The Earth Shaking Event

Plotting your middle grade novel can be daunting because of the overwhelming amount of advice on how to do it. There are dozens of plot structure types, and any of them can work for any number of stories. In middle grade novels, I don’t necessarily want to see only one structure type, but I do want to see a structure that includes 3 main turning point scenes. That’s what I look for. Each turning point scene is vital to the connection your young reader makes to the story.

The first turning point scene that needs to be there is what I call the Earth Shaking Event.

Every story should start in the protagonist’s normal world, in a moment of motivational action. (Here’s a link for a refresher on what this is.) Your main character is striding along, living their normal life, with a hint of off-kilterness. The reader can sense that something is coming, even if the main character doesn’t. Then suddenly – BAM – everything shifts. The protagonist’s earth shakes. The world as they knew it has been tipped on its head. Then a decision is made that sends them on a brand new path.

This scene – what I like to call the Earth Shaking Event – is vital. If the lead-up is well crafted, the reader has connected to the protagonist and the story, so when this event happens, they have no problem jumping with your main character onto this new path. They are emotionally invested.

Crafting the Earth Shaking Event

The Earth Shaking Event should be located about 1/6 to ¼ the way through your story. Don’t place it too early, or your reader hasn’t had time to connect emotionally with your protagonist. Put it too late, and your reader has lost interest. Having it in just the right spot brings a solid connection between reader and main character that keeps the book in their hands.

This Earth Shaking Event needs to happen in a well thought out way. The external plot desire, the internal think need, and the vitalness of agency are all elements of the scene that must be there. These 3 pieces all combine to give this first turning point scene the punch it needs for your reader to hang on for the ride. All of these pieces relate to motive, which as you know, needs to be directly tied to your plot. In this first turning point scene, the Earth Shaking Event, portraying your character’s motive is especially vital.

I made this video where I talk in more detail about each of these 3 pieces of the Earth Shaking Event, and then I give examples from some great middle grade fiction to show how this can be done. Here’s a link to the video Pieces of Earth Shaking.

Deliberately building your first turning point scene to connect these 3 pieces of motive to your plot will also connect the reader tightly to your story moving forward.

Analyzing Your Earth Shaking Event

After your reader has seen your protagonist functioning in their normal world, and been given hints as to what the main character needs, then comes the moment when everything in that normal world shakes. Often this happens from circumstances beyond the protagonist’s control. But, what they always do control is their reaction to the event. This reaction must fit with the character’s personality, their motive layers, and their understandings at this stage of the story. Your protagonist’s choices at this point need to fit to make your reader cheer.

I’ve created this worksheet to help you analyze your first turning point scene – the Earth Shaking Event. Print it out and see what you can do to strengthen this vital scene.

PDF Analyzing the ESE

Make your readers cheer for your protagonist and stay up late into the night to see what happens next.

As you know, middle grade readers are some of the harshest critics out there. If they don’t connect with the character early in the book, they put it back on the shelf. I’ve found that one of the best ways to help kids connect is with a well-crafted Earth Shaking Event.

Get your reader emotionally invested, then they’ll jump with your protagonist onto the new path they’ve chosen.