What Makes Your Protagonist Believe They Might Get What They Want?

Into the world of Act Two | First Draft November: Day 12

art by Mariam Chagelishvili

→ This week’s goal: Break out of Act One and take the first irreversible step into Act Two, where new stakes begin to unfold.

→ Word target: 23k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some extra accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

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Hi writers,

Right now, we are sitting pretty at around 16,000 words. You might still be in the Debate beat or just wrapping it up. Either way, you’re very close to breaking into the world of Act Two, or as Save the Cat Writes a Novel calls it, “the upside-down world.” Everything will change for your protagonist from here on out.

Here’s today’s guiding question:

Is there a moment where your main character recognizes the possibility of getting what they want? What does that look like?

If Act One was about setting the stakes, Act Two is about playing them out.

This is the phase of the novel where your character is taking action: imperfect, impulsive, or inspired. They are moving toward what they want, even if they don’t fully understand what it is yet. Spoiler: They won’t!

At the start of Act Two, characters often mistake progress for success. They get a small win, catch a lucky break, or glimpse the possibility of achieving their goal. This is what’s called a false victory: a moment that feels like momentum, but doesn’t yet solve their deeper problem.

Other times, they stumble into a false defeat, which is a setback that looks devastating but isn’t the end. In both cases, the protagonist is learning the rules of this new world, testing their footing, and discovering that the path forward isn’t what they imagined.

These early beats aren’t about triumph or ruin. They’re about illusion. Your protagonist thinks they’re closer (or farther) from their desire than they really are.

Example: In my novel, when my protagonist gets the job at the country club—the decision that propels her into Act Two—she glimpses the possibility of achieving her goal: making enough money to leave her mother. She sees how much the other waitresses are earning, notices the automatic gratuity, and learns that members also tip in cash. For a moment, this feels like success. She imagines herself stacking bills, free at last. But of course, this hope is false (which she will find out later, the poor thing.)

More questions to consider:

• What small win might give your character a surge of confidence, but ultimately prove fleeting?

• What setback might seem catastrophic, but only deepens their commitment to the journey?

• How does this moment show us what your protagonist believes about themselves and the world?

These false steps are essential because they keep us leaning forward, wondering what will really last. AKA, tension!

Happy writing, friends.

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