Story structure

 

TYPES OF STORY STRUCTURES:

One-act structure 

Three-act structure

Four-act structure

Five-act structure

Six-act structure

Seven-act structure

Eight-act structure

Nine-act structure 

Twelve-act structure

Fifteen-act structure

ONE-ACT STRUCTURE

A short play, usually between 10 and 40 minutes. Has a single plot, setting, and theme. There is no question of division as it is a play in one-act.

THREE-ACT STRUCTURE - The Fichtean Curve

It's the most popular structure writers go for nowadays. 

Act One - the setup - introduces the characters, their obstacles and goals, and the world. 

Act Two - the confrontation - raises the stakes for the character to achieve the goal, escalating the conflict. 

Act Three - the resolution - resolves the story

FOUR-ACT STRUCTURE 

Setup - introduces the protagonist, setting, story world, and conflict.

Struggle - follows the protagonist as they struggle to adapt and understand the main conflict.

Pursuit - protagonist is ready for action. They do a bunch of stuff towards their goal.

Conclusion - core conflict gets resolved 

FIVE-ACT STRUCTURE - the FREYTAG’S PYRAMID

→ the plot splits into two distinct stories: the world before, and the world after

→ the climax takes place in the middle of the story

Act 1 - setting the world and the protagonist

Act 2 - rising action. The protagonist faces obstacles and grows.

Act 3 - the goal is close, but things don't work out well 

Act 4 - the protagonist changes their plans and faces new obstacles

Act 5 - throws one more tragic challenge at the protagonist which they overcome or not

SIX-ACT STRUCTURE - IN MEDIAS RES 

- we start off immediately into the action, with little to no exposition or backstory

Action

Rising action: the conflict increases. The reader doesn't understand much about what's going on yet

Explanation: we include explanations and backstories

Climax: everything comes together. The characters either succeed or fail

Falling action: aftermath of the climax

Resolution: protagonist returns to their ordinary world

SEVEN-ACT STRUCTURE

Hook: the status quo is explored

Plot Turn 1: incident kicks off the story

Pinch 1: the situation escalates

Midpoint: protagonist shifts to being proactive

Pinch 2: a major setback takes place

Plot Turn 2: the key to victory is discovered

Resolution: the conflict is resolved

STORY-SPINE STRUCTURE 

Once upon a time: introducing the main character

And every day: pointing out how the MC's life is normal

Until one day: an inciting incident shakes things up

And because of this: the MC is forced to go on an adventure

And because of this: series of fails and victories 

Until finally: the climax of the story

And ever since that day: how the hero has changed over the course of the story, what they are bringing back to them to their ordinary world

EIGHT-ACT STRUCTURE - DAN HARMON'S STORY CIRCLE 

Introduction - introduces the MC and their world 

Dilemma - MC debates whether or not to leave their world and proceed into the unknown

First obstacle - MC faces their first real obstacle

Midpoint - another obstacle / dilemma

Twists & turns - secrets are revealed, relationships are tested, tensions rise, obstacles get more challenging to overcome

Culmination / low point - the MC reaches a point of Culmination (positive) or a Low Point (negative)

Climax 

Resolution - the aftermath of the climax

9-ACT STRUCTURE 

1. the hook to get the reader invested

2. accepting the challenge and setting out on the journey.

3. first obstacle 

4. midpoint - the biggest plot twist happen

5. MC feels hopeless and weak, but they keep on trying

6. conflict and obstacles - rises the stakes

7. regretful MC gives up as their situation is hopeless

8. something new comes to life and gives the MC the optimism to keep fighting

9. the goal is reached

TWELVE-ACT STRUCTURE - HERO'S JOURNEY 

I made a separate post about it. Click HERE to read it.

FIFTEEN-ACT STRUCTURE - SAVE THE CAT 

Opening image: introduces the MC and their world

Set up: setting up the tone of the world

Theme stated: should be made clear what the theme is

Catalyst: inciting incident that gets the story rolling

Debate: MC debates the path that they have chosen to go

Break into two: the MC is fully invested in their quest

B story: introduce a subplot

Fun and games: the MC celebrates all the good things and they're happy

Midpoint: something big happens, completely turning the MC's goals on their head

Bad guys close in: the antagonist becomes a greater threat and the conflict increases

All is lost: the MC goes through a hard experience, like losing a loved one

Dark night of the soul: MC goes through depression and is hopeless

Break into three: something new comes to life and gives the MC the optimism to keep fighting

Finale: culmination

Final image: the aftermath