The 3 Acts/story structure, summarised... as simple as I can for my confused brain.
So i did a lot of research in story structure over Christmas period as its fried my brain a lot... here's what I've gathered and been able to remember of the top of my head...
ACT 1 - The protagonist lives in their current world of comfort, but they want something, an inciting incident pushes the protagonist out of their comfort zone which forces them to go on a journey of some sorts. A question is opened for the audience: will Donny get the girl? Will Amy be able to find her lost father? etc...
- the start, the setup - the current world as the protagonist knows it, who is the character? what do they want? what are their fears? do they have a misbelief?
- the inciting incident - Something happens to push the protagonist outside of their comfort zone, it can be an internal or external event. internal: character can see something on TV and realise something. External: character dies and makes a deal with a reaper to continue living or to accomplish a goal which is personal (means something to the character) correction: the inciting incident is not the meeting with the reaper, that is the 1st turning point.
This is usually where the audience question starts.
-1st turning point/ 1st threshold - the protagonist commits to the adventure (still keeping there fear in mind) accepts/agrees to face the consequences of the inciting incident. Example in my story: Lucas at first doesn't help Daniel with reading the detectives memory because of his grudge and trust issues. but after he's offered money, he agrees to help and in doing so discovers useful information which will help him with finding the host, aiding him in saving his sister soul. correction: The 1st turning point is when the reaper makes the deal with Lucas. I believe this is just the 2nd focus point, before the midpoint/2nd turning point.
ACT 2 - the middle, there's a climactic midpoint which is usually where a character learns or finds something which will aid them in the final battle/climax in Act 3. There can be subplots in the middle as long as they link to the main plot in some way.
Midpoint/the Ordeal - either a major success for the protagonist or a devastating failure, usually followed by a dark point, where the character loses a loved one and struggles to keep going but discovers a reason to continue etc...
there's a few other bits that happen in act 2 but i think that's the most important part.
ACT 3 - The climax and the resolution to the story, return to world with new belief/lesson. The question opened in Act 1 should be answered here.
Climax/resurrection - A final battle, or the character fights for getting his goal in some way or another, can be internal or external. the antagonistic force comes full blast.
Resolution/return - all questions answered. Protagonist returns with new belief/lesson/world/morality/friends... whatever you choose.
ref: the writers journey by Chris Vogler
plus Uni grid system template.
and Abbie Emmons (novelist) YouTube playlist on the 3 Acts