  • Understanding suspense vs. surprise:
    • Three Types of Suspense:
      1. Vicarious Suspense: Audience knows something the character doesn't.
      2. Shared Suspense: Audience and character both know about the impending conflict.
      3. Direct Suspense: Audience worries about something unrelated to the character.
  • Abbie recommends using vicarious suspense for the first pinch point due to its emotional impact on readers.

Emotional Engagement and Reader Satisfaction

  • Readers enjoy feeling smart by knowing more than the characters.
  • Comparison with trivia games: Satisfaction in knowing answers leads to emotional engagement.
  • Quote from Alfred Hitchcock explaining the difference between suspense and surprise:
    • Emphasizes the importance of audience participation in suspense scenarios.

Different Styles of Pinch Points

  1. Full Vicarious: Audience sees events the protagonist is unaware of.
    • Example: "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"
  2. Subtle Clues: Hints of future conflict without revealing too much.
    • Example: "Jane Eyre" (clues pointing to a hidden truth)
  3. Shared Suspense: Protagonist faces danger they are aware of.
    • Example: War films like "Dunkirk"

Key Takeaways on Pinch Points

  • Pinch points hint at future conflicts; they can take various forms (vicarious, shared, subtle clues).
  • Suspense is more engaging than surprise; it enhances the reader's emotional experience.
  • The protagonist's journey and transformation are more critical than the events themselves.

Conclusion and Next Steps

  • Recap of the importance of pinch points
  • Upcoming topics: Act Two and its complexities
  • Call to action: Like, subscribe, and consider joining Abbie's Patreon for additional content and guidance.
  • Engaging with the community for feedback and favorite examples of pinch points.

Full transcript