6          He leans on his usual allies and resources, but they’re not enough; even worse, the trouble he gets into triggers his flaw or wound—this new situation feels a little bit like that thing he never got over. (Subplot A)

Your detective starts working on the plan from Chapter 5, but the plan doesn’t work. A rival or a superior who wants things may deter him to get things done their way.

For those who have studied plot, this is the first complication.

7          Taking a step back, literally or metaphorically, your protagonist tries to figure out how he lost control of this situation. He might go looking for advice, or advice might come looking for him…but either way, his misbelief prevents him from understanding it. (Subplot B)

Your detective looks at the original plan to see if he can spot the error. A suspect or a new suspect gives him a piece of new information that seems like good advice or a new insight into the murder victim. The detective meets a member of the opposite sex who is some combination of intriguing, sexy, smart, so unlike him that as attractive as she is it won’t work, but still…

Plot students, this is the aftermath of the first complication.

8          Realizing it’s time to pull out what he thinks are the big guns, your protagonist does something he would normally consider to be a last-ditch effort to get his life back on track—but instead, whatever he tries ends up backing him into a corner. (Subplot A)

Your detective latches on to a clue or suspect and thinks he has the answer, he may even take a risk to prove his point. Instead the mystery becomes more mysterious. To add insult to injury the detective’s opponent wins a minor triumph.

Still loving those plot labels? This is a minor dark moment.

9          He might have a moment of false success before he finds himself stuck outside his comfort zone, exposed and vulnerable. (Maybe he wasn’t expecting there to be a twist here?) He’s made his situation ten times worse, and none of his usual allies can (or will?) help him.
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You detective blunders along on her discovery path and even makes a find that seems to lead her closer to the killer. But everything, especially the new discovery, is not as it first seems and a step forward sets her back.

For plot aficionados, this is the set up for the first plot point.

10       Maybe he has no choice, or maybe they’re all bad choices—either way, your protagonist has to choose between letting his everyday world become intolerable or stepping into uncharted (for him) territory. He commits to entering the extraordinary world.

So far all your detective’s choices have led down a false path. People around him, even friends, seem to get in his way and he pulls back, takes a look, examines his previous actions, and starts down a new path.

Plot freaks, this is it. The first plot point.

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