Lost in the Plot? A Writer’s Guide to Story Structure
- Jacquelyn Lee
- Dec 19, 2025
- 5 min read
If you’re looking to craft a fictional story but feel overwhelmed by the choice of story structure or outline, this blog is tailored for you.
Writers often grapple with the question, “Which story structure should I select?” This guide demystifies popular options, helping you comprehend each method’s intention and find the best fit for your creative vision.
What Is Story Structure?
Story structure goes beyond merely having a beginning, middle, and end. While this may be a basic way for children to learn storytelling, adult writers may find it too simplistic. Nevertheless, it serves as a solid foundation for grasping what "story structure" entails.
You might also consider "story structure" to be synonymous with plotting.
Many tales commence with clichés like “In the beginning,” “Once upon a time,” or “Long, long ago.” While these phrases are charming, they only mark the start . . . The beauty of this approach, however, is that it helps establish the "backstory." Consider what events transpired before the point where your narrative begins.
Story structure keeps you anchored and facilitates the pacing of your tale.
Types of Story Structures
The Three-Act Story Structure
The three-act story structure is the most basic and common technique used in storytelling. It’s simplistic principle dates back to Aristotle’s work Poetics, where he breaks down the essential elements of storytelling. Plots should be logical and contain a beginning, middle, and end.
The Structure
Act 1: The Setup
Exposition: Introduce your characters, their lives, desires, and challenges.
Inciting Incident: The crucial beat that puts the story into motion. Similar to The Hero’s Journey, where the character is called to adventure.
The First Plot Point: The protagonist must decide on their course of action.
Act 2: The Confrontation
Rising Action: The protagonist begins their journey, and they encounter something (or someone) that will try to stop them: enter the antagonist.
Midpoint: The middle of the story, where something goes terribly wrong.
The Second Plot Point: The protagonist thinks of strategies on ways they can regain confidence and how to handle whatever is thrown at them next.
Act 3: The Resolution
Pre-Climax: Tension between the protagonist and antagonist builds, setting the stage for conflict.
Climax: The protagonist perseveres and faces their challenges, thus bringing the conflict to a resolution.
Denouement: The protagonist has received what they needed: victory.
What It’s Best For
Films (action, adventure, drama)
Novels (thriller, romance, mystery, coming-of-age stories)
Plays (dramas)
Examples
The Hunger Games (2008)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Further Reading
The Five-Act Story Structure
Gustav Freytag built upon Aristotle’s theories to create The Five-Act Structure, often referred to as “Freytag’s Pyramid.”
The Structure
Act 1: The Exposition: Introduce your characters, setting, and main conflict.
Act 2: The Rising Action: Build tension with events and develop the main conflict further.
Act 3: The Climax: Allow the conflict to reach a peak, serving as the story’s turning point.
Act 4: The Falling Action: Illustrate the consequences of the climax and lead toward resolution.
Act 5: Resolution: The conflict concludes, restoring order.
What It’s Best For
Tragedies, historical dramas, and classical literature
TV drama episodes
Examples
Romeo and Juliet (1957)
Further Reading
The Hero’s Journey
The Hero’s Journey is a three-act structure expanded into a twelve-step character transformation. It aids in character development and plotting. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces originally featured seventeen stages, later streamlined to twelve steps by screenwriter Christopher Vogler.
The Structure
The Departure: What happens when the hero leaves their familiar world behind?
Meet the Hero in their Ordinary World.
The Hero faces a challenge and is Called to Adventure.
They must decide and initially Refuse the Call.
The hero steps out of their comfort zone and Meets the Mentor.
They encounter a new opportunity by Crossing the Threshold.
The Initiation: What happens when the hero is put in an unfamiliar world?
The hero faces a Test, discovers Allies, and confronts Enemies.
They prepare for a major challenge by Approaching the Inmost Cave.
The hero faces their greatest fear in The Ordeal.
They survive, grow, and claim The Reward.
The Return: What happens when the hero returns to their familiar world?
The hero commits to returning by taking The Road Back.
They face a final test and a transformed through Resurrection.
The hero Returns to the Ordinary World, changed, With the Elixir
What It’s Best For
Mythical stories
Fantasy
Adventure stories
Examples
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)
Moana (2016)
Further Reading
Dan Harmon’s the Story Circle
Dan Harmon developed the Story Circle by adapting elements from Joseph Campbell’s seventeen-step framework. Personally, I find an eight-step model to be more accessible than even the twelve-step version of the Hero’s Journey.
The Structure
You (establish a character in their comfort zone)
Need (the character desires something)
Go (the character enters an unfamiliar situation)
Search (the character adapts to the new environment)
Find (the character obtains what they sought)
Take (the character pays a price for it)
Return (the character returns to their familiar setting)
Change (the character has transformed)
What It’s Best For
TV episodes, sitcoms, animated series
Character-driven stories
Adventure and sci-fi stories
Examples
Rick and Morty (2013)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Further Reading
Wrapping Up
There are numerous options for structuring a story, yet every narrative must include a beginning, middle, and end. The elements in between are what push the story forward. Much like life, stories have their ups and downs, twists and turns, and are rarely linear. The appropriate story structure often depends on the genre.
The structures discussed in this blog can be adapted across various media forms. Whether you're crafting a novel, screenplay, or play, these frameworks can still apply.
Additional Story Structures to Check Out
Other Resources I Recommend
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