Summary of "Story Structure Part 5: How to Write Pinch Points"

What are pinch points?

Ellen Brock (freelance editor) defines pinch points as minor but strategically placed plot beats that boost tension by reminding readers what’s at stake and demonstrating the antagonist’s power. They’re designed primarily to make the reader feel the danger or consequence, even if the protagonist already senses it. Used in plotting or editing, pinch points keep the middle of the book emotionally anchored and propel the story toward the next major plot event.

Pinch points are small but intense reminders of stakes and antagonist power that occur twice in a novel to keep tension focused as you move between major plot beats.

Structural placement

A novel typically includes two pinch points:
- one in the middle of the second quarter (midway through Q2)
- one in the middle of the third quarter (midway through Q3)
They act as connective moments between the first plot point → midpoint → second plot point sequence.

Purpose

Pinch points serve several related functions:

Raise or renew tension.
Remind the reader what can be lost (the stakes).
Demonstrate the antagonist’s strength or reach.
Escalate stakes to drive the story toward the next major plot event.

Forms and examples

Pinch points can take many shapes depending on tone and genre:

A dramatic escalation: e.g., a harsher ransom demand, a new threat, or an assault that raises urgency.
A reveal or reminder: something that reinforces danger for the reader (not necessarily new to the protagonist).
A flashback or memory: refocuses attention on stakes or emotional consequences.
A scene from another POV: for example, showing the victim’s situation to make the risk visceral for readers.

How to use them in plotting and editing

Use pinch points as planning landmarks to smooth transitions between major beats (first plot point → midpoint → second plot point).
Insert them during revision to maintain momentum through the middle sections, preventing sagging or loss of tension.
Tailor the form and intensity to your book’s pacing and emotional needs.

Practical advice

Place pinch points roughly at the middle of the second and third quarters of your novel.
Use them to remind the reader what can be lost or to escalate the stakes.
They don’t have to present new information to the protagonist—what matters is the reader’s perception of danger.
Choose the form that best fits your story: dramatic incident, flashback, memory, or alternate POV scene.
Apply pinch points both while plotting and during revision to keep engagement through the middle of the narrative.