Understanding Story Structures
- Sara Sudol
- Oct 16, 2024
- 4 min read
Story structures provide a framework that can help guide the progression of your narrative—from introducing the characters to guiding the pacing and resolving the central conflict. While they aren't the only path to a successful story, understanding popular story structures can offer valuable insights into organizing your plot.
In this article, we’ll explore common storytelling frameworks and how you can use them to enhance your narrative—or even break away from them to craft something entirely your own.
Writers have been using structured storytelling frameworks for centuries to craft compelling, memorable narratives. These structures offer tried-and-true methods to build tension, develop character arcs, and resolve conflict. Let’s look at a few of the most common structures.
Three-Act Structure
This structure divides the story into three key parts: setup, confrontation, and resolution.
The setup introduces the characters, setting, and conflict. This is where the main goal or problem is established. During the confrontation, the stakes are raised and obstacles intensify. The protagonist faces increasing challenges. At the resolution, the conflict comes to a head, and the story reaches its climax before a final resolution.
Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Hero's Journey
This structure, often attributed to Joseph Campbell outlines the protagonist’s transformative journey, where they face challenges, gain wisdom, and emerge changed by their experiences.
Stages include The Call to Adventure, Crossing the Threshold, Facing Trials, Meeting the Mentor, and Returning Home Changed.
Example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Save the Cat
This structure, adapted from screenwriting, focuses on specific beats or moments throughout a story, ensuring the plot’s emotional pacing remains tight.
Key beats are The Opening Image, Theme Stated, The Catalyst, Midpoint, Dark Night of the Soul, and the Final Image.
Example: The Martian by Andy Weir
Other Structures
The Four-Act Structure splits the middle section into two acts, allowing for a more detailed examination of rising action and complications.
Example: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Freytag’s Pyramid is based on the five-part dramatic art, which includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
Example: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Nonlinear narratives jump between different time periods or perspectives, often revealing crucial information through flashbacks or alternating timelines.
Example: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Breaking the Mold
While these story structures offer valuable guidance, they are not rigid rules. Instead, think of them as starting points. As a writer, you have the creative freedom to bend, adapt, or even break away from these conventional structures to suit your unique story.
Some of the most memorable stories are the ones that defy expectations, taking readers on unexpected journeys that don’t necessarily follow the traditional beats.
Consider Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. The novel jumps back and forth in time, reflecting the protagonist’s fractured experience of war and life, while still delivering a cohesive and emotionally resonant narrative. Even though it deviates from traditional structure, it is a masterful exploration of time, memory, and trauma.
Another great example is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, which uses a cyclical structure rather than a traditional linear narrative. The repetition of themes, events, and character traits across generations creates a sense of time looping back on itself, reflecting the novel’s magical realism and thematic focus on fate and history.
Here are some ways you can “break the mold” of traditional story structure:
combine structures
subvert genre expectations
experiment with chronology
showcase your personal style
Even when stories don't follow conventional structures, the core elements—conflict, character arcs, and resolution—are still present. Remember: these elements provide the backbone of your narrative; they are there to ensure that, even if you play with format and pacing, your story still feels cohesive and satisfying to readers.
Choosing the Right Structure
Selecting the right story structure depends on your narrative's needs and your writing style. Some stories may naturally fit into a Three-Act format, while others call for a nonlinear or experimental approach.
Ask yourself:
Does my story require a steady progression from problem to solution?
Am I aiming for character transformation or a specific emotional arc?
Would my story benefit from tension at key beats or stages?
Do I prefer working within a set framework or something more flexible?
Consider experimenting with different structures to see how each impacts your plot and characters. Adapt and modify as needed to fit your story’s unique needs.
Understanding story structures is crucial for any writer looking to craft a compelling and well-paced narrative. However, these frameworks should be viewed as flexible guides rather than restrictive rules. Explore different structures, experiment with blending or breaking them, and ultimately choose what best serves your story. Whether you follow a classic structure or create your own, the key is to use it as a tool to elevate your storytelling.
Want more writing tips, tools, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to the Prose in Progress newsletter and stay on track with your writing journey! This week's resource is a Story Outline Template.
Do you follow any story structures when writing? Share your process in the comments or join the conversation on social media using #ProseInProgress.
With care and creativity,
Comments