Plot Matters: Less Common Plot Structures
Like taking the road less traveled, this week is all about plot structures that fly under the radar, the ones that might not have been talked about in your beginning creative writing class. Read on to find out if one of these less-common structures is your story structure match.
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If you’ve been writing for a while, you’ve likely learned about story structure. And you might have heard that there are certain one-size-fits-all structures that apply to everyone, all the time.
The hero’s journey—sometimes referred to as the “monomyth” as if it’s literally the only option.
The original Save the Cat! has a subtitle that describes it as the “last guide to screenwriting you’ll ever need.” Jessica Brody’s follow-up for novel writers Save the Cat! Writes the Novel makes a similar promise.
These story structures are popular for a reason, they work well for many stories and many writers (you can learn more about these options in last week’s blog post).
But if someone tells you that these are your only options. They’re lying. Or woefully misinformed. Or trying to sell you something.
Or all three.
The truth? There are other structure options. Many of them.
In this post, I’m going over three less common structures that I’ve come across in my writing/editing journey and have found helpful. You might not hear about these structures in writing classes, but they exist and they just might unlock something for your story.
Check out one, or all three. Figure out what works for you and your story and leave the rest behind.
Let’s go!
#1 – The Heroine’s Journey
The heroine’s journey is the antidote to the dominance of the hero’s journey in writing circles. It’s important to note that neither the hero’s journey nor the heroine’s journey are gender specific.
A woman can be a hero. A man can be a heroine. A non-binary person can feature in stories that use either structure. The terms hero and heroine refer to the genders of the original mythic characters associated with the origins of these myths.
In the case of the heroine’s journey, these myths were all about women who were cut off from their families and the journey to either repairing that relationship or creating a new family group (or both). These stories are about working together to defeat the antagonistic force—not about a hero who faces evil all on their own.
The heroine’s journey was codified in The Heroine’s Journey: For Writers, Readers, and Fans of Pop Culture by Gail Carriger. This book provides a general overview directed at both writers and readers. For that reason, it’s not designed as a comprehensive guide to using this structure in your writing. I still found it profoundly helpful, but you’ll have to do some work on your own to apply this structure to your novel.
#2 – The Virgin’s Promise
The virgin’s promise is another myth-based story structure and yet another counterpoint to the hero’s journey. This structure is perfect for stories about people who don’t quite fit the norms of their society. It’s all about a person who discovers and nurtures parts of their personality that they have to hide from their friends and family, at least until the end when they find acceptance on their own terms.
This structure lends itself to coming-of-age stories or stories in which a person sheds the persona they’ve adopted to fit in to a rigid society (whether real or imagined).
I was introduced to this mythic structure through Kim Hudson’s book The Virgin’s Promise: Writing Stories of Feminine, Creative, Spiritual and Sexual Awakening but just like the hero’s heroine’s journey, the “virgin” of the virgin’s promise, doesn’t need to be female and Hudson’s book includes example stories that feature male protagonists.
#3 – Romancing the Beat
I’m not a huge fan of writing “rules,” but I will take a stand and say that Gwen Hayes’ book Romancing the Beat: Story Structure for Romance Novels is a must-read for aspiring romance writers. Why? It lays out the foundational beats of all romance novels, showing you how to create a story that will satisfy your readers. The beats are flexible and you can create stories as unique as your characters.
This book is short, sweet, and to the point (I may or may not have read it in the Kindle browser app during a single class period while one of my reading classes took a test…), and yet it provides incredible clarity on the structure of romances.
Is this the one and only way to structure a romance? Of course not!
Is it a great option? Absolutely!
Not a romance writer? I’d recommend using this book for guidance on crafting a romance subplot. Though you might not need to include all the beats, understanding the mechanics of a romance plot can help you hit the right notes with readers, even if that romance happens as a sweet addition to the main plot.
I hope that this post opens your eyes to structure options that you may not have encountered in your writing journey. Do you have to use one of these? Of course not! It’s all about expanding your options, understanding what’s out there and figuring out what works for you.
Still baffled by plot structure?
That’s okay! Every story is unique and you have to figure out what works for you.
To help you do that, I’ve created a brand new service for writers - the outline critique! I’ll analyze your plot structure, character development, and conflict and let you know what is working and what still needs work so that you can write or revise your novel with confidence. Grab your outline critique now!
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!
