Structurally Sound

Every building needs a solid framework to keep it standing strong, and storytelling is much the same. A good foundation of story beats will keep your story flowing in a satisfying way, keeping your readers hooked. Whether they realize it or not (and most of them don't!), readers are highly attuned to these beats.

In the same way you might abandon a building with no support beams and a sagging ceiling, the reader may abandon reading your story if the support it needs is missing or in the wrong place. However, not every writer likes using a set structure, preferring to “wing it”, yet even these types of writers tend to have an innate sense of where the beats fall. Even without intentionally planning it, their stories will often loosely follow some type of structure.

For those who need to outline, a story structure (or plot structure) is an important tool. It's a helpful guide, making sure you hit all the important points at the right time. And no matter the kind of story you are trying to tell, there is probably a structure for it! Let's take a look at just a few.

The Three-Act Structure

This one is very popular, especially among screenwriters, because of its versatility. No matter if you are writing romance, adventure, or horror the three-act structure can work. It breaks your story down into three main “acts” which are then separated into nine beats, three apiece for each act.

Act 1: Setup—Exposition, Inciting Incident, and Plot Point 1

Act 2: Confrontation—Rising Action, Midpoint, and Plot Point 2

Act 3: Resolution—Pre-Climax, Climax, and Denouement

Dan Harmon's Story Circle

Based on The Hero's Journey Structure, screenwriter Dan Harmon's Story Circle focuses more on character growth rather than an epic journey. There are eight steps as follows:

You: Start by showing the protagonist in their “zone of comfort”

Need: Establish what they want (or what they want to avoid)

Go: They then enter an unfamiliar situation in order to get what they want (or try to avoid it)

Search: They adapt and have to learn how to survive in this new world

Find: They finally get what they wanted...or what they think they wanted

Take: A price must be paid for attaining the Want. This is the character's lowest point.

Return: The protagonist returns to the familiar, but it may be changed

Change: Show how the protagonist has changed from who they used to be

The Seven-Point Story Structure

Developed by author Dan Wells, this structure is handy even for discovery writers. The major points are guideposts that can help the discovery writer, and outliner alike, keep their story on track.

Hook: The protagonist is introduced and has a normal, boring life

Plot Point 1: The inciting incident occurs and the protagonist leaves the familiar behind

Pinch Point 1: Stakes are raised when the antagonist is introduced (or attacks)

Midpoint: The protagonist learns something important and takes action, committing to it

Pinch Point 2: The protagonist hits their lowest moment (all hope is lost, companions fall, etc.)

Plot Point 2: The protagonist discovers something that helps them

Resolution: The protagonist defeats the antagonist

Remember these are only a few plot structures writers use, and may not necessarily fit with the story you are trying to tell. Sometimes it's possible to use more than one plot structure, and if that's the case, go for it! Whatever you do, don't try to mash a story into a structure because you think you have to use one. Plenty of stories break the mold and perhaps yours is one of them.

Now go forth and write!