Three-Act Story Structure (& Free Printable Form)

As I finish up plotting the fourth installment in the Miller's Creek novels, Pilgrimage of Promise, in preparation for NaNoWriMo, I thought perhaps a post on story structure might be helpful for any of you writers out there.



Story structure literally saved my writing career. In my younger years I attempted to write several novels, but with each one I would hit this invisible wall and didn't know where to head next. When I finally realized I needed to treat my writing like a college degree, I "discovered" story structure. What an impact it had on my writing.



I can already here the complaints of some of you...formulaic writing, blah, blah, blah... ; )



Not exactly. Consider the human body as an example. Each of us have a skeletal system, but that doesn't mean we're all alike. Another example are houses. Each one has a structure beneath what we see, but the outward appearance of each is different. If I still haven't convinced you, then I challenge to take your favorite books and movies and dissect them. You'll see story structure beneath each. There will be minor differences, but the major structure will be there.



Here are the different components you might find within three-act story structure: (NOTE: There are oodles of books written on story structure, and my list is by no means exhaustive; it's just a starting point.)



ACT I - (approximately the first 25% of the story)


Begins with Ordinary World/Opening Image
Establishes mood, tone, location, theme
Introduce characters

Goals
Motivations
Relationships
Worldviews
Attitudes
Prejudices
Fears
Strengths
Weaknesses/Fatal Flaw
Lies they believe
Wounds

Introduce setting/time period
Introduce story situation
Establish stakes for hero/heroine
Turning Point #1 (within in first 20 pages if possible): Hooking Moment/Call to Adventure
Refusal of the Call
Set up major story question
Foreshadow conflict/antagonist
Possible meeting with mentor/wise one
Introduce allies

ACT II- A - (25% of the story) - Plot Point #1/Turning Point #2: Inciting Incident  (This catapults the main character into the real story which begins at Act II.)


Shows how hero/heroine reacts to change and conflict
Hero/heroine creates new plan
Further reveals the antagonist's plan
Main character explores options, tests the water, fails and regroups, may fight against the antagonist, but lose
Find out who their friends and foes are
Their "lie" or "fatal flaw" appears to be true
The mentor/wise one point to a better way of thinking/acting
Tests and training to expose strengths/weaknesses
Disaster #1 (3/8ths mark) - shows the antagonist in full swing
Gradually reveals backstory as needed

ACT II-B -  (25% of the story) MID-POINT/Turning Point #3: Point of No Return


The battle gets intensely personal
A taste of death
Often mirrors the Black Moment in some way
Main character plans and tries a new mode of attack
Disaster #2 (5/8ths mark) 
Impossible choices
Loss of key allies
A lull in the story (to contrast with the destruction about to follows)

ACT III - (25% of the story) Plot Point #2/ Turning Point #4: Black Moment


 Battle between main character and antagonist
Turning Point #5: Climax
Reveals how character has changed
Removal of lie/flaw
Resolution of story problem/question
Preview of future
Closing Image

Hope this helps you with your own stories. I think you'll be amazed at how easy it makes the pre-writing process. If you'd like to use the story structure form I created to help me with my stories, click HERE to go to my Google Doc where you'll be able to print it out.



And here are some resources that will help you further with story structure:


Beginnings, Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress
Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham
Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success by K. M. Weiland
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell

Happy Writing,