Plot Matters: Common Plot Structures for Writers
There are a multitude of plot structures out there. In this blog post, I cover the four most common options for novelists.
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Last week, in Plot Structure 101, I talked about the basics of plot structure, what it is, and why it matters for writers. This week, I’m going over a couple of common plot structures. These are the ones you’re most likely to hear about in writing classes or critique groups, the ones that writers fall back on over and over again because they work well for many story types. If you’re new to novel writing, this is the post for you! I’ve rounded up the best resources for learning about four common plot structures so that you can continue learning and find the right structure for your story.
Let’s dive in!
#1 – Three Act Structure
The three act structure goes all the way back to Aristotle’s Poetics. At a basic level, all stories consist of a beginning, middle, and end. Most of the other plot structures out there are derived from the original three-act structure.
Here are the basic elements of this story structure:
Act One introduces the characters and story world (exposition) and initiates the conflict of the novel with the inciting incident.
Act Two intensifies the conflict, introduces a midpoint turning point, and then a “dark night” moment that leads to act three.
Act Three brings the conflict to a head at the climax followed by a conclusion that winds down the action and shows readers where the characters end up.
Interested in learning more about this common plot structure, check out these resources:
1. Three Act Structure from Dabble
2. How to Write Three Act Structure from Masterclass
#2 – Freytag’s Pyramid
Freytag’s pyramid is another foundational plot structure, one that has been used as a basis for other plot structures that follow.
It consists of five structural steps:
1. Exposition
2. Rising Action
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution
I used to teach Freytag’s pyramid in my creative writing classes and it holds true across novels, short stories, movies, and more. If you’re looking for a basic way to keep track of your plot, Freytag’s pyramid is a great place to start. If you’re a pantser, consider using Freytag’s pyramid to sketch out a basic idea for your story so that you have an idea of where your story is going.
And now, some resources to explore:
1. The Five Elements of Dramatic Structure from Writers.com
2. Freytag’s Pyramid: Definition, Elements, and Example from Masterclass.com
#3 – The Hero’s Journey
The hero’s journey is one of the most popular story structures for novelists and screenwriters. If you buy into the hype, you might even think that the hero’s journey is the “monomyth,” a single story structure that applies to every story in the world. While the hero’s journey IS NOT universal, it is incredibly popular in Western storytelling.
The original hero’s journey consists of 17 structural steps. The most common version used by writers today consists of 12.
They are:
1. Ordinary World
2. Call to Adventure
3. Refusal of the Call
4. Meeting with the Mentor
5. Crossing the First Threshold
6. Tests, Allies, Enemies
7. Approach to the Inmost Cave
8. Ordeal
9. Reward (Seizing the Sword)
10. The Road Back
11. Resurrection
12. Return with the Elixir
The hero’s journey originally comes from the work of Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, but was explicitly adapted for writers by Christopher Vogler in The Writer’s Journey. I highly recommend Vogler’s book for a deep-dive on the hero’s journey and the various character archetypes that you can use to develop your hero’s journey story.
For a quicker introduction, check out these articles.
1. The Hero’s Journey from Dabble
2. Deep Dive: Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” from ProWritingAid
#4 – Save the Cat!
Created by Blake Snyder, Save the Cat! originated as a tool for screenwriters. Over time, the structure was adopted by novelists and eventually Jessica Brody wrote Save the Cat Writes a Novel, a guide for applying this structure to your novel, and Save the Cat Writes a Young Adult Novel to offer further guidance on modifying this structure for a YA audience.
Save the Cat! consists of 15 structural beats:
1. Opening Image
2. Theme Stated
3. Setup
4. Catalyst
5. Debate
6. Break Into 2
7. B Story
8. Fun and Games
9. Midpoint
10. Bad Guys Close In
11. All is Lost
12. Dark Night of the Soul
13. The Break Into 3
14. The Finale (further broken into 5 steps)
15. Final Image
You can learn more about these structural beats by checking out Blake Snyder’s original book Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need or check out Jessica Brody’s guides for writers: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel or Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel.
Looking for a quicker introduction? Check out these articles from Jessica Brody’s website:
2. How to Write Your Novel Using the Save the Cat Beat Sheet
Thanks for stopping by and checking out these common plot structures. Do you swear by one of these structures in your own writing? Let me know in the comments!
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FYI: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. For more information click here and thanks, as always, for your support!
